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Bathing Your Bird

Article Summary: Every bird needs a bath time.

It’s Bath Time!

Just like everyone, your bird needs to bathe. From the smallest finches to the largest macaws, just about every bird likes to shower or take a bath.

With smaller birds, you can place a large dish of water in the bottom of the cage and just let them go at it. Anytime you’re spreading water around a cage, you must change the papers and clean the cage immediately after the bath. Nothing is worse than wet newspaper or other material in the bottom of a cage. It’s a very effective breeding ground for bacteria and is simply not a good idea.

Another way of giving your bird a bath is to use a spray bottle. Make sure the bottle is totally clean and don’t use if for anything else other than water. Mo, our umbrella cockatoo, absolutely loves being sprayed. She will raise her wings to make sure she gets wet all over and just prances back and forth across the top of her cage, usually singing at the top of her lungs. We make bath time part of the cleaning process and Mo knows that, whent the vacuum comes out and the stereo goes on, there’s a bath coming!

Othello, our african grey, does not like being sprayed. She prefers to use her large water dish and splash water all over the place so she can make as big a mess as possible. It’s very important for greys and cockatoos to have their baths as they produce a dust to keep their feathers in shape and a bath helps control the dust.

Make sure the water is only luke warm and that the room is also a warm room. No drafts during bath time! If your bird likes it and will allow it, you can wrap your bird in a towel to help them dry. Do not use a hair dryer! It is too hot for a bird and can be dangerous. Most birds will just dry themselves and you don’t have to do anything. Sometimes, we set up a light bulb near the cage and the warmth from the light bulb is all they need. Also, do not use soap.

Bath time can be a fun time for you and your bird. I know people that bring their birds right into the shower with them although it’s something I’m not anxious to try, particularly with a larger bird. You can fill up the tub with no more than about two inches of water and just let your bird play in it. Try to use a towel in the bottom of the tub so your bird has something to hang on to and won’t slip. Usually a few minutes is enough but some birds will bathe for twenty minutes or more. Don’t rush it and let your bird enjoy their time getting clean.

Some birds are satisfied with once a week or so. Other birds prefer two or three times a week and some will take a bath every day if you let them. It’s a matter of preference and convenience but we recommend at least once a week. Introduce your bird slowly and before long bath time will become a major activity and everyone will be healthier and happier!

Article Source: http://www.upublish.info

About the Author:
Cliff Hagberg
About the Author Cliff Hagberg has worked with birds for over 30 years. He can be reached at info@birdcityusa.com. He is the owner of Bird City USA, an internet store for bird supplies that also supports a parrot rescue. Click Here for Bird City USA