Unexpected Baths

[ZephyrTK]

Today, Emmy, decided her water bowl was a bird bath and climbed completely in her bowl and hung out for a second and then climbed out of her bowl. Needless to say, she was absolutely drenched.

She immediately freaked out and started shivering. I took her to a dark room and cuddled her in a towel for about 30 minutes to keep her warm. Then, without seeing another option, I used a hair-dryer set on low to dry her completely out.

2 questions: how do you all keep your bird from doing this? This is the second time she has literally crawled into her bath water and sat there in it. She doesn't get the bathing thing.

Second, how do you dry your birds?

Thanks!!

 

[SandyBee]

LOL

We have a African brown head parrot, about the same size as a conure.
She does this too!!
I'm not sure there is a way to stop it, we get out the mister with luke warm water and let her continue her bath.
Now she hates being made to take a shower or bath when she doesn't want to, but if she decides it's time then we have a 20 minute shower.

After that we turn up the heat so it's warm, we have a gas fireplace in our living room so she basks in that heat too.

Baths are really good for their feathers and help in preening.
After that she is all happy and chirps, whistles and talks up a storm then proceeds to eating and then a good nap LOL

 

[strasia93]

Our two conures looove taking a bath. We got a galss pie plate for them to use when they are out of their cage. They have so much fun it it, they can really drench everything around them. We bought two water dishes for their cage since they still ike to bathe in their cage too. Like SandyBee said it is good for them, so it is better to just let them do it and make it a good thing by giving them a better place to splash aroun in. Happy birds!

 

[MargaretB3]

At least yours likes bathing..mine just likes to stick his beak in the water..doesn't seem to want to get wet.

 

[horsesculpter]

Not sure why you want to keep your bird from bathing? They need this for their feathers and I do believe there is also some soul satisfaction Here. Bathing is important to birds and yours is telling you she wants one. If you don't want her in the water dish give her a bowl to bath in and go ahead and dry her afterwards if she needs it.

 

[ZephyrTK]

Not sure why you want to keep your bird from bathing?

I'm not against her bathing. I would like it to be more controlled so I can make sure it's safe. Also, with winter around the corner, I want to make sure she gets dry instead of being wet and cold.

How do people dry their birds on cold days?

 

[horsesculpter]

Our little Quaker used to have a bath in her water dish if she didn't get a bath when she wanted. I'm sure she had them when we weren't around, but it never caused a problem. I put Sunny in a warm place to air dry and add a heater on a cold day if necessary. I have also used a hair dryer, but prefer to let her preen her feathers and dry herself. She seems to enjoy it.

 

[SandyBee]

Just keep the room nice and warm, also when they appear to be shivering I have read and been told that is just their way of letting more air into their feathers to help them dry

 

[MeganMango]

I keep the main floor of our house at 72 for Mango. He showers with us and completely soaks himself. At first he wouldnt bath at all, so we tried the shower and now we cant shower without him. He screams bloody murder and jumps off his cage and heads for the bathroom. I was worried about him being so wet and showering too often so I asked the vet. She said that birds can bath daily and completely soak themselves regularly without any adverse effects. She did say however that if he soaks himself regularly to make sure to keep the heat on in the house and not to let it fall below 68. Before we hop in the shower (this is loads of fun your bird might enjoy it, they make shower perches just for this) we turn the heat up to 75. Afterward I carefully dab up any water beads with a towel (he hates this), and when I blow dry my hair I take Mango with me. I dont blow him directly, but he loves to watch and talk to himself in the mirror. The room warms up because of the blow dryer and he preens and fluffs himself (birds like flock activities and grooming is a good thing to do together, just make sure there isnt harsh cleaners or products that could make your birdy sick). It doesnt take long for the inside of his feathers (the part close to his body, probably has a proper name but I dont know it) to dry even though the tips and the top of his head stays wet. I then take him back to his cage and he proceeds to fight with all his toys (feeling full of himself) and then takes a big nap. When he wakes he grooms himself for a good hour. I have yet to see him shiver and I dont actively dry him.

