Getting Birds wet........

[krazy4birds]

I have a question here...is it their way of drying to shake like they are cold or are they really cold?? ??? Seems like Dexter shakes no matter what so I was wanting some input here.

[lianatch]

how is dexter doing these days? from what i know about shaking, it can be either from cold or drying (not to mention from being scared too). i think when they are cold, they will shake with the feathers (and wings) being slick and close to the body (not fluffed up), but when they are drying, the feathers will be slightly fluffed up. anyone, correct me if i am wrong. since we are on the subject, can anyone tell me how you keep your birds warm after the bath. bc i am afraid that one of the reasons my grey hates showers is bc it is chilly for him afterwards.

[krazy4birds]

I have trouble getting Dexter to take baths too...it is a fight from start to finish. I can mist him thoroughly with a cool water mister and I add some aloe vera juice because it helps the itching they get from dry skin, molting etc.... He is still not doing like I would want. He is not eating very well and I offer him different foods all day. He just picks at it a little then he is done. I am going to take him back for a check up. He still has more skin where he is picking at than I would like. The vet told me there sometimes all you can do is lots of TLC and he gets that. So....we are still not back to his normal self. When I give Dexter a bath I wrap him in a towel and hold him untill he is towel dried a little but no matter what I do he sticks those feathers out and shakes like the dickens. I forgot about your grey. Brief me in again....age, name etc.... Please LOL

[lianatch]

sorry to hear that dexter is not doing so well - but it probably takes a while to get back to normal. after all, it took years for him to get this sick (with poor diet, etc. from before you got him). so it would probably take some time before he adjusts after the treatment. and at least you are giving him baths! my ramses (1.5 yrs old) still hates them. i tried the mister for a while until he got really mad and started screaming every time he saw a bottle. there were 2 times (in the whole period that he has been with us - for over a year) that he allowed to get wet in the shower with me. but after that i think he was cold and uncomfortable and maybe decided it wasnt working for him so, now every weekend (when i dont have to rush to work) i take him into the shower with me and while he screams, we get a few sprinkles on him and then up on the top of the shower door where he feels "safe" (away from water). he would not let me touch his wet feathers (not with a towel or otherwise). in fact, he acts like he had just been injured and then shakes and waits till he dries up. only then he starts talking and running like his normal self. silly bird. i was wondering what other ways would be to keep them warm - maybe a heating lamp/panel... what is dexter eating now? what does he like to eat? mine finally found something that he goes absolutely crazy about - lafeber's avi-cakes. i buy them at drsfostersmith.com. now i understand when people say about their birds being crazy about some food! he can smash anything on his way when he sees me putting those in his food bowl. hope dexter gets well soon. hope the vet visit goes well.

[krazy4birds]

Oh my gosh...that is so funny. ..I can just see Ramses doing this.LOL Dexter does not scream he just tries to figure out how to get out. I bathe him in the kitchen sink and it usually goes pretty well, enough anyway to know he is soaked hahahaha. I put Dexter on the floor then put a towel on his whole body...when I do this he freezes. Then I pick him up and very carefully let his face out and I hold him untill he has dried some. I am feeding him Zupreem Pellets with Cockatiel seed. The vet recommended not taking the seeds away untill he is eating good. But I cut the ratio back quite abit.There is a bird store where we go when we get to go to the "city" hahahahah anyway they have the Lafebers stuff there, I will try some on him. Dexter likes most fruit but his appetite has not been real good. You are right about his healing process....that is the same thing the vet told me. ..he was years getting to this point I was not going to regain his full health very fast but I am working on it!!!!!

[dlaura]

krazy,
I asked Maggie (pet store owner) about this also as Angel does the same thing. Maggie explained that it doesn't mean they are cold -- it is just the way their body dries itself. She said not to worry. So I have followed that advice and have had no ill effects.

[krazy4birds]

Thanks Diane....I was thinking that is why but was not sure. It sets his built in dryer into over time because he really fluffs up and shakes...LOL

[lianatch]

Originally Posted by krazy4birds

Dexter does not scream he just tries to figure out how to get out. I bathe him in the kitchen sink and it usually goes pretty well, enough anyway to know he is soaked hahahaha. I put Dexter on the floor then put a towel on his whole body...when I do this he freezes. Then I pick him up and very carefully let his face out and I hold him untill he has dried some.

you are lucky to at least go through this kind of bath! it is amazing to me that you can put a towel over him like that, but it is great that you can. hope he starts doing better overall soon

[krazy4birds]

Than you for the well wishes...I feel deep down that he will recover....he is a great bird!!!!!!!!!!

Ours also shake once in awhile Judy... but they love the water. Give Dexter a kiss for us and let us know how the vet visit goes.

[gamajan]

My nanday hates the sprayed but will go down my arm to the sink and take his bath, itowel him for a min or two then in his cage between to soft small stuffies I have for him and he stays warm.