How to wash a Cockatoo's feathers?
data
any way I can wash her feathers without damaging them or harming my bird in
some other way?
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks.
S Weiss
from our bodies can cause them to look dirty since it alters the way
the "powder" on their feathers looks. I'm not sure if this is true
since I have not had a long term relationship with a 'too.
I also have a friend that had to stop using newspater in the bottom of
the cage because her 'too liked to shred and then roll in it causing
some of the ink to rub off on her white feathers.
I would just mist her to stimulate grooming and let her do the job
herself.
Natalie N...@BYWAY.COM
Cathy Quinones
:>>I have an Umbrella Cockatoo, and her feathers are dirty looking. Is there
:>>any way I can wash her feathers without damaging them or harming my bird in
:>>some other way?
I wrote a bit about this stuff in my web page, please check it out (it is
under "grooming").
Otherwise, what kind of dirt are we talking about? Water-soluble stuff (like
newpaper ink) will go away on its own provided the bird has a chance to
bathe. Greasy stuff (oil off human skin, lipstick, etc...) is going to be
more difficult to remove. Yet, again, frequent baths/mist baths will
encourage the bird to groom, and in doing so, to remove this stuff. As to
how to keep this from happening again, if you use newspapers to line the
cage, consider switching to plain brown "craft paper" [can be purchased by
the roll at some discount stores and at craft/art supply stores] or use
unprinted newspring [people say you can buy this from the local newspaper, by
the roll, really cheap!]. One of our budgies (lutino) started getting pretty
dingy when I first got him. When I switched to lining the cage with paper
towels the problem went away never to return. You may also want to make a
point of washing your hands before you handle the bird (again, to get rid of
your natural oils, which may build up on the bird) and be careful about
smearing the bird with lipstick, chapstick, etc... [I know that now that the
weather is getting cooler I am again using some lip protection and I have to
remind myself or else I will turn my senegal into an oil slick!].
People HAVE been known to use some soap and water to wash birds. I am not
talking about birds caught in oil slicks, but say, formerly-white cockatoos.
Doing this will NOT kill the bird, but you need to be careful: remember the
bird's skin, and oil gland (if present), secrete oils that help condition
the feathers so they remain flexible (non-brittle) and repel water. Soap
will remove alien grease :) but it will also remove some/all of the oils the
bird needs to keep the feathers in good shape. If you feel you must do
this, use a diluted solution of the gentlest, non-scented, hypoallergenic
soap you can find. Then rinse the bird very thoroughly (remember the bird
is going to groom each of those feathers and you don't want it eating soap
residue). Then just keep offering plain water baths. No bird needs to
be washed with soap on a regular basis unless there's something VERY wrong
with its environment!!
I don't have 'toos but do have that yellow budgie, and a good spray shower
is all he needs to stay nice and pretty. My senegal has gotten a bit
greasy looking once or twice, and this always has to do with my forgetting
to provide her with adequate bathing opportunities. Now that I put a water
bath in the birds' playgym she helps herself to it regularly and her
feathers look great. Before you lather up that bird, give it a few weeks of:
- daily mist baths (whether he likes it or not! You may want to use water
that is almost hot to the touch, when you spray it, it will cool quite a bit
and many birds appreciate a warm shower), plus offer a water bowl for baths a
few times a week [this is messy, but it is also fun and for many birds it
ends up being an opportunity to get soaked].
- also have anyone who handles the bird wash his/her hands and if they are
planning on smooching the bird, ask them to wipe off any greasiness off their
face (human chins and noses CAN be quite oily).
- don't let the bird walk on or play with newspapers (printed newsprint).
The ink WILL rub off. If the bird walks on it, there's a chance the tail
will get soiled. If the toes get dirty, the ink may be distributed to other
body parts when the bird scratches itself, or if he deposits the ink in other
perches or toys and later rubs against those.
- also consider whether the bird's diet could stand some improvement. You
didn't discuss this in your post. Sometimes, poor feather quality is simply
a reflection on the bird's overall health. I am not saying your bird's diet
is inadequate; I don't know what you feed it even!, but this is something to
think about too, if external measures don't help.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
:Cathy Quinones >>- Poicephalus rule!! -<< quin...@mindspring.com :
: ---> http://www.mindspring.com/~mintz/coverpg.html = Bird Care Info :
:"The older I get, the closer I ascertain that the line between bitchy :
::::::::::::::::::: and helpful is really thin." - Brett Butler ::::::::
Lori Bucevicius
>I have an Umbrella Cockatoo, and her feathers are dirty looking. Is there
>any way I can wash her feathers without damaging them or harming my bird in
>some other way?
>Any help would be appreciated.
