Light and Nutrition

• Birds bred indoors do not receive much natural sunlight. Window glass filters out most UVA and UVB rays. Birds require UVA to see in the full spectrum and UVB to properly produce Vitamin D3, which regulates calcium metabolism. You can supplement UVA and UVB with specially designed full spectrum lights. Many food pellets also contain Vitamin D supplements. Breeding birds should eat a diet containing high-quality pellets as well as fresh fruits and vegetables and cooked rice, pasta and beans with a small amount of nuts and seeds. You should remove any uneaten fresh foods within four hours of feeding to avoid bacterial contamination.
  
  

Caging and Cleanliness

• Use the largest cage possible and provide a variety of enrichment in the form of toys and foraging. Clean the cage at least once a day, including changing the cage papers. You should also clean the room containing the cages at least once a week, floor to ceiling. Do not use any chemicals that release fumes in the same room as your bird. Vinegar is safe for regular use, as well as pressure washing cages between clutches; just make sure to contain the birds in travel carriers or other cages.
  
  

Air Quality and Temperature

• Birds require high air quality. They breathe using lungs and specialized air sacs making their respiratory function significantly more efficient than most other creatures'. Any toxin or chemical in the air can result in respiratory distress, failure and death. Indoor breeding requires a HEPA-grade filter of sufficient strength. You must change these filters regularly. Most popular bird breeds originated in tropical climates and many of them only breed during specific seasons. Controlling the temperature appropriately will provide the optimum stimulation and incentive to encourage your pairs to produce, as they do not produce cyclically but rather rely on environmental cues and factors.
  
  

Bathing and Humidity

• Birds require a certain level of humidity for good feather health. Without sufficient humidity levels, their feathers degrade and the likelihood of plucking increases dramatically. Regular bathing and steady humidity levels help prevent this. Many birds will bathe themselves in their water dishes if you provide a shallow, wide dish and enough clean water. If they do not bathe in their dishes, offer a soft misting from a spray bottle a few times a week.