Molting+constant preening...normal?

[Ijistcantsayno]

So Skye is definitely molting. I can see some pin feathers coming in. I assume his constant need to preen his feathers has to do with molting. The poor boy looks like he’s just. So. Uncomfortable. He’s scratching his head with his foot, then preening under his wings, then his tail, then his neck. It’s fairly constant. We come in the room he calls quick looks at us like where is my snack, then back to preening. I tried to give him a bath. I didn’t touch him, or even go near him. I just put a shallow clear dish of water on the bottom his cage. Well, let me tell you, he looked at the water and promptly flew to the opposite side of his cage. Flapped his wings and YELLED at me. I removed it after about 5 minutes. I must be an evil monster for suggesting he’s dirty I guess. Clearly he doesn’t want a bath. Any other tips or ideas to make this more bearable for him? I feel terrible that he seems so itchy. And to think he’s going to go through this twice a year...the poor baby!


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[Laurasea]

Birds preen a lot , even without molting.
Parakeets seem to like bathing less than other birds. You can actually give them wet leaves if lettace and they will bathe in that. Or very very shallow water. The sound of running water and splashing will trigger them to bathe
Also parrots often wait till we are with them to preen. That way we can keep watch so predators don't get them while they are distracted. As a prey species many of their behaviors are different than we are use to with our predator pets like cats and dogs.

 

[Ijistcantsayno]

Birds preen a lot , even without molting.
Parakeets seem to like bathing less than other birds. You can actually give them wet leaves if lettace and they will bathe in that. Or very very shallow water. The sound of running water and splashing will trigger them to bathe

Maybe if I use the lettuce and move him (in his cage) into the bathroom and turn on the shower? On second thought my husband can do that. Skye can associate him with anything that could be negative while my daughter and I bask in the glory of millet. I like that idea, not so sure the hubby will though.


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[Melscamp]

My budgies haven't figured out the barking yet. I have a tray outside the cage but it's still a scary box to them. I figure molting is part of their life and they will just deal as they can. I can't even imagine how horrible I would seem to them if I Spritz them with water. Hoping some other others chime in with tips.

 

[18WheelsOfSteel]

Mine aren't huge fans of being spritzed, but it is a mild annoyance at most, they love playing on wet toys and licking water off of them, and they never bother with holding a grudge on bath day

 

[Jasmine333]

So Skye is definitely molting. I can see some pin feathers coming in. I assume his constant need to preen his feathers has to do with molting. The poor boy looks like he’s just. So. Uncomfortable. He’s scratching his head with his foot, then preening under his wings, then his tail, then his neck. It’s fairly constant. We come in the room he calls quick looks at us like where is my snack, then back to preening. I tried to give him a bath. I didn’t touch him, or even go near him. I just put a shallow clear dish of water on the bottom his cage. Well, let me tell you, he looked at the water and promptly flew to the opposite side of his cage. Flapped his wings and YELLED at me. I removed it after about 5 minutes. I must be an evil monster for suggesting he’s dirty I guess. Clearly he doesn’t want a bath. Any other tips or ideas to make this more bearable for him? I feel terrible that he seems so itchy. And to think he’s going to go through this twice a year...the poor baby!


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Oliver is doing the same as Skye, except when I put the tub of warm water in he willingly went and sat on the edge of it, took a few sips of water, then flew back up to his perch.