cleaning used cages

[DBA]

I bought several used cages a couple of weeks ago. I cleaned the nasty things with a pressure washer and a wire wheel on my grinder.
I just now set the cages up to get ready for some new rabbits coming, but worried about residule ick, I just sprayed all the surfaces down with a mixture of bleach and water.
After it dries and evaporates, it won't be harmful to the rabbits will it?

 

[Susie570]

I don't believe that bleach water would be a problem for rabbits after it dries.
I clean my stuff with bleach water, let it dry, then spray it off again with clean water (because I'm paranoid like that)

 

[DBA]

That's what I figured too. I just sprayed them with the bleach water, figure after an hour or two I will spray again with plain water then clean out the dropping trays.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Bleach dries to a salt, which wont harm the rabbits, but WILL rust the wire. Always rinse with water.

I like to use vinegar, but that must also be rinsed. The acid in vinegar will degrade the galvanization on the wire.

 

[lereg15]

How do you know when the cages should be cleaned, and what do you do with the rabbits when you clean them?

I am constantly going out to check on my rabbits, cleaning the tray and scraping off any poo that may have stuck to the floor of the cages, plus taking the wilted greens out if there are any left. So, so far the cages have been pretty clean as of now. Granted I've only had them for 2 weeks, but if I keep up my regiment of my care, how often should I actually clean the cages?

 

[Susie570]

I don't have many rabbits, so I have the luxury of cleaning at least once/twice a week.
I'm sure folks who have lots of rabbits can't do that or they would be doing nothing but cleaning cages, so I would just say... as often as you practically speaking are able.

 

[lereg15]

I don't have many rabbits, so I have the luxury of cleaning at least once/twice a week.
I'm sure folks who have lots of rabbits can't do that or they would be doing nothing but cleaning cages, so I would just say... as often as you practically speaking are able.

What do you do with the occupants while you're cleaning and it's drying?

 

[countmein]

You put our rabbits in a carrier or another empty cage while you clean their cage....

 

[lereg15]

I was thinking that could be a little long for them to be in a carrier.

 

[DBA]

I have rabbits in carriers for hours at a time when at rabbit shows.

 

[lereg15]

Ok. I didn't know if they could handle it that long.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Sometimes I go to 2 or 3 day shows and the rabbits are in carriers the whole time.

 

[lereg15]

Sometimes I go to 2 or 3 day shows and the rabbits are in carriers the whole time.

Wow! Ok, I can use my carriers then!!