Hygiene and Pet Birds

Many things go into keeping our pet birds healthy and happy, but one of the most important points to remember is to practice proper hygiene around your bird. Read on for some simple hygiene tips that will help make sure that both your bird and your family aren't put at risk for illness or disease.

• Wash your hands. While it's true that there are some diseases people can catch from pet birds, it's far more common for pet birds to catch diseases from their owners. Make sure that everyone stays healthy by washing your hands both before and after you handle your bird.
  
  
• Keep the cage clean. Making sure that you clean your bird's cage properly can go a long way in reducing bacteria growth in your pet's living space -- which therefore reduces the risk of illness to your bird as well as any people that come into contact with it.
  
  
• Be careful sharing food. While sharing fresh foods with your bird is a great bonding exercise, bacteria can be transmitted between you and your bird if you allow him to eat or drink from dishes that you are using. To stay on the safe side, fix a small dish of food especially for your bird. He will likely enjoy having his very own plate!
  

If you keep these tips in mind, you will greatly reduce the chances of passing disease to your bird, as well as catching a disease from your feathered friend. As always, safety first!