Cage Cleaning There are many things that can be used to line cage bottoms, including pelletized paper, pine shavings, etc. My choice is a double layer of newspaper. My cages are cleaned once a week when they are at capacity and less often if there are just two or three birds in a very large cage. I guess you can't be over clean and changing more often is fine. Your goal is to keep the birds from walking in and possibly ingesting moist "poop". During breeding when they stay in nest boxes (except to come out for water and some food) it is wiser (with Gouldians) to avoid being "over clean" especially if cage cleaning disturbs them enough to leave the nest. You can try putting several layers of newspaper and occasionally sliding to top layer out without too much disturbance. Experience will tell. Take the opportunity when cages are empty to take them outdoors, scrub them down good, hose them down and repaint them if they are wood. The wire portions are best cleaned with a stiff bristle brush. New galvanized wire should be washed with a vinegar solution to remove any zinc residue and then washed with soapy water and rinsed thoroughly.
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