Essential Bird Supplies 2025 🐦🛍️ | Vet Guide by Dr Duncan Houston BVSc

Creating a safe, stimulating environment is vital for your bird’s health, behavior, and wellbeing. In this 2025 guide, I’ve compiled the **must-have supplies**—from cage basics to enrichment toys—to help you set up a happy, healthy home for your feathered companion.

1. 🏠 Cage & Housing

• Spacious, stainless-steel cage: Easy to clean & durable; choose bar spacing based on species size (<½″ for small, up to 1″ for medium, 1–2″ for large).
• Multiple perches: Vary textures (wood, rope, cement) and diameters to support foot health.
• Playtop or free-flight stand: For daily out-of-cage time and interaction.

2. 🍽️ Feeders & Water Dishes

• Stainless steel bowls: Non-corrosive, easy to clean—dedicated for pellets, seeds, and water.
• Automatic waterers: Prevent spills and contamination.
• Foraging stations: Encourage natural behaviors and mental stimulation.

3. 🧸 Toys & Enrichment

• Foraging toys: Hiding food inside puzzles keeps your bird active and curious.
• Chewing toys: Made of bird-safe wood, leather, or paper to satisfy natural beak needs.
• Active toys: Swings, bells, ropes promote physical exercise and coordination.
• Foot toys: Small items like beads or foot rings for dexterity.
• Rotation: Swap toys weekly to prevent boredom and maintain enthusiasm.

4. 🌿 Nutrition Extras

• High-quality pellets: Nutrient-rich foundation of diet.
• Fresh produce bowls: Stainless steel or ceramic containers for fruits and vegetables.
• Cuttlebone/mineral blocks: Essential for calcium, beak health, and enrichment.
• Sprouting kits: For fresh, natural sprouted seeds.

5. 🧼 Grooming & Maintenance

• Bird-safe bath or mister: For regular feather care and hygiene.
• Nail and beak tools: Files and cutters for occasional trims (avain professional preferred).
• Perch protectors or trays: To collect debris and ease clean-up.
• Cleaning supplies: Dedicated cage cleaner, unscented soap, paper towels, and dedicated scrub brushes.

6. 🛠️ Training & Travel

• Target stick & clicker: For positive-reinforcement training.
• Flight suit or harness (species-appropriate): For safe outdoor time.
• Travel cage or carrier: Secure, well-ventilated for vet visits or trips.

7. 🔒 Safety Items

• Smoke & fume alarms: Birds are highly sensitive to airborne toxins.
• Bird-safe materials only: Avoid painted/calculated wood, galvanized metal, adhesives, and toys with toxic dyes or small parts.
• Non-toxic perches: Avoid sandpaper perches that can cause bumblefoot.

8. 📋 Record & Health Tools

• Weight scale: For regular monitoring; small weight loss may signal illness.
• Behavior and training journal: Track progress and habits.
• First-aid kit: Include sterile saline, small gauze, styptic powder, and antibiotic ophthalmic ointment.

9. 🧠 Building an Enrichment Plan

1. Schedule daily out-of-cage sessions & mix of climbing, foraging, and chewing.
2. Swap or rearrange toys every few days.
3. Rotate perches and change cage layout monthly to stimulate exploration.

10. 🧭 Final Thoughts

With the right gear—safe cage, balanced feeding bowls, grooming tools, and a consistent body of enrichment—you’ll lay the foundation for a healthy, engaged, and joyful bird. Quality supplies show your bird that you’re committed to their wellbeing, safety, and happiness. 🛍️🐦

— Dr Duncan Houston BVSc

👉 Visit AskAVet.com or download the Ask A Vet app for personalized supply recommendations, setup consultations, and ongoing help sourcing bird-safe products. 🐥📘