Bathing

[ZephyrFly]

Because of my work I've only been able to give my bird (GCC) a bath once a week, but I stay with him until he's completely dry, which can be a couple hours to completely dry.
Do I have to?
I feel like i should be about til he's not dripping at least but will it be a health concern (or turn into one) if I bath him one morning when I'm around for an hour, enough time for him to no longer be dripping wet, but leave him (for work) to dry off the rest?

I want him to have more bathing chances but I know bathing late is bad if he's not completely dry but what about during the day?
Note: Latest someooooone ll be beack is 9 hours later/ earliest is 4 hours but it's not me (boyfriend is happy to do everything else but reluctant to take him out the living room after the bird flew into a wall with him. Boyfriend was more spooked than the bird)

Advice?

 

[Birdman666]

Does the bird dry any faster with you standing there watching him?!

It's fine. As long as he's indoors, and not exposed to excess cold.

Why would you need to be there for that?!

Oh, and my conures always enjoyed a good blow dry, lowest setting, arms length away from the bird... speeds things up a lot!

 

[ZephyrFly]

I would love to blow dry Pazu, but my hair dryer is naff. It doesn't dry my hair very well (weak blow) and I think it smells funny, maybe burning hair or something.

But thank you for the answer! It's reassuring. I just feel like I'll luck out and he'll catch a chill or something.
But if I'm just being silly I'll not worry, I'll have him out till he's not dripping and let him do the rest while I'm at work.

 

[DoodlesMom]

Pazu will be fine drip-drying, just make sure there's no drafts. Doodle takes a bath almost every day, if I dont fill her "pool" everyday she has a hissy! She shakes herself off and preens doing her pretty bird stretches till she dries.

 

[EdwardH]

My Eclectus would have a shower with me every morning, though only 3 times a week during mid winter - Jadie not me! He would love it and scratch at the door if I forgot to bring him in. He would get drenched and then some and he always dried naturally with no issues. His mate Ruby wasn't partial to a shower which was weird for an ecky ... whatever.

Take your bird into the shower with you that way it will mostly dry off by the time you leave for work. You might change the routine in winter but most months should be OK.

 

[LeaKP]

My gcc HATES baths outside of his cage. In fact, he only willingly bathes in his water dish. He takes a bath about 5 times a week (I have to change his water soooooo many times weekly it's crazy). He doesn't like being dried with a towel or blow dryer. He sits on top of his perch (have a dome top that opens up where I put a perch) preens and dries. Crazy bird

 

[Ann333]

Pumpkin LOVES water he takes several baths a day in his water bowl. He drip dries and is fine.

 

[ZephyrFly]

Well so far Pazu baths under a tap with my arm because if it's bath time he won't go near the tap unless my hand is there to stand on. After bath he shoots to the crook of my neck and shakes his tail in my face and occasionally puts his cold wet beak in my ear.
Bath time is quite funny.

 

[flyingron]

Bacca liked the hair drier the first few times, but now she seems contented to drip dry. Ours likes hanging out in the shower on her waterproof perch (out of the spray) and has learned to tolerate getting wet. Some day she might even like it. She's only on her fourth shower in years (her previous owner never took her out of the cage really let alone got her wet).