Help, Blue Headed Pionus and musk smell
James Aguirre
We have a wonderful 18 month old, female, Blue Headed Pionus. She
has become a family favorite and the kids love to take her out to
play. Unfortunately sometimes the musk type smell, that I have heard
is normal for them, gets to be a little much. We try to give her
baths with plain water and a spray bottle, when the weather permits,
but have not been able to find any kind of deoderizing bath for birds.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Joan Napolitano
Jam...@pacbell.net wrote:
You can spray your bird with water every day, if you like. Spray in the
morning to avoid giving him a chill. Unless you keep him outside, it
doesn't matter what the weather is doing. Do not use the any of the bird
sprays on your bird, they are not necessary, don't do much and can be
expensive. Do not use any perfumes or other non-bird sprays on him, that
could be deadly.
You may find after a daily bath, that the "musky" smell lessens, or you
may get to like that smell, it does sort of grow on you!
Joan
Mike Tranchemontagne
James Aguirre <Jam...@pacbell.net> wrote in article
<32330c81...@news.pacbell.net>...
> We have a wonderful 18 month old, female, Blue Headed Pionus. She
> has become a family favorite and the kids love to take her out to
> play. Unfortunately sometimes the musk type smell, that I have heard
> is normal for them, gets to be a little much. We try to give her
> baths with plain water and a spray bottle, when the weather permits,
> but have not been able to find any kind of deoderizing bath for birds.
> Any suggestions would be appreciated.
I agree with Joan...we have a male (we think) blue headed. He definately
has
a distinctive aroma. Fortunately, he loves being sprayed (plain room temp
water)
and doing so every other day seems to help.
Something funny: he likes the sound of the vacuum cleaner running when he's
being sprayed! If it's running and he's in the mood, he hangs upside down
with all
his feathers open. It's a riot! Really cute. Even though he's three years
old now,
he's just like a little baby again when he wants to get wet. We let it run
and spray
him til he's dripping and so are we!
We're guessing that maybe there was an association formed in his little
birdy brain
when he was in the avian nursery where we got him.
He's been like that since the day we brought him home.
>
Joan Napolitano
Mike wrote:
<snip>
>Something funny: he likes the sound of the vacuum cleaner running when
>he's being sprayed! If it's running and he's in the mood, he hangs
upside >down with all
>his feathers open. It's a riot! Really cute. Even though he's three
years
>old now,
>he's just like a little baby again when he wants to get wet. We let it
run
>and spray
>him til he's dripping and so are we!
>We're guessing that maybe there was an association formed in his little
>birdy brain
>when he was in the avian nursery where we got him.
>He's been like that since the day we brought him home.
Hi Mike:
Just a comment on your post...lots of birds love the sound of the vacuum
cleaner. Most (like my grey and umbrella) will immediately begin yelling
for a bath.
I have read that the noise of the cleaner (my birds like it better when I
use an attachment that makes the vacuum even louder) reminds them
instinctively of a waterfall or thunder storm and they want to bathe.
I know when I start to vacuum the bird room that I will soon have to get
out the spray bottle 'cause they'll all want a good soaking.
So your little guy is right on the beam!
Joan
james samuel ison
I'm purchasing a Pionus (Maximillians) for one reason because I
specifically like their smell. It's possible that your Blue Head has an
overactive gland or something because I have always found the smell
pleasant. A sort of musky perfume.
James Aguirre (Jam...@pacbell.net) wrote:
: We have a wonderful 18 month old, female, Blue Headed Pionus. She
: has become a family favorite and the kids love to take her out to
: play. Unfortunately sometimes the musk type smell, that I have heard
: is normal for them, gets to be a little much. We try to give her
: baths with plain water and a spray bottle, when the weather permits,
: but have not been able to find any kind of deoderizing bath for birds.
: Any suggestions would be appreciated.
--
----
"Queens Don't Make Bargains"--Lewis Carroll.
James S. Ison ji...@ucs.indiana.edu
University Computing Services/ACCESS
--Consultant
--Web Master
eliza...@earthlink.net
DDQ...@prodigy.com (Joan Napolitano) wrote:
>Jam...@pacbell.net wrote:
>"We have a wonderful 18 month old, female, Blue Headed Pionus. She
>has become a family favorite and the kids love to take her out to
>play. Unfortunately sometimes the musk type smell, that I have heard
>is normal for them, gets to be a little much. We try to give her
>baths with plain water and a spray bottle, when the weather permits,
>but have not been able to find any kind of deoderizing bath for birds.
>Any suggestions would be appreciated."
>You can spray your bird with water every day, if you like. Spray in the
>morning to avoid giving him a chill. Unless you keep him outside, it
>doesn't matter what the weather is doing. Do not use the any of the bird
>sprays on your bird, they are not necessary, don't do much and can be
>expensive. Do not use any perfumes or other non-bird sprays on him, that
>could be deadly.
>You may find after a daily bath, that the "musky" smell lessens, or you
>may get to like that smell, it does sort of grow on you!
>Joan
Mike mentioned vacuums. They do seem to have an effect on almost every
bird I have ever known. Was talking to a friend the other day and her
Hyacinths dive into their water bowls whenever she vacuums. (Picture
that if you can) and my Macaw does the same. Am hoping to get a
B.H.Pionus pair within the next few months so am glad to know they are
vacuum bathers too. And about them smelling musky. My Macaw has that
odor occasionally even though he bathes a lot. Have not noticed it on
the Cockatoos though.
Liz