Parrot bath time!

[saurian]

I'm just wondering:


1. How often do you bathe a parrot?
2. How do you do it?
3. Soaps, yes or no? If so, which?


I went onto Google before asking here but there are a lot of conflicting answers, and I don't want to take any risks.

 

[noodles123]

My bird SUCKS at bathing. I do not ever use soap.

I spray her down every few days and let her splash in a glass pie plate but she won't take a real bath (I wish she would).

I do not spray her in the face and avoid getting water in her nares. I use lukewarm water in the pie plate (closer to cool than warm) and room temperature water in the spray bottle.

I worry about the house being too cold when she is wet, which is why I don't do it as often. A warm house (73 F) is still going to be too cold for a wet bird, given their difficulties regulating body temperature.

Lots of people warm up a single room for their wet birds, but I haven't found a safe space-heater (Teflon/PTFE/PFOA free) that I feel comfortable using to do this. Some people blow-dry birds, but again, you have to call to make sure there is no Teflon/PTFE/PFOA in there and then there is the fact that many birds will be scared of the sound...plus, you don't want to blow hot air on them. Mine hates it so I am stuck letting her air-dry. I will sometimes quickly pat her off with a towel, but I don't wrap her up in one because I don't want to make her hormonal.

 

[LaManuka]

How often do I bathe my parrots? Well if it’s Lilly and Val, they just chuck themselves into their water dishes whenever the mood strikes, not surprisingly more often in hot weather although Lilly is a year-round water baby

Fang doesn’t like the water dish so much but he LOVES a good misting with a squirt bottle. I aim the mist above his head so that the water falls on him like a natural rain shower and he stretches his wings out to catch as much water as possible. Last week he got himself so soaked he was almost too heavy to fly!

Oh and PS no need for soap!

 

[T00tsyd]

Syd has a favourite bowl which is actually a pottery dog water bowl. It's big enough for him to spread out in and get a real soak. In Summer he might soak twice in a day but now Autumn is coming it seems to be every couple of days. I know it's time when he shows interest in the running tap but he would never go under it. He hates sprays too. Usually cold water or in Winter I add a little to make it tepid.The bowl is the only bath for him. He stole it from the dog!

 

[Jottlebot]

When people talk about bathing parrots they can mean a range of things from taking them in the shower, letting them play under a running tap, giving them a bowl/dish with water in to misting them with a water bottle. I would always say it is less hands on than bathing a dog, for example. You provide the water supply and the bird decides how to make use of it! I have never heard of any type of soap being used.

Different birds like different things. Some like to be sprayed, others prefer to bathe in a bowl some like everything some don't like anything.

 

[Scott]

Some but not all of my birds enjoy bathing. Once weekly is adequate for most, more often during hot summer weather.

I typically use a 28 ounce (0.8L) spray bottle with adjustable nozzle, filled with room-temperature water. Important to purchase a new bottle not previously used with potentially noxious chemicals. Cheap and readily available at the ubiquitous "Dollar Stores," imagine you have similar in the U.K. As others suggested, no soaps or additives.

If the bird is timid and uncooperative, select a very fine mist and spray upwards at an angle, allowing the droplets to naturally descend. For eager birds, a more liberal dose can be directly targeted.

Typical inexpensive bottle. Use for a while, then discard to avoid potential mold buildup in inaccessible areas.

 

[Laurasea]

When people talk about bathing parrots they can mean a range of things from taking them in the shower, letting them play under a running tap, giving them a bowl/dish with water in to misting them with a water bottle. I would always say it is less hands on than bathing a dog, for example. You provide the water supply and the bird decides how to make use of it! I have never heard of any type of soap being used.

Different birds like different things. Some like to be sprayed, others prefer to bathe in a bowl some like everything some don't like anything.

Yep I offer a big dish with shallow water every couple of days, I offer the water spray bottle and they come running if they want a spritz, or they use their bowl. My GCC chooses to have a bath almost every day, the Quakers every couple of days.
No soap never!

 

[clark_conure]

http://www.parrotforums.com/conures/77849-clark-gcc-taking-his-bath.html

is typical,

now we also shower because zods not good in the ice tray,

also i got a mister but that mostly for fun.....

 

[Flboy]

NEVER any type of soaps!
My JoJo also loves his big ceramic dog bowl!

Day zero being the day of his bath, here is the progression to the next.

Day one- 10% or less chance. Will bite me if I try to place him on the bowl a second time!
Day two- 15% chance. Will bite me if I try to place him on the bowl a second time!
Day three- 50/50! Will sit on the edge of the bowl and think about it!
Day four- waiting on the faucet for me to remember my place in all of this!

He will tolerate a spray or two, but!

 

[Kiwibird]

I use a plant mister (have found its easier on the hand than a spray bottle, but those work fine too) and occasionally bring my bird right in the shower (or more my husband does). He also will take it upon himself to bathe in his water dish even though he’s a large bird and doesn’t fit very well

Parrots should NEVER be washed with any kind of soap or substances. Even though there have been “bird shampoos” on the market before, these are dangerous and should never be used. There is absolutely no need. Just plain water in a bottle that has never been used to hold anything but water, under the shower (warm but not hot) or in a shallow dish or pan is more than enough to keep your bird clean. Also, some birds prefer warm water, others cold, some like a drenching shower, others prefer to bathe themselves in a dish or pan of water. It takes some time to figure out what option a bird prefers.

 

[GaleriaGila]

Great thread! A couple of good belly-laughs already.

The Rb is a lazy, hesitant bather, but he can be enticed into a big, shallow pan once a week or so, for a good flap. I mist him, amidst his furious protests, a few times a week, because his vet recommends it.

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

Amy enjoys a good shower. In summer weather we go outside and put him on his X-perch and use a new/fresh/clean misting bottle. When he REALLY wants one I can go thru three bottles (32oz) each,his arms spread wide and head flinging like Linda Blair In the cooler/colder weather he has no problem joining me in the shower,but doesn't have all the room to wave his arms. I then roll him up in a bath or dish towel and pat him down real good and let him air dry.
BB is allergic to water or so he tries to make me believe. There has only been a handful of times where I could turn the kitchen faucet on a slight drizzle and he would act like he was having a seizure and roll around waving his arms then get out.
He now also joins me in the shower where I can hold him and open his arms for him and give him a good soaking. He seems to like it only because he is with his favorite person..ME!
He also gets wrapped/rolled around in a towel and air dries.

NEVER use any type of soap! I have one of those commercial brand bird bath sprays and even though it says all natural ingredience ( aloa and such) I don't use it.

Jim

 

[noodles123]

Amy enjoys a good shower. In summer weather we go outside and put him on his X-perch and use a new/fresh/clean misting bottle. When he REALLY wants one I can go thru three bottles (32oz) each,his arms spread wide and head flinging like Linda Blair In the cooler/colder weather he has no problem joining me in the shower,but doesn't have all the room to wave his arms. I then roll him up in a bath or dish towel and pat him down real good and let him air dry.
BB is allergic to water or so he tries to make me believe. There has only been a handful of times where I could turn the kitchen faucet on a slight drizzle and he would act like he was having a seizure and roll around waving his arms then get out.
He now also joins me in the shower where I can hold him and open his arms for him and give him a good soaking. He seems to like it only because he is with his favorite person..ME!
He also gets wrapped/rolled around in a towel and air dries.

NEVER use any type of soap! I have one of those commercial brand bird bath sprays and even though it says all natural ingredience ( aloa and such) I don't use it.

Jim

Loving the Linda reference lol!