bathing bird?

[Britta]

When I got my new parrotlet I noticed that he smelled and his smell has not gone away. He has never bathed himself in three weeks. Today I misted him but he didn't like it at all and I don't think it really helped. I want to bathe him but I'm not sure how to do it safely or what shampoo to use on him. Thanks!
Britta

[lianatch]

do not use any human (even baby) shampoo or other products on your bird - they are very dangerous for birds. try www.drsfostersmith.com for ideas on misting bottles or other bird products. also, i would check with the vet if you think that the odor is not natural to the bird. some birds like bathing in their water bowls - maybe he hasn't had a chance to try it in his cage yet. when you mist him, make sure that the water falls on him (like a rain - from the top), don't spray it directly at him. hope this helps...

[Britta]

Thanks so much for your help. I just ordered a Dr.Foster and Smith catalogue so I'll definately look into that for some products.

[Squawksx3]

When we first brought our birds home... they wanted nothing to do with baths. We got our B&G when she was 4 months old and started spraying her from the start. She loves her baths. Each bird that we brought home would run from the water, but would also watch the B&G having a great time during baths. Eventually, they all learned to enjoy their baths and scream to have them. We mist them outside with a nozzle on a hose and from a water bottle when the weather is too cold to go outside. They want the water until they're drenched. Just keep trying the mist even though they dont care for it in the beginning. They feel so good after baths and usually look forward to them after awhile. As for the odors... ours dont really have any except for the Scarlet Macaw.. he smells like a chicken LOL... but thats ok with us ;) .

[peteybird]

My mother-in-law has two parrotlets that get bathed on a regular basis and they both keep a destinct smell. I'm not sure it's something you can get rid of. I think it just naturally stays with them. I know the smell you're talking about though. It's kind of an odd smell.

[Britta]

My parrotlet smells like some sort of stinky food. It is so strange. I think it may be from the house lived he lived in before. I tried spraying him off and he absolutely hated it. He even flew out of his cage. Now his body doesn't smell but his head still does.

[peteybird]

Have you tried a mister? I got a mister for my birds after I had tried a regular spray bottle. The mist is a lot more fine with the mister and they don't seem to mind it as much.

[krazy4birds]

A mister is a great idea and my birds also like it better than a spray bottle also. Sometimes certain birds just have an odor of their very own. If the baths and mistings do not get rid of it then I would say it is something that is just going to be part of it. Good luck though and keep us updated on how it is going!

[LarrytheBird]

Often its the hissing sound of the spray bottle that can bother them. All my birds either come into the shower with me or bathe themselves in a little tub, I know people at our club who helped their birds get over the spray bottle problem by covering the sound with music. Also, for some reason running the vacuum cleaner sometimes gets birds in the mood to bathe and will cover the sounds as well. Just a couple off the wall suggestions that might help.

[peteybird]

Running the dishwasher makes our Eclectus want a bath. And so did the vacuum (before we got the new, louder one).

[Britta]

Using a mister worked a lot better. He wasn't very afraid of it and I was able to give him a bath. I tried it on my lovebirds though and they hated it. They prefer to bathe themselves which is fine with me. :)

[peteybird]

Glad to hear the mister worked better for you.

[swtnikki]

Kenny got Spike a bird bath one day, & it was too big to put inside his cage, so I leave it on top. Whenever I fill it w/water, he always jumps right in & takes a bath - that is, if he doesn't try to knock the bird bath down (w/water still in it) from the top of his cage. :p

['too crazy]

My parrotlet doesn't smell. By the sounds of it, it's a good thing! :confused:

[hopeful]

Arent they all so comical at bathtime? I have found that our water fountain which I keep in the middle of the bird room, has helped tremendously. I leave it running a few hrs a day and they all seem to end up splashing away in it eventually, quite comical but oh so messy :)

[jonesy zoo]

I would think that the smell would be coming internally ...I would seek some kind of professional help andgradually change the birds diet...misting is a terffice way to go...or shallow bowl on top of a table near their cages also works makes a lovely mess...also I use tepid water as who wants a cold bath...as for using any kind of shampoo on them and I dont think there is anything out there could be wrong you would stripping the feathers of their natuaral oils and protection..