So you’ve decided to share your home and your life with a bird. You’ll spend many happy hours together and form a bond that needs no words. Your bird will depend on you to provide a space that is the best that it can be in every way. Here are 4 things that will make your aviary a place that both you and your bird can enjoy.
A Safe and Spacious Cage—One of the most important things to have is a place where your bird can be kept safely. A stainless steel cage is one of the best investments you can make.
Yes, initially it is more expensive than cages made of other materials, but it will last, making it cost effective in the end. Stainless steel is also safe for birds and easy to clean.
Proper sizing is crucial. A cage that is too small is similar to making a person spend its entire life in a closet. And just like a person, a bird’s mental and emotional health can suffer because of cramped quarters.
This space for your bird, even though enclosed, should be big enough for it to fly, tall enough for it to move to several different levels, and spacious enough so they are not forced to defecate in the food and water dishes.
Safe Play Area Outside the Cage—-It is important to let your bird fly free for several hours each day. This will give you and chance to interact one on one, and keep their wings healthy and strong.
Having a designated play area will keep your bird engaged in activities that are safe, and focus attention on toys that designed for it. This lessens the chances that it will chew on or damage things that it shouldn’t.
Include perches, brightly colored toys, and swings with bells. Foraging toys are great for keeping your bird engaged. Be sure to check the condition of toys frequently to make sure they are safe. Rotate toys both inside and outside of the cage so that your bird doesn’t get bored.
Low Maintenance Decor—Encourage yourself to spend time in the room by furnishing it with comfortable sofas and chairs. Choose covering that can be wiped clean, vacuumed, or washed to keep dust and dander levels to a minimum. Choose flooring that can be thoroughly cleaned (linoleum, tile, or wood) and window coverings that hold less dust—vertical blinds, shutters, or shades.
Using furnishings that encourage you to spend time in the room will help you foster a strong relationship with your pet. And studies have shown that happy pets (and people too) live longer, healthier lives.
Air Filtration System—Most home filters that are a part of the heating and air conditioning systems are not designed to adequately handle the additional particles that your feathered friend will produce. That is why an air cleaner in your room is a must.
Dander, feathers, and dust can remain airborne which means both you and your bird are forced to breathe in air that is filled with particles, both visible and invisible. Because avian air passages are so small, it doesn’t take much to clog them. And clogged air passages often lead to disease and infection which can greatly reduce the life span of your bird.
Using a HEPA (or high efficiency particle arresting) air purifier will keep particulate levels low, and help reduce the airborne irritants that can trigger asthma and allergy flare-ups in humans. It will also reduce the amount of cleaning you will need to do each day.