Have you decided to adopt a pet bird? Polly may be small, but she has loads of personality, and is bound to keep you smiling. One thing that is absolutely crucial to your new pet’s health and happiness is making sure that she is comfortable in her cage. Choosing the right type and size cage is very important, but it’s also crucial to set it up properly and pick the right place for it. A local Bel Air, MD vet offers some helpful tips on setting up your pet bird’s cage in this article.

Location

Picking the right spot is also very important. Don’t put Polly near the kitchen, as cooking fumes are very dangerous for her. You also want to avoid putting her in direct sunlight, or too close to a fireplace, heater, vent, or fan. Loud areas, such as a spot near a TV or stereo, are also unsuitable. Many birds feel safest in corners, as they aren’t exposed on all sides.

Comfort

Put a few pet-safe plants near Polly’s cage. This will make her home seem a bit more like a bird’s natural habitat: trees.

Perches

Perches are absolutely crucial to your pet’s health and well-being. Polly should have a variety of perches, all of different textures and strengths. Many birdcages come with a perch, but these really aren’t sufficient by themselves. When positioning the perches, be careful not to put them over your bird’s food and water dishes. If you do, your pet’s food will quickly be contaminated by waste.

Toys

Bird are very playful and curious. You’ll need to offer your pet lots of fun toys to play with. Bells, swings, ladders, and hanging toys are all very popular with our feathered friends. Be sure to change Polly’s toys out regularly to keep things fun and fresh for her.

Cleaning

You’ll need to remove waste from your pet’s cage every day, and do more thorough weekly and monthly cleanings. One thing that may make this easier is putting several sheets of newspaper or butcher block paper in the bottom of the cage. Each day, you can just remove and discard the top one, as there will be a fresh one underneath. You’ll thank yourself later!

Please reach out to us, your local Bel Air, MD vet clinic, for all of your pet bird’s veterinary care needs. We are here to help!