Help ! Any ideas on how to remove wax from feathers !?

Livybear

New member
Jun 2, 2017
5
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West midlands
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White capped pionus
Need some safe ideas for removing wax from feathers!
She flew onto the window ledge last night and got some scented wax melt on her beak and feathers under beak.
My partner was quick enough to catch her in a towel a remove it from her beak but there is a patch directly under her beak on breast feathers about half an inch in height and an inch across. Its not thick or clumpy but is red and very visable and probably very annoying for her. Partner checked her and shes not burnt anywere luckily. Stupid me for forgetting melt was on . i feel so guilty. We couldnt do anything else last night because she was obviously stressed about being in towel. But i need to try and remove the wax asap. She seems fine shes not puffed up and shes eating and drinking normally , her poop looks as normal and she seems herself, she had a lucky escape !
But im panicking about how to get the rest off . we havent handled her much as we have only had her a few weeks . she will take food from me and let me scratch her in her cage and has just started to step up on perch to me. I dont want to hurt her or upset her or loose her trust . Its in such an awkward place to remove so any ideas would be amazing !!!! My poor baby :17:
 

plumsmum2005

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Nov 18, 2015
5,330
94
England, UK
Parrots
Lou, Ruby, and Sonu.
Fly free Plum, my gorgeous boy.
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Livybear

New member
Jun 2, 2017
5
0
West midlands
Parrots
White capped pionus
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Just called them and they said to try and clean off with warm water and cotton wool whilst we wrap her in a towel.not sure how water will remove it ?
And yes candles /melts are now banned from the house.
 

SailBoat

Supporting Member
Jul 10, 2015
17,643
10,007
Western, Michigan
Parrots
DYH Amazon
Just called them and they said to try and clean off with warm water and cotton wool whilst we wrap her in a towel.not sure how water will remove it ?
And yes candles /melts are now banned from the house.

The 'warm' water is the clue to this discussion. That is the upside of that discussion. The down side is it takes a long time depending on the thickness of the wax. You are also faced with 'transfer' from one group of feathers to another. The other approach is with ice, which hardens the wax and possibly cause it too crumble. NOTE: Using ice had been used to remove wax from clothing, etc... and should not be used as a tool with Parrots because of the likelihood of inducing freezing of the skin!!!

This is a subject that lucky is not as common as it once was as the use of candles has continued to decline over the years. At one point many years ago, the practice was to physically remove those feathers as a means of limiting the effect of transfer. I'm not recommending this approach (as a DIY) and I would differently not recommend that an Owner with limited knowledge of Parrots undertake it.

The advice that you have been provided above of 'seeing' your AV is highly recommended!
 
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Livybear

New member
Jun 2, 2017
5
0
West midlands
Parrots
White capped pionus
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Yes hopefully the warm will help remove it. I will try not to get any on othet feathers . it isnt thick luckily so maybe it will work. Will stick to the advise from AV and if all else fails will call again and take her there. Just waiting on partner to return home to help as he has kept birds for many years , just not exotic so he knows how to handle them a lot better than me.
Will update after
Thank you
 

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