 

[ZephyrTK]

When you shower with your bird do you use your bathing products as usual? I've wondered about this and if the fumes would make them sick or affect them.

I think Emmy would enjoy showering being a "flock" event.

 

[MonicaMc]

Many people use regular shampoo and conditioner without problems around their birds... but most try and make sure not to get any on the birds themselves!

If hair care products is a concern, one could always go "Poo-Free" and use baking soda as a wash and ACV as a conditioner. As much as I like shampoo and conditioner, I decided to try going "Poo-Free" because I don't like how the shampoo/conditioner makes my hair feel after 1-2 days! Being poo-free, my hair stays cleaner for longer, and I don't even need to use ACV! Although, the ACV does help keep my hair from getting all staticky...

There's also the option of going "Sorta-Poo" which is something like castile soap mixed with coconut milk. This is supposedly great for people with very fine hair (I have thick hair) and/or those with curly/wavy hair.


Having gone "poo-free" - I honestly can't go back to using shampoo and conditioner! I can't stand how it makes my hair feel after the first day! I like having long hair but I don't enjoy cleaning it every day, so it works for me!

 

[MeganMango]

I slide Mango's perch to the back of the shower when I shampoo, and I make sure he doesnt get it on him. I dont use conditioner, but I do use a leave in conditioner that I put in when Mango isnt around. It doesnt have a smell or anything, I only use it a couple of times a month. Dave calls me to collect Mango before he uses his body wash because it has a strong smell and we like to be extra careful.

 

[WannaBeAParrot]

Pritti stays out of the shower perching while shampoo and soap products are being used, then when they are entirely down the drain, he can come under the shower.

I blow dry if it is too cool. Funny thing is that he makes like he doesn't like it and fusses. But if I point it to an area like a foot from where he is sitting, he slowly steps over to the stream of air and gets in it -- every time !! What a clown. What a manipulator. Hahaha.

 

[MeganMango]

Pritti stays out of the shower perching while shampoo and soap products are being used, then when they are entirely down the drain, he can come under the shower.

I blow dry if it is too cool. Funny thing is that he makes like he doesn't like it and fusses. But if I point it to an area like a foot from where he is sitting, he slowly steps over to the stream of air and gets in it -- every time !! What a clown. What a manipulator. Hahaha.

Thats so funny, they are such characters! Mango doesnt like the blow dryer, but there are loads of birds who do. He gets really nervous if the air gets him so I avoid it. No need to stress him out.

 

[Kern2012]

My Cooper does the same thing even when I offer her, her bath water! I mostly take Cooper in the shower with me, I normally towel dry her but I will blow dry her

 

[Akraya]

I don't think you should worry, my guys only bath when the waters ice cold (even ice cubes included sometimes!) As long as the room he's in isn't too cold he should be alright!

 

[MollyGreenCheeks]

Needless to say, she was absolutely drenched.

She immediately freaked out and started shivering. I took her to a dark room and cuddled her in a towel for about 30 minutes to keep her warm. Then, without seeing another option, I used a hair-dryer set on low to dry her completely out.

2 questions: how do you all keep your bird from doing this? This is the second time she has literally crawled into her bath water and sat there in it. She doesn't get the bathing thing.

Second, how do you dry your birds?

Thanks!!

There is nothing wrong with the shivering! She was not doing it due to being cold, she was doing is because its a natural response that is used to help dry the feathers. It just helps to loosen the feathers up from one another which in turn results in faster drying.

As for the hair dryer, many people use them but they are not recommended as they will dry out the skin. The main thing to remember pertaining to birds bathing is try not to allow them to do it in the evening because you don't want them wet during bedtime also you want to keep them away from drafts.

Lastly, it's up to the bird if they want to bathe in cold water or not. In nature bird do bathe in cold water at times. For the first year my Molly would only bathe in very cold tap water. BTW, a bird can bathe in water and come out virtually dry if they choose. It's all how they "turn or tuck" their feathers. That's how they stay dry in a rain storm while in the wild.