Birdie Tip: Cages should have a grate in the bottom to separate your bird from the droppings and food waste in the cage tray. If the grate is out and your bird is foraging in the bottom, I reckon it to be like allowing a child to play in the toilet. Exposure to bacteria and other pathogens is very likely when they play in the bottom of the cage.

Bird Brain Information: Birds have an extremely different respiratory system than any other animal. It is made up of air sacs and lungs. To move air in an out, birds need to be able to raise and lower the chest wall. If the chest is obstructed, the bird will suffocate.