Does my bird need a bath?
Bathing is essential for a bird’s feather maintenance and skin hydration. It keeps feathers dirt-free and encourages birds to preen (groom) their feathers, which helps to preserve their wonderful, natural luster. Bathing also helps the bird remove the dander that collects on the feathers and skin when they preen. In the wild, a bird may bathe during a rain shower or in a puddle, lake, or stream. Some birds nuzzle playfully in wet grasses and vegetation.
Indoor air is dry due to central heating and air conditioning, and that dry air does not help maintain healthy feathers and skin. For that reason, you should encourage your pet bird to bathe at least 3 to 4 times a week. Most pet birds are hand-reared by human caretakers, so they are not taught proper ways to bathe or groom themselves. If you offer your bird an area for bathing and they do not bathe, you may have to spritz them with fresh water 1 to 2 times a week.
How often should my bird bathe?
Birds should be offered a bath daily. Whether they choose to bathe every day depends on the bird. Many birds enjoy bathing every day, while others prefer to bathe only occasionally. Birds should be encouraged to bathe often, as their feathers and skin will be healthier if they bathe frequently. Start by offering a bath to your bird once or twice weekly. You may notice that your bird has a preference about the time of day it likes to bathe — try to offer the bath at that time.
How should I bathe my bird?
If your bird wants to take a bath, it will do most of the work — you only need to supply lukewarm water.
- Some birds enjoy splashing in a dish of water and may try to submerge themselves in their drinking cups.
- You can also get a special bathing chamber that attaches to the side of a small bird’s cage to keep water from splashing around. Make sure you clean these bathing stations every day to prevent bacterial buildup in the water and on the surfaces of the bathing station.
- A shallow sink of water is another convenient place for birds to bathe. Many birds like to frolic under a gentle trickle of water from the tap while dipping their head and fluttering their wings in the water.
- Your bird may enjoy showering with you, sitting on a special perch that sticks to tile with suction cups, at the back of the shower. Direct water pressure from the showerhead may frighten or even hurt your bird, so it is best to put the perch away from the direct spray, where the bird can be splashed gently.
- Some smaller birds, such as finches and canaries, will wet themselves on the moisture dripping from freshly washed vegetation, such as carrot tops or leafy greens.
You can also use a clean spray bottle, such as a plant mister, to gently mist your bird, simulating rain. Your bird may dance excitedly with its wings in the air and tail fanned out as it turns to catch as much of this light “rain” as possible. You might even tire of spraying the bird before the bird tires of being sprayed!
If your municipality has chlorinated tap water, use bottled water for bathing instead. Never use commercial bathing solutions on birds, as they contain chemicals, soaps, or other ingredients that can be harmful when ingested. Birds ingest anything on their feathers as they preen, and many ingredients that are safe topically are not safe when ingested. Only use water to mist birds. Consult your veterinarian for directions if you need to remove something from your bird’s feathers.
Should I dry my bird?
If you bathe your bird in the morning, they have a good opportunity to dry. A sunny, warm room, free of drafts, provides your bird with a comfortable place to dry out and preen, without getting chilled. Some birds enjoy being gently dried with a warm hair dryer, but you must be extremely careful not to overheat the bird. A hair dryer can also dry the skin too quickly, negating the positive effects of the bath. Do not force your bird to be dried this way if it is frightened by the dryer.
