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| Cartoon of 2 birds talking about a bird bath. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
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| Nymphensittich-Hahn-Wildfarben (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
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| Green Naped Lorikeet in a Bird bath in the Children's zoo at the Saint Louis Zoological Park, St. Louis, Missouri (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Most cockatiel owners
know that cleanliness is essential and wash their bird's cage and accessories
on a regular basis. But did you know your feathered friends benefit from a
cockatiel birdie bath as well?
Cockatiels came originally from semi arid regions , but
still in the wild they have been seen bathing and preening in small pools of
water. Cockatiels get a regular bath from Mother Nature in the form of rain as
well. These birds then preen with a bit of oil they get from a gland underneath
the base of their tail. Cockatiels spread the oil with their beaks.
There are many options that a cockatiel owner can use to
give their bird a bath. One is to use a shallow bowl. The bowl should be heavy
enough to avoid accidental spills. There are red clay bowls or deep set plates
that people use to catch excess water under potted plants. These red clay bowls
are available at most garden shops and work very well in the bottom of most
cages as bird baths. You simply place this bowl with room temperature water in
the cage every few days for about a half an hour and your cockatiels should
bath themselves.
Some people like to spray their cockatiels with the
kitchen dish sprayer. This is fine as long as you check to water temperature
before you shower your birds. Many cockatiels prefer this method of bathing,
but there is risk involved. If you keep your bird loose , and go to wash a pan
with hot water the bird may tragically burn itself trying to steal a shower.
Definitely wash dishes when your birds are securely in their cage , if your
cockatiel views the kitchen sink as his private bird bath.
Plant misters and other spray water bottles can be used to
give your cockatiel a shower.
Buy one specifically for the purpose and do not recycle an old spray bottle that may have contained cleaning chemicals. Plastic spray bottles inevitably absorb small amounts of the chemicals that that once held. Repeated exposure to even small amounts of toxic substances can cause your bird to become ill.
Buy one specifically for the purpose and do not recycle an old spray bottle that may have contained cleaning chemicals. Plastic spray bottles inevitably absorb small amounts of the chemicals that that once held. Repeated exposure to even small amounts of toxic substances can cause your bird to become ill.
My younger son showers with his birds. This is fine for a
positive interaction time with your birds , but you must be able to deal with
taking a luke warm shower to avoid scalding the cockatiel. You should also
remove shampoo and soaps from the shower that your bird may get into . Remember
, that bar of white ivory will look like a cuddle bone to your bird in the
shower. You also must avoid drafts to keep your bird from becoming ill. Showers
with you cockatiel are probably left as an occasional treat for your bird and
not something you should do on a regular basis.
Finding the right method to allow your cockatiel to take a
bird bath is one of the essential care you will provide your bird to keep them
happy and healthy. Observe you bird bath and preen when you can. Excessive
preening can be a sign of a physical problem or stress that can be dangerous
for your bird. It is a good idea to know what your birds beauty routine looks
like so you can note any significant changes.
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