You are doing a good job keeping their habitat clean. When I did my deep clean once a week, that included the bars as well. One thing I did, everyday I would pick out the poops and discard them. But we need to remember that rats have a natural musky smell just like how dogs have their natural smell or cats and so on. Keeping the cage in a wide open space helps a lot too.
What kind of bird do you have? That's too funny that he/she might choose to bathe in vinegar. Not good!
Okay, that sounds good, I'll start cleaning my bars now too. My cage is in a fairly large bedroom, but is in the corner. I haven't quite figured out my room set up, so I may move them out of the corner and so on. I always worry about too much smell, because while my apartment complex does know I have rats and does approve of them, but I just don't want them thinking my rats are too stinky
We all know how people can be about our pet rats. I personally don't care if they have the musk, it's just the people around me I worry about.
For now, the only reason stray poos get put into the litterbox is because I've been having some rats struggle with their litterbox training, so I'm attempting to re-train them. I don't expect them to ALWAYS poop in just their litterboxes. Thankfully, it's helped considerably now.
I also went out and bought that Nature's AirSponge. Turns out my local hardware store carried it, so I bought a tub and put it next to my rat cage. Not close enough that they can grab it or anything, just close enough to absorb as much odor as possible. I've noticed an immediate difference already! So thank you very much for the recommendation.
Also, I have a green cheek conure named Callum
He's very funny about his baths. He's goofy and likes to sit on my shoulder when a rat is already sitting on the other shoulder. I don't encourage it, but animals will be animals.
Those fridge boxes of baking soda, where you peel and panel off the front and back are great! I use them by the mouse cages (mice are far more stinky than rats) and they have worked wonders! Also, I have a Honeywell air purifier, with a hepa filter. That helps a lot too, since it moves, and cleans air.
I've thought about getting an air purifier! In the last two years, I suddenly developed allergies and asthma, so maybe having that sort of thing would help me and the natural musky smell.
Oh, baking soda! Do you just leave the open box near their cage, or do you put it in a bucket/bowl? Again, with Callum, I just worry that in his free time, he'll get into it.
