We love our pets. With our pets becoming such a part of our families, it’s no wonder that we’re anxious to get their odours under control. It can be frustrating to tame the smells of these stinkier family members. Pet odours do require regular attention; and there is no shortage of products promising to conquer them. But, how do you know which one’s work? And what are the techniques that can help you control odours effectively and without spending too much money or using harmful chemicals?

Birds can get smelly faster than any other animal. 90% of what you smell is the cage. It’s not enough to just scoop the poop out; you have to clean everything every day, because the floor of the cage, as well as the food and water bowls grows bacteria very quickly. This bacterium creates a very bad odour. So, unless you’re cleaning everything daily, you’re likely to have a smell.

For birds, it is extremely important that you keep cages clean and food fresh.  Not keeping the cage clean can create huge problems because of the odors.  Despite how cute the little bird is, they do create a rather large mess and it is not entirely odor free, in fact, they can have quite a strong odor.  The need to keep the cage clean is extremely important and will require some careful care paid to ensure that it is cleaned quickly and the bird returned safely to their home.

Lining the bottom of the birdcage with newspaper will make it easier to give the floor a daily cleaning by just removing the paper. You can purchase some special pellets at pet stores that are sprinkled on the floor of the cage (or your newspaper) to help it smell fresher. They are safe for the birds, and will help control the odour throughout the day. Once a week, however, you should disinfect the entire cage, including toys, by cleaning them with vinegar and water, even if you’re using paper in the bottom of the cage. 

It’s also important to make sure that your bird has fresh water for bathing. If your bird is reluctant to take a bath, try spraying him with a mist of water each day. When he gets a bit wet, it should cause him to preen, getting his feathers fresh and clean.

Keeping a home with birds smelling fresh also requires proper ventilation. Good air circulation from open windows is a great way to help the house stay fresh. If it’s too cold or hot for this, try using an air purifier to help keep the air clean. Be sure to change the filter often.

It’s important to note that many of the techniques you would use to mask other pet odours cannot be used with birds. Spray air fresheners, as well as the air fresheners that are plugged into outlets can be toxic to birds, so they must not be used. Candles are fine as long as the wicks are lead-free and the fragrance used to scent the candles is safe for birds to inhale. Natural fragrances like vanilla and lavender are usually fine. Check with your vet for more information on air fresheners and birds. Another alternative is to use a simmer pot on the stove to keep the air smelling fresh. Simply keep a pot of water with cinnamon sticks, cloves or citrus peels (or any combination of the three) on a low simmer throughout the day. It gives your home a great smell and is completely safe to the birds.