Many birds are also very sloppy when they bathe and splash drops of water outside the cage. You can protect your carpets to a great extent by standing the cage on a sheet of plastic. The major bird allergen is derived from the powdery-like feather dust which collects in and around the cage, and which also circulates throughout the house. Feather dust, especially from Cockatoos and Cockatiels, builds up very rapidly in the room that contains the bird cage. Droppings that have dried in the bottom of the cage are another source of dust.
Birds digest their food quickly and create a great deal of waste matter.
To help keep the feather dust and droppings from building up, drying out, and becoming airborne, change the papers in the bottom of the cage at least once a day. Vacuum around the cage area to pick up any debris, loose feathers, or spilled seed husks that the bird has scattered about. Another effective way to decrease the build-up of dust is to install an air purifier in the room where the bird is kept. A more thorough cleaning is necessary about once a month. Before you do this, naturally, you must remove the bird and put it in a traveling cage or other container with plenty of airholes.