Help with a old cage????????

[084bar]

Hi all bird lovers

I am in need of some help, I have a friend that offered me his old African Grey cage, he knows I am waiting to get a second bird and thought he would save me some money to buy a cage. It a beautiful cage on wheels so will be easy to move if need be (like cleaning, the one I have is hard to move), I will not be able to afford such a nice cage..... But the thing is his bird died from some type of bird flu and don't want to get a bird too have it die, I will be destroyed been though losing one bird can't do again

What I want to know if I use a strong bleach and rise rise rise rise rise to make sure there no bleach left, will I be able to use the cage or should I rather just scrap the idea of getting a second bird, and one more thing as I have only own one other bird with my family what other bird will be best to put with a Ringneck? and will it stop my little Peanut from talking?

Thanks

[GreenWing]

Contact your Avian Vet clinic to see if they do specialized cage cleanings. In my area, the Avian Vet not only specially cleans cages (the cage gets steamed cleaned), but they also disinfect the cage, too. They actually do this for all the cages for the birds they board, as well.

[084bar]

Thanks very much, I am rather going to do that.... Did not think of the vet

[Graeme]

A combination of vinegar and hydrogen peroxide makes a cheap, effective and non-toxic disinfectant agent and is said to be more effective at killing pathogens than bleach. As it is non-toxic, you can use it to disinfect fruits and vegetables, as well as pet toys, equipment and cages. In tests run at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, pairing Vinegar and Hydrogen Peroxide mists, kills virtually all Salmonella, Shigella, or E. coli bacteria on heavily contaminated food and surfaces.

Directions:

You need TWO spray bottles. DO NOT MIX the solutions together. Put straight vinegar in one and straight hydrogen peroxide in the other spray bottle. NOTE: Light destroys peroxide rather quickly. It's best to leave it in its original bottle and screw in a spray head.

DO NOT DILUTE THEM.

Remember for any sanitizer to work properly, the surface has to be clean before you use it.
When you want to sanitize a surface (vegetables, cutting board, counters, sink, cages, toys. toilets, floors, etc.), spray one (it doesn't matter which one you use first) on the surface, then you spray on the other. When they mix, for a brief time the chemical action of the two make a very powerful sanitizer. You can rinse off the surface afterwards, if you want, but the result is non-toxic.

Fortunately it is cheap. BTW, we use it in the bathroom to sanitize the counters, toilets, floors, etc.

Source : http://www.greenandhealthy.info/nontoxi ... sanitizing

[Pajarita]

Do not use peroxide or vinegar, they don't kill everything. Your idea of using bleach and rinse thoroughly is perfectly good and the recommended USDA epizootiologist's protocol for disinfecting after (and during) any avian contagious disease. Allow it to dry in the sun and air out for a few days before the bird arrives and replace all the old perches, swings, and toys. It's what the vet would do anyway...

[Graeme]

I am sorry but I disagree, it is used in hospitals and the food industry just to mention a couple. It is much safer to use and it is very effective. There is plenty of info available on the subject.

Commercial bleach loses it's potency every time the container is opened.

[Pajarita]

I am sure you are correct and that it is used in the food industry because they can't use anything that might cause a reaction or be toxic if not diluted correctly but they are not approved by the USDA as a disinfecting protocol for, say, chlamydia which presents itself as a 'bird flu' (the cause of death of the previous occupant of the cage).

This is an oldie but goodie study on different types of disinfectants and, if you are patient and read the whole long thing to the end, you will see that chlorine appears on every category as efficient, fast and cost effective: http://www.scribd.com/doc/16239128/disi ... cacy-study

[Graeme]

Thanks for the link, I will have a read

[Dbeguy]

:irn: Hi all bird lovers

and will it stop my little Peanut from talking?

Thanks

OK this point I can answer. The newer sources indicate that having TWO bird speeds up the rate that the new bird learns things (like talking). It seems unlikely that a new bird will stop your Peanut from talking