A cozy, comfortable, clean cage is the best thing you can do for your bird. Setting up the right environment for your bird will not only make your bird happy, it will make it easier for you to maintain the bird cage. Here are some items you need for the perfect home.

Cage Liners and Litter

Cage liners and litter will make your life a little easier. You need to be able to clean out your bird cage easily and quickly. Which type you use is personal preference. Some owners like liners since they can be peeled away and replaced fast. Others prefer to scoop litter out of the tray at the bottom of the cage. If you use litter, make sure you find a dust free variety and replace it every 3 days.

Cups and Shields

Cups are for food and water and are basically your bird's dishes. Find cups that are dishwasher safe and easy to lift out. Also, use cups that have bolts or hooks outside the cage to prevent your bird from chewing on them. Cup shields are meant to keep seed messes inside the cage instead of flung outside. Make sure you clean food and water cups daily to keep your bird cage clean and sanitary.

Cage Wipes

Cage wipes are great for quick spills, dropping mishaps or other cage messes. Not only do they make the cage more comfortable for your bird, it makes it visually attractive and keeps odors at bay.

Hideouts

Even though you know your bird is secure and safe in their bird cage, your bird may not always feel that way. In the wild, your bird would use dense leaves or undergrowth to hide. You need to create similar places in your bird's cage. You can add tent like bird beds, nests or nest boxes to the bird cage. You can also add actual tree branches for larger birds. Another option is simply use the cage cover to cover only part of the cage. All of these options will give your bird a place to duck and hide if he or she needs a retreat.

Nesting Materials

It’s obvious, but birds need to build nests! Your bird may do this on a seasonal basis. In the wild, they have access to a wide variety of different materials when your bird is ready to nest. Without these materials, you may notice your bird is shredding the paper lining from the floor of the cage or even plucking out her own feathers. When this happens, give her nesting material to build her cozy nest. Your bird gets a comfortable nest and you have less mess to clean up.

Cage Covers

At night, birds need a dark, quiet place to sleep. A cage cover is the perfect way to shield out light and anything you or your family may be doing that would be a distraction. Cage covers also help keep your bird cage warm in colder months. As noted previously, cage covers can also be used to provide a hideout, so they have several functions. Many bird owners simply use a sheet to cover their bird cage. However you can also buy covers made specifically for bird cages. These are also more attractive than just using an old sheet.

Perches and Tpys

As with other accessories, perches replicate your bird's natural environment in the wild. Perches act as tree branches where birds perch outdoors. Irregular surface help your bird exercise and different textures can help keep nails trimmed. Ideally, a cage has a variety of perches with different sizes and diameters so your bird has a variety of places to perch.

Birds also need to keep active in their cages to prevent boredom. A variety of different toys is a great way to keep your bird or birds occupied. Sisal, wicker and woven palm are all materials birds would find in the wild and love to play with. Make sure you don't put too many toys in the cage at one time. You don't want it so crowded that your bird brushes the sides of the cage while moving around. This leads to feather damage. Also, rotate toys weekly. This will keep your bird interested and help you identify which toys they like best.

These are things you need to keep in mind when shopping for a bird cage and when setting it up. This is your bird's home, so you want to make it as comfortable, pleasant and inviting as possible. It will also be a major piece of furniture in your home if placed in the right location. Setting it up right and providing the right accessories will make maintenance easy for you and a fabulous home for your bird.