Avian Expert Articles

The Splash About Bird Baths

male Eclectus parrot bathing in a bird bath
Photo by David Clode/Unsplash
  • Birds like to get wet! Just watch the wild birds in a mud puddle after a rain!
  • Water stimulates normal preening behavior.
  • Central heat and air conditioning can make indoor environments as dry as a desert even in humid, rainy places.
  • Birds prefer cool water for their bathing pleasure.
  • Many pet birds enjoy a nice misting with a spray bottle. You can also spray the mist upward so it falls on your bird like rain.
  • Give your pet bird a shower with the watering can that you use to water your houseplants.
  • A bathing dish with an inch of water in your bird’s cage or in the kitchen sink is a great way for your bird to get wet.
  • Try putting a mirror at the bottom of the bathing dish for added fun.
  • Let your bird think he is walking through grass that is wet with dew by running water over some carrot greens and placing them on the floor of the cage.
  • Have you thought about taking your bird in the shower with you?
  • How about wetting a cloth and wringing it out over your bird’s head?
  • Add a tablespoon of human-grade, drinkable, aloe vera juice to an 8-ounce spray bottle to help an itchy bird.
  • If your bird doesn’t like getting wet, a humidifier in your home will make some birds more comfortable.
  • Your bird won’t “catch cold” from being wet but avoid bathing if your bird is not in good health.
  • Bathe your birds in the morning or afternoon so they will be completely dried before going to bed.
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