Transform shower time into a bonding opportunity with your bird - acquire knowledge on safely introducing your feathered friend to the shower
Most birdies treasure the feeling of water on their body, whether under a tap, shower, or dives into a shallow pool.
Therefore, it’s not odd to want to shower with your feathered pet.
So, the more pressing question would be, “Is it safe for your bird to be in the shower with you?”.
Well, the short and somewhat sweet answer is YES!
In fact, many avian vets encourage owners to shower with their birds because the water helps keep their feather shafts soft and promotes good plumage preening and care.
Showering with your bird also creates the right bonding atmosphere for you and your birdie.
Birds are sensitive to chemicals and likely to get into an accident if your bathroom is not birdproof.
Eddie Waithaka
Nonetheless, birds are quite sensitive to bath chemicals such as soap, body wash, splash, and shampoos, plus they are likely to get injured if your bathroom is not birdproof.
On most occasions, house birds sustain injuries by flying into windows, mirrors, and toilet bowls, all of which are very likely in your bathroom.
As such, I advise you to take precautions before jumping into the shower with your birdie.
Make sure your shower room is safe enough for your pet.
Follow through as we dive a little more into the topic. Awesome tips and insights below.
Please note, if all you want is to give your feathered pal a bath, perhaps this post is a better fit for you.
How to Take A Shower with Your Bird
Whether your pet is a budgie (parakeet), cockatiel, or a big species, such as a macaw or African grey, taking your feathery pal to the shower should follow a set rule (do’s and don’t).
To start with, you need to establish if a shower is something your birdie would love because, albeit being enjoyable and keeping your pet clean, some birdies prefer an occasional sprinkle, not a full bath.
You also need to consider the bath soaps, spray, and shampoos for use, since most birds are sensitive to smells and chemicals.
Smells are molecules that float in the air, with some harmful to birds while others are not. In general, soaps and stuff like that are not too bad, but you don’t want to spray perfume on your birdie.
Eddie Waithaka.
Even so, scents may not be too bad for birds.
They may irritate and make your parrot uncomfy being in the shower with you, but scents won’t necessarily kill them.
But keep in mind that just because something smells nice to you does not mean it’s the same for your bird.
In terms of the soap and shampoo effect on your bird’s plumage and skin, not all will have a negative effect, but brands are different, so it’s best to assume all are unideal and avoid them.
One other thing to consider is your bathroom setup.
You do not want your bird in a shower area full of hazards that’ll potentially hurt him.
Essentially, you’ll need to cover mirrors and windows that your birdie might fly into and sinks and bowls where they may potentially drown.
The Best Way to Shower with Your Pet Bird, Parrot
Not all birds enjoy the spray, but most will enjoy a steamy shower room.
So, what is the best way to shower with your birdies then?
Well, I believe having a perch for him to sit (or stand) on is best.
Place the perch in a position where the bird has access to the showerhead spray (or to relax under the steam), but far enough from soap, shampoo, and splash and spray odors.
Your bird may start out fearful of running water, but gradually, he will come around, even though the birdie might not exactly warm up to the shower per se.
At this point, you’ll also want to give him the option to choose what bath he likes most instead of shoving him under the shower without any regard.
Notably, most birds only love the feeling of water on their feathers, but not so much a full-on bath for minutes on end.
It is only meant to keep their feather shafts soft and promote good preening and feather care.
The extra time (in the shower) is for bonding and creating trust and a better relationship with your parrot, which you should keep in mind if you settle on this routine.
Now, while doing the actual bathing, you don’t want to get your bird soapy, and make sure the scents are not all over the place because although the smell is not harmful, the chemicals released into the air are mostly toxic to birds.
How to Dry Your Bird After A Bath
Birds love baths, but they prefer if their plumes remain slightly moist. So, after each shower session, you need to dry them. The best way to do it is to place them outside in the sun to dry out naturally.
If your house is warm enough, you can let your bird air-dry as you prepare for work or do other chores.
If sun and air drying your bird are not options you can take, another way to dry your bird is using a hair drier set on low heat, albeit you run a higher risk of overdrying your bird.
Speaking of overdrying your bird, you do not want its feathers to lose all the moisture. Only let them dry for a reasonable period depending on the temperature outside.
Plus, consider sun or air drying your feathered kid instead of using a hairdryer, though it might be the only option in colder months.
Please see more insight on drying your bird after a shower or bath in this post.
Well, that’s all for this post. See you on the next one.
Have a good time with your bird🦜🐦, and take care.