Does she preen herself at all? Do you mist her or offer her a way to
bathe? My U'Too doesn't like showers, and really isn't crazy about the
mister, but I use a spray bottle (clean, bought just for this purpose)
and mist her a couple of times a week til she is damp, not soaking.
Good luck!
Lori
Mark Bergman
==>
==>People HAVE been known to use some soap and water to wash birds. I am not
==>talking about birds caught in oil slicks, but say, formerly-white cockatoos.
==>Doing this will NOT kill the bird, but you need to be careful: remember the
==>bird's skin, and oil gland (if present), secrete oils that help condition
==>the feathers so they remain flexible (non-brittle) and repel water. Soap
==>will remove alien grease :) but it will also remove some/all of the oils the
==>bird needs to keep the feathers in good shape. If you feel you must do
==>this, use a diluted solution of the gentlest, non-scented, hypoallergenic
==>soap you can find. Then rinse the bird very thoroughly (remember the bird
==>is going to groom each of those feathers and you don't want it eating soap
==>residue). Then just keep offering plain water baths. No bird needs to
==>be washed with soap on a regular basis unless there's something VERY wrong
==>with its environment!!
My sister, a vet, recommended Dawn dishwashing detergent when our
cockatiel splash-landed in a pot soaking in the sink and ended up
covered with olive oil. Yuck.
---
Mark Bergman Biker, IATSE #1 Stagehand, Unix mechanic
718-855-9148 ber...@panix.com {cmcl2,uunet}!panix!bergman
I want a newsgroup with a infinite S/N ratio! Now taking CFV on:
rec.motorcycles.stagehands.pet-bird-owners.pinballers.ex-unix-supporters
5+ So Far--Wanna Join? Check out: http://www.panix.com/~bergman
Jodie Moulton
>I have an Umbrella Cockatoo, and her feathers are dirty looking. Is there
>any way I can wash her feathers without damaging them or harming my bird in
>some other way?
>
>Any help would be appreciated.
>
>
>
My 'umbie 'too loves to shower. We (yes both me and Gizmo) hope in
shower about once a week (ok, I actually do it a little more then once a
week, usually twice ha ha) and Gizmo goes absolutely crazy. He loves to
scream (which I am sure my neighbors love) and flap his wings. He gets
totally drenched and then sits by a heat lamp for a while until he
doesn't look like a drowned rat. We also have a VitaLight looked up
above his cage and it is on all day. The use of natural lighting really
does seem to improve his feather quality. All of this coupled with a
good diet is probably the best way to help your 'too remain as beatiful
as ever. Have fun, the shower thing is really great once you both get
the hang of it.
Jodie and Gizmo
Cathy Quinones
:>
:>In a newsgroup far, far away, quin...@mindspring.com (Cathy Quinones) wrote:
:>==>
:>==>People HAVE been known to use some soap and water to wash birds. I am not
:>==>talking about birds caught in oil slicks, but say, formerly-white cockatoos.
:>==>Doing this will NOT kill the bird, but you need to be careful: remember the
:>==>bird's skin, and oil gland (if present), secrete oils that help condition
:>==>the feathers so they remain flexible (non-brittle) and repel water. Soap
:>==>will remove alien grease :) but it will also remove some/all of the oils the
:>==>bird needs to keep the feathers in good shape. If you feel you must do
:>==>this, use a diluted solution of the gentlest, non-scented, hypoallergenic
:>==>soap you can find. Then rinse the bird very thoroughly (remember the bird
:>==>is going to groom each of those feathers and you don't want it eating soap
:>==>residue). Then just keep offering plain water baths. No bird needs to
:>==>be washed with soap on a regular basis unless there's something VERY wrong
:>==>with its environment!!
:>
:>My sister, a vet, recommended Dawn dishwashing detergent when our
:>cockatiel splash-landed in a pot soaking in the sink and ended up
:>covered with olive oil. Yuck.
Mark, this counts as an oil spill in my book :) Use of a detergent is well
advised!!!!!
(my point was/is that birds are NOT supposed to be greasy-looking. If they
are, the cause should be found and remedied, rather than soaping up the bird
in the "treat the symptom, not the cause" approach.)
Kim Besen
>Do you bath her in some way? I use a plant mister on my cockatoo
>weekly and usually I partially blow dry her afterwards. Poor feather
>color can be the result of diet in which case bathing is not going
>to help. If she's on a seed only or mostly seed diet then this could
>be the reason.
Diet made a huge difference with my goffins, who used to
always be dirty, but now stays pretty clean. Sometimes
though, diet and misting aren't enough. I have used a
little baby shampoo in the shower with my bird on occasion
and have had good results. Now that her diet has improved,
the shampoo is rarely needed (maybe once a year if she gets
into something dirty).
Barbara Mccarty
it really works very well and it don't damage their feathers in any way
and the feather dust is still their it just gives them a new look.
Barbara
