Benefits of bathing for birds
One of the main reasons that negatively affects the quality of feathers, besides poor nutrition, is the lack of bathing, especially during molt as it helps unfold newly emerging feathers. Bathing keeps birds’ feathers clean, shinny and healthy and gets rid of insects and dust on their body. It also maintains and strengthens the feathers and improves flight performance. Try to provide a bath for your bird daily if possible, especially during molt, warm weather.
Providing a bath during the breeding season
Many bird breeders refrain from offering bathe during egg incubation, fearing that eggs will spoil or get excessive moisture. However, the experienced female will use the bathe to help her control the humidity of her eggs, especially during dry weather. Thus, I advise providing a bath if the weather is hot and dry during incubation and avoiding it when weather conditions are mild or relatively stable. Avoid offering a bath for couples brooding featherless chicks.
How to provide a bath for birds?
You can provide a bathe for your pet bird either in a bathtub you buy for your local pet shop, or you can use a spray bottle to mist your bird. Follow these instructions and tips when offering a bathtub for your bird:
- For small songbirds, such as canaries, goldfinch, and finch, water height should be 1 to 2 cm.
- Provide bathe in the morning or during the afternoon hours only, and birds should not be allowed to bathe in the late hours of the day. You don’t want your birds to be wet while asleep.
- Try not to keep bathing water for more than an hour, so the birds do not drink any water contaminated with dust and droppings.
- You can add a little apple cider vinegar to the water because it softens the skin and improves the brightness and vitality of the feathers, and it partially cleanses the skin and feathers of microbes.
For more details, we recommend browsing the article: Benefits of apple cider vinegar for birds.
Some breeders use a spray bottle instead of a bathtub. Don’t spray the water from a close distance, especially towards the eyes. Use the spray bottle if the bird fears water or is not used to bathing, or if you don’t want to wait for your bird to start and finish bathing.