A "Bird Bath"!

Hey everyone!

Last night i went to a very interesting party. My friend invited a bunch of bird owners/friends to bring their birds to their house. She called it a bird bath, similar to a baby shower. There were about eight birds from parolet, to lovebird, to conures, and quakers.

We played games and won prizes. Had a training session, socialized with each other and made bird toys. We all got lootbags for the birds containing healthy treats, samples of organic food, toys, herb salad, organic cherry tomatoes, and some information sheets.

The coolest part of the party was when the birds socialized. The cutest thing in the word happened, Tango (my dusky) was perching while my friends parrolet was preening him. Tango was so trusting he let the parrolet preen right near his eyes.

I think that everyone should give this bird bath idea a try, it was a very amazing experience. Not only did I enjoy it, but so did Tango.

It sounds like a fun time! I however would recommend never to bring your bird around other birds. Physical contact with a strange bird is very unsafe, due to diseases. I've seen the heartache many times. I hope your bird stays well.

I know it's not a hundred percent acurate, but all the birds that went are routinely checked by the same vet. We all use the same avian vet because it is the only one in the city. They all have their shots done and blood work is always checked. He seems fine now, but I hope he doesn't contract anything because a vet can always be wrong.

I have to agree with greycloud, probably not the best of ideas, there doesn't even need to be bird to bird contact, many diseases can also be transmitted by people unwittingly handling the same objects and then handling their birds, there is also the possiblity of airborne pathogens in close spaces, even though you all share the same avian vet that is by no way a guarantee that all birds are healthy, you can never tell what someone or their bird has come in contact with since its last check up, not trying to scare you, just trying to point out some things that many people overlook.....

So are you guys saying that it's not a good idea to socialize a bird. The bird would naturally socialize in the wild.

Just because theirs that slight small chance doesn't mean you should deprive your bird from other bird interactions. You wouldn't keep a dog inside a house just to protect it from all the different diseases it can come in contact to. Their are so many things that dogs can get from socializing with other dogs, and smelling/eating things. A dog can get rabies and, or distemper from just smelling/eating racoon feces(and dogs pick up things like this without pet parents even noticing). Kennel cough is a virus that is airbourne and dogs can contract it by just being in the same room.

Are you going to deprive your children from going outside just because of all the bacteria in the world. Human beings can get sick or hurt, but we take the risk to go out because in the long run their are more pros then cons.

Not to rant, but in my oppinion having a bird party is a great idea. Just make sure all the birds have their vaccines and all of them are in good health. Their are more pros then cons and birds shouldn't be deprived of socialization.

ArianJordan, I really do see your point of view and I dont think the members are saying that you must deprive your bird, I think they are just pointing out what could happen.

Birds do socialize but there is however a difference between wild birds and captive birds (all animals actually). Auggie's Dad is always making a joke about keeping our birds in a big bubble to protect them from diseases etc., but in actually fact that is exactly what we are unknowingly doing. Our houses and their cages are 'big bubbles'. From birth our birds are kept away from all the things that wild birds get in contact with and we do not really keep them healthy this way - we actually compromise their natural ability to adapt. ALL captive birds/animals immune systems are much weaker than the ones living outside. A snake for instance that is kept inside a glass cage - forever - has literally no immune system and gets sick from something as simple as a broken scale.

Therefore we can not compare them to dogs - who spends a lot of time outside and who do sniff others through the gate etc. - dogs are not wild, they are domesticated and they have strong immune systems. The same with people, we get in contact with bacteria etc. daily and our immune systems protect us. Everything else who are SUPPOSE to be living wild and free are constantly at risk for diseases because they've never build up a strong immune system.

Many people do not know the seriousness of this. At the end it still boils down to your own choice. I personally will get my parrot a mate if I wanted or felt that she needed to socialize with another of her own kind. I would first quarantine the new bird and have a vet check because I know that my girl has been living in a 'bubble' all her life and it is therefore my responsibility to not put her in harms way.

Lastly, I do not trust people because what they say and what they do are COMPLETELY two different things. They might say they are keeping their bird like this and doing that but when you go over to visit you find a completely different story. Dirty cages, dirty water, no baths etc. That, unfortunately, is FACT.

ArianJordan said:

My friend invited a bunch of bird owners/friends to bring their birds to their house. There were about eight birds from parolet, to lovebird, to conures, and quakers.

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I highlighted the key words. Firstly my friend invited - therefore you know none of these people and there were 8 people. This is where the risk come in and why I said that if you havent been at their house then you can not just accept that they speak the truth. I am saying this out of experience, 90% of the people out there do not keep their animals the way they are suppose to be kept. This puts you at risk. If you want to socialize then first get to know the people personally, see their house etc. You wont let your child go and visit at a stranger or with a stranger - the same goes for your bird but with even more caution.

I was not going to comment on this thread until the comment was made saying (Just because theirs that slight small chance doesn't mean you should deprive your bird from other bird interactions.)

You have no idea what horrors that slight chance might be...the saying "Crying in one's hands comes to mind." Although, I must say that it would be great to have get togethers with other owners and their birds. Why don't you get to know one parrot owner and be sure of their manner of caring for their parrot and that the parrot is healthy and let them so******e together - a parrot can only play with one parrot at a time so they are still so******ing and you are sure that no disease will be spread - bearing in mind that the correct procedure of disinfecting etc are taken into consideration.

Please note: Dogs are taken out on leashes for their safety and children are accompanied by their parents/guardians when leaving the house for their safety. Safety measures are implemented for all animals and for parrots the awareness of the spread of diseases is on par with being aware that if you let your dog loose in the traffic the chance of him/her being hit increases with the amount of cars on the road at that time....it's your choice but please don't get angry with any members who are trying to help...they are the ones who stand by other members through happy and sad times

I think it sounds like a fantastic idea in theory.

Obviously the risks are there too. It's down to each individual I suppose.

I personally wouldn't risk it as my very first budgie had to be put to sleep aged 9 because the family cat had played with, and killed a diseased bird which brought some sort of air borne virus into the house via his fur. The vet said that he was 99% sure that was the case and that it was common. Same with cats who kill and play in an area with myxamatosis and bring it home to pet rabbits.

I have a kitty puss now but due to her disposition, she has always been a house cat and would no sooner venture outside than put her head inside one of the dogs' jaws lol.

If you trust your friends and the condition of all the birds seems ok, I don't see the issue. No different to any number of older birds sitting in cages side by side at a Pet Shop.