How important is Bathing?

[Barrett]

In my intro I stated I've only had my Quakers 1 month. In that time they have not bathed, tho I put a large container of water in their cage everyday..fresh & warm. I have misted them on a weekly basis with warm water and they appear to like it most of the time. But they refuse to go near anything new or different in their cage. I know they are territorial..and we are now into the 2nd month since they have found me. Still no sign of them wanting to bath themselves..Should I continue the mistings??

[Amanda]

Barrett, I would continue to mist the quakers if I were you. Some birds do not like to bathe, and some do not like showers. It's all a very individual thing. However, it is very good for all birds to have either a shower/bath because it is good for their feathers and skin. If your quakers seem to like the "showers" and are tolerating it, then I would just continue with that and get rid of the bath water. Be very careful how long you leave the bath water in their cage. I'm assuming that you have placed this bath water at the bottom of the cage? If so, please monitor very carefully for feces in the water ... because you wouldn't want your birds to be drinking that.

[birdygirl]

Ok. This is a trick that helps birds learn to bathe better. Amanda posted it somewhere else on the site. Take the vacuum by there cage(don't do this if they are terrified of it you will do more damage than help) Turn the vacuum on. When it is on they may open their wings and spread out all their feathers. That is a sign that they want a shower. Take the spray bottle and mist them. They will close their wings and bring their feathers close to them when they don't want the shower anymore. Good Luck

This worked with Sophie my bath hating pionus.

[Love Bird B]

Whew Birdygirl, I have horrible nightmarish thoughts about turning the vacuum on anywhere near a bird, even when they're in a cage. What exactly is the purpose of the vacuum? Why would they open up their wings to that?

[Mrs.Birdy]

Yes, I have heard about using the sound of the vacuum too. I read it several places and have been told by a few different "bird people".

The sound of the vacuum simulates the sound in a rainforest and the birds instinctly open their wings to get wet.

My birds don't react this way to the vacuum, they freeze up like statues.

Normally, they like to bathe and shower, so I don't have a problem. Now with the warm/hot weather, I take Marcel (my pionus) outside with our sprinkler system on or mist him with his waterbottle, and he enjoys the morning sunshine.

My tiel and budgies still like to bath in our kitchen sink.....they are too "flighty" to go outside in the sprinkler system.

Well, anyway, to Barrett, it is imperitive to give your birds a bath or mist daily in order to keep their feathers and skin healthy and it will eventually be a fun activity for them and they will look forward to it.

Don't forget to bath them as early in the day as possible so they are nice and dry while they sleep at night. Also, avoid drafts when the cold weather is upon us.
Sometimes I use the blow dryer on the lowest setting and they enjoy that in the winter.

Good luck.....they sound like fun Quakers.



:D

[Love Bird B]

Hi Mrs Birdy,

A vacuum sounds like rainforest? I never would have thought of that one. I would think it would be the last thing a rainforest would sound like because 'nature abhors a vacuum.' I know, bad joke but I had to write that!

Has anyone seen or heard those rain sound-makers? It's a tube filled with beads so when it's flipped over the beads slide inside the tube and it really does sound like rain. I wonder what display I'd get from my lovey from that?

[Mrs.Birdy]

LoveBirdB:

I didn't think of that one....I read it and heard it from professional bird keepers!

LOL. I don't think it sounds remotely like rain either, but I guess to a bird's ear it might.

Why don't you try the vacuum before you buy a rain sound maker? It might work for your birds.

[birdygirl]

Yes. It supposedly sounds like rain or thunder or something that makes birds want to bathe. I have no idea. Sophie tries to dunk herself into her waterdish when the vacuum is on. So i started spraying her. It works better. However that pesky red toy has turned her into a red capped, red eye ringed pionus. Instead of the white capped pi she really is.

[Mrs.Birdy]

Was that the red mineral bone she dunks in her water like the last time? How cute. She must turn into "demon" pionus with all the red and all.

lol.

[birdygirl]

Allison Actually it was her red Jungle nutra berrie toy bith times. She must like the look.

[crazeemama]

Bathing/showering is very important to your bird. Birds have alot of the little pieces of keratin sheaths(that the new feathers coming in have on them) - For birds with powder down - it helps keep the dust from accumulating and becoming an irritation both for you and your birds.For a bird that is plucking its feathers it can help to keep itching on the skin down and also distract the bird and lessen the plucking. (its hard to find the time to pluck because they have to preen all of their feathers!) Lastly birds skin is the opposite of ours. If we bathe too frequently it dries our skin out, but with the birds it actually helps rehydrate their skin.
Misting is fine as long as it is drenching the feathers very thoroughly. Some birds like cold water some like warm water.
If misting point the bottle up so the mist goes up and comes down on the bird like falling rain. DO be careful to keep water out of the NARES (nostrils) - some birds can be enticed to bathe by putting things in a clear pie pan (like pyrex etc)- such as ice cube, carrot radishes, marbles something shiny etc. If your bird is bathing in his waterdish do get him fresh as soon as he is finished. You wouldn't want to drink your bath water would you? He probably doesn't either!

[Barrett]

Thanks Crazemama. I am glad to hear that I don't need to get all that extra fancy stuff the Vet was promoting...got the beak, claws & wing trim and listened to how aggressive Quakers were. They supposidely have wild ones loose and taking over a town/area way North of me...killing off the natural birds- thats according to this vet.

We do the misting every other day per the birds request and then every 3rd/4th day I put them in the sink with a cake pan of water and the faucet trickling water(sound), then with a warm, fluffy,soft towel I hold them til they are almost completely dry,,they then preen the day away happily cheerping and "talking",,,I'm "pretty baby" hubby is "good bird", our cocker spaniel is "Tuffy, good boy".
I guess they have decided I'm not too bad (for a person) after that vet visit. They are healthy yet too young for breeding and won't know the exact sex of either til "something" happens. Can't afford the 138$$ for each to determine sex. (only does DNA testing) So I am pretty happy just getting acquainted and handling our 2 newest family members.

[crazeemama]

Boy, i can't imagine what the vet was promoting for bathing! it's pretty low-tech.
Unfortunately when non local birds go feral they generally are a threat to the native bird inhabitants. That is why it is not a good situation. I guess i am surprised to hear they have a colony of any size as far north as you are. Do they migrate in the winter?
As far as aggression goes, I pretty certain that if you take any bird stick him in a cage and the only interaction he gets is when you servicce the cage then i imagine they are pretty aggressive. Alot of the more aggressive birds have been 'toned down' from the first few clutches raised in captivity. I have heard that quakers make wonderful pets as long as you provide stimulation and human contact/training.
Regarding dna/feather testing - check out the website for AVIAN BIOTECH - 19.95 - 24.95 - i have usedthem with good result and i have seen the name on several chat boards always in a good light. Much cheaper than the vets and as long as you don't contaminate the testing materials, very reliable results.
Good luck and enjoy those new FIDS!

[sleeepy2]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Love Bird B
[B]Hi Mrs Birdy,

A vacuum sounds like rainforest? I never would have thought of that one. I would think it would be the last thing a rainforest would sound like because 'nature abhors a vacuum.'


Ha! I wish I had thought of that one, Mrs Birdy.

Jeff

[schavon2]

how would anyone know what a bird thinks a vacuum cleaner sounds like? that sounds kinda silly to me.
my birds get very vocal when i vacuum around the cages, but none of them fluffs up their feathers like they do in the shower.

[birdygirl]

I had to vaccum by Sophie's cage for about a half an hour until she decided she was tired of bathing.