Frequency of baths

[TortoiseLady17]

How often should we bath our birds? Our quacker has a dish he baths in when he wants. Our amazon, and cockatoo we put in the shower. Our grey we have not tried yet, but he has used his water bowl.

Should it be daily, weekly, biweekly? Does it vary with each species?

Thanks

 

[wenz2712]

I think it depends entirely on your individual Bird.. Codie does not like the shower, but she likes being sprayed with a fine mist water spray bottle.. This I do 3 times a Week.. She stands on her playstand and spreads her wings out, then turns round and round until she has had enough

 

[ConureCrazy]

I say about 2 times (maybe 3) a week. My GCCs hate the mister; they look at it like a torture device. So i put them in the kitchen sink and off they go! They love it. Usually when they bathe in their water bowl I know when they want a shower and take them to the sink because they can only fit their heads in that tiny bowl, yet they're trying to get their whole bodies wet! Bottom line, I say 2-3 times a week.

 

[terry52449]

I give Cameo a shower at least twice a week and sometimes up to four times. Weather in Wisconsin will make much of the decision to shower her more or not. Cold weather dries out they`re skin so badly so I try to give her more showers then. I also use pure lanolin on her feet to keep moist.

 

[WannaBeAParrot]

I just came across this thread -- Pritti used to bathe every day, now maybe a couple times a week. He bathes in his water dish -- always has for 30 years. He methodicaly flings water from beak all over body, flaps wings to spread and gets soaked through and through, then goes up to same corner on top of cage every time to preen and dry - and he wants to be left alone usually until he is dry (I think he feels vulnerable when wet). I've tried spray, sprinkle, sink with a little water, shower - he totally FREAKS OUT, even with just a little flick or splash of water. He runs in tho the nearest wall if there isn't a hiding place. Vet said it's normal and just let him bathe when he feels like it.

What do think? Should I try to get him to let me spray him? Any tips? Or, am I making too much of a big deal out of the fewer baths per week? Sometimes I tell him that he needs a bath because he's starting to get stinky. He doesn't listen, lol.

Thanksl

 

[Oedipussrex]

Pickle used to think showers were the best things in the whole wide world followed closely by the magical warm air blower that came after it.
He never tried to bathe himself when we first got him, which is why we showered him, and once it was evident he liked them he got them frequently, on as many days that i had enough morning time to do it.

That is, until he started losing his feathers, and i guess hes just always uncomfortable, but he HATES them now, he still lets me shower him briefly a few times a week, but he wouldn't chose to -i know. Hes pretty passive so its still possible but it is a bit sad the only reason he puts up with it i think is because he knows he gets loads of cuddles and fun while he dries. :3

 

[DebsFlock]

Scooter likes sink baths and when he goes for the water dish I know I've left it too long between. Scotty will ONLY bathe in his water dish and it's pretty silly watching a bird that size bathe in a dish that tiny, but he has rejected all other options. I need to get a mister for the tiel, he has yet to successfully bathe.

I used to offer baths every day, now it's way more hit and miss I fear.

 

[lokiNotis]

Loki loves to take a bath. We tell him you stink go take a bath and he will go down to his water bowl and bathe. Now Otis on the the hand hated it until we got the new bird. Their cages are about 4 feet apart and Otis can see him so when we first got the new guy Otis decided to start bathing. I don't know if he is trying to impress the new guy or what.

 

[lene1949]

I just came across this thread -- Pritti used to bathe every day, now maybe a couple times a week. He bathes in his water dish -- always has for 30 years. He methodicaly flings water from beak all over body, flaps wings to spread and gets soaked through and through, then goes up to same corner on top of cage every time to preen and dry - and he wants to be left alone usually until he is dry (I think he feels vulnerable when wet). I've tried spray, sprinkle, sink with a little water, shower - he totally FREAKS OUT, even with just a little flick or splash of water. He runs in tho the nearest wall if there isn't a hiding place. Vet said it's normal and just let him bathe when he feels like it.

What do think? Should I try to get him to let me spray him? Any tips? Or, am I making too much of a big deal out of the fewer baths per week? Sometimes I tell him that he needs a bath because he's starting to get stinky. He doesn't listen, lol.

Thanksl

If it works, don't fix it...

I used to have to say that to my teenage son, when he was using my computer...

 

[SpringCottageParrot]

Casper usually showers every couple of days with a mister bottle. Lets just say he tolerates it although he doesn't get very wet.
Today, because he has started moulting Margaret decided that a bath was the order of the day so put about an inch of tepid water in the kitchen sink and dumped him in and started splashing water over his back. He wasn't best pleased and tried to climb out a couple of times but didn't fight back.
He was so glad to be taken back to his cage that he flew the last six feet, making his usual five point landing. He is now sitting at the top of the cage basking in the warmth of the health lamp and pretending he has a smoker's cough.

 

[Rana]

I can't have the kitchen tab running without scottie nearly jumping underneath it. he has a bath pretty much everyday and sometimes even twice a day.
Little is not so much of a fan, but then again we have much to learn about him in general i think it depends from bird to bird but just to avoid itchy skin etc, at least once a week wouldn't probably be a bad thing

 

[cdnbirdlover]

I spritzed Basil my lovie every morning when we got him 4 months ago. He didn't appear to enjoy it but would brace himself for the spray and sometimes turn around for the other side (not always). I caught him trying to have a bath in his water dish the other day and promptly got him a proper lovebird sized bird bath. He bathed in it immediately but hasn't really used it since (other than to drink out of it, sigh). I stopped spritzing him, thinking he preferred baths to showers (just like some humans!) but now I'm rethinking that. Is he bathing enough if left to his own devices? Should I spritz him anyway? He's only had his bird bath for about a week.

Andrea and Basil

 

[SpringCottageParrot]

As he took the initiative with the bath why not try to encourage him to use it by putting a couple of toys that he likes in there?

 

[shiju]

My irn parrot is 2 months old.. at what age should i start giving him bath??