New bird owners often have questions about the proper ways
to bathe
their birds.
The truth is, there are few right answers. Bathing your pet bird
is as important as bathing your dog or cat to keep your bird in good health.
Every bird is an individual, and as such, will display unique
characteristics in regards to grooming behavior. Some birds love to play in
the water, and relish their time in the bath. Some birds have not been
conditioned to accept bathing, and resist contact with water, despite the
fact
that daily showers would be a part of their natural grooming activity
in the wild.
In the wild, a bird gets dirty while foraging for food and from
around-the-clock exposure to the elements. To keep clean, a bird may bathe
during a rain shower, find a puddle, lake, or stream,
or playfully hop through wet grasses and vegetation.
In your home, however, your pet bird faces much different challenges. A
cage, for example,
can quickly become more soiled than any nest in the wild. Your pet relies on
you to keep it fresh. Also, the temperature-controlled environment your pet
shares with you is likely to be much dryer than the one they would otherwise
experience, especially if you have forced-air heat or an
air conditioner.
Indoors, your bird's skin can become very dry, making bathing or misting
essential. Bathing birds is a natural and necessary part of their regular
routines, just like good diets, fun toys and interaction with their human
friends. Bathing maintains their plumage by helping to remove dust, extra
oils, dander, loose feathers, and insect pests, while supplying supplemental
moisture. Bathing also maintains the insulation properties of feathers,
moistens the skin, and keeps their skin and feathers in tip-top shape. It's
also helpful during molting, for birds with respiratory ailments,
hyperactive birds, pluckers and those easily bored.
Most birds need little, if any, encouragement to bathe. Simply providing the
means does the
job. But it may take a bit of experimentation and observation to learn your
bird's preferences.
Just as birds vary in personality, so do they vary in
how they prefer to bathe.
So why do so many people rarely bathe their birds, or say their bird
"hates" a bath?
What constitutes an effective bird bath?
An effective bird bath is a good, freshwater rinse or a misting from a spray
bottle, or regular
use of commercial sprays. Because soap removes the natural oils from
feathers, over dries the skin and feathers, and is difficult to rinse off,
it should be avoided altogether. If your bird gets into any substance that
won't easily rinse away with water or spray, contact your veterinarian for
assistance. Because water streams can be powerful, and temperature extremes
can be dangerous, bathing must be handled with care. Birds should always be
supervised when bathing. And you should never force your bird to bathe.
Resistance may be a sign of illness or just plain fear. Birds know when they
aren't in shape for a soaking.
Many birds enjoy bathing every day, while others only bathe occasionally.
Start by offering a bath to your bird once or twice weekly. You will quickly
learn the bird's preferences. You should also increase bathing during
molting to help pin feathers come through, reduce their itch, and soften the
keratin for easy removal.
How do you bathe your bird?
There are so many options! Take him in the shower with you! You can purchase
a special
shower perch that easily attaches to your shower door! You can also use a
spray nozzle with
the bird in the sink, plant misters or bowls of shallow water. Please be
sure the water is NOT HOT! If you mist your bird with a spray bottle, spray
your hand first and be sure the water is lukewarm.
Keep everything in moderation.
Birds have a body temperature of about 105 degrees, maintained in large part
by their feathers. To avoid chilling your bird, use lukewarm to moderately
cool water for baths. During the bath,
and while the bird is drying, be sure that the room is warm and that there
are no drafts. Try to bathe your bird early in the day so that she will be
completely dry before it goes to sleep.
Some larger birds will allow you to help dry them. Try wrapping your parrot
or cockatiel, for example, in a towel and gently stroking her body in the
direction that the feathers lay. Most parrots enjoy being cuddled in a towel
post-bath, which soaks up excess moisture. This also fosters trust and helps
birds get used to toweling as a gentle, positive experience. Never use
an electric hair dryer. It can seriously and quickly burn your bird, and may
even emit toxic
fumes. Many hair dryers (especially new ones) have a Teflon coating which,
when very hot,
emit the same toxic fumes as non-stick cookware and is deadly to birds.
After a healthy bath, you may notice your bird's chest muscles shivering.
This behavior is
not due to the cold, but rather the result of muscles contracting and
expanding to generate
body heat and help dry the feathers.
Where to bathe?
Owners of small birds usually find it convenient to make arrangements for
in-cage bathing.
Owners of larger birds have more out-of-cage options.
Choosing the right option will reduce hassles and make bathing enjoyable for
you and your bird:
In-cage bathing options
For in-cage bathing, select a short, heavy, and stable bowl or cooking dish,
and fill it with
water one to two inches deep. The low height is beneficial for perching and
helps reduce
tipping. In their exuberance, however, birds may splash water over the rim,
wetting the
bedding below. To avoid creating a breeding ground for bacteria, fungus, and
mold, be
sure to replace the bedding any time it becomes over-saturated.
Cage-mounted bath - Well-designed baths can be temporarily attached
to the side
of the cage. These are fun for the bird, can be removed for easy
cleaning, and help
keep moisture
away from the cage floor.
Some birds will bathe themselves by rubbing their feathers against moistened
greens placed
in their cage. In addition to promoting cleanliness, the greens also help
round out your bird's
diet.
Out-of-cage options
Shower perch - If you have a large bird, you can position a shower perch
where she can be
an observer, a splashee, or directly in-stream. Most showering birds can
tolerate only a gentle spray. Avoid full-blast, hard sprays and be sure the
water is not hot. In time, your bird will let
you know how much water she
prefers.
Kitchen sink, bath, or laundry room tub - Your bird may enjoy the spray
attachment on your
sink or tub. Be sure to control the strength of the water coming out of the
nozzle,
and never point it directly in your bird's face.
How often should you bathe your bird?
Bathing should be done daily, year-round and early in the day so your bird
dries thoroughly
before bedtime. If you can't bathe your bird daily, then be sure to at least
bathe or mist her
2-3 times a week. Feather pluckers and moulting birds need baths as often as
possible.
Tips you can try for the reluctant bird:
1. Sometimes even the vacuum cleaner can stimulate a bird to bathe. If you
notice every time you turn on the vacuum, your bird bathes in his water
dish, try bathing or showering with the vacuum on in the background
2. Birds love toys! Put a rubber toy in a bowl and let your bird play with
it...he'll get the idea!
3. Birds are incredibly intelligent! Show your bird how you laugh and have
fun in the shower!
Spray yourself, laugh and have fun!
4. Try little mini baths at first and pay attention to what your bird is
enjoying. And use lots of praise and encouraging words!
Because birds are sensitive to fumes and susceptible to germs, you should
clean sinks and tubs with water and mild, unscented dish soap, and then
rinse thoroughly, before bathing. And as a measure of protection for you and
your family, clean the bath area thoroughly afterward.
Summary Tips
Bathe your bird in lukewarm to moderately cool water
Fill bathing bowls only one to two inches deep
Never spray directly into your bird's face
Never expose your wet bird to the cold or drafts
Never use soap
Bathe your bird early in the day to allow adequate drying time
Never force your bird to bathe
Never use an electric blow dryer on your bird
Consult you veterinarian if your bird becomes soiled with a substance that
is difficult to remove
