This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.
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Most budgies love taking a bath. It's pretty easy to do, as your budgie will do most of the work by fluffing up her feathers to let the water down near his or her skin.[1] You should give your budgie a chance to take a bath a couple of times a week, especially if your home is dry. A bath encourages your bird to preen, and it also helps remove dirt and other debris from your bird's feathers.[2]
Steps
Giving a Bath
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1Fill a shallow bowl with lukewarm water. Water should only be an inch or two deep. It shouldn't be too cold, as budgies are susceptible to cold.
- You can also find baths that attach to the side of your bird's cage.
- If you find your bird doesn't like the bowl of water, you can also try wet grass or greens at the bottom of a (clean) cage. Your bird will enjoy rolling in them as a way of bathing.[3]
- You don't need to use soap. Regular soap can harm and irritate the budgie’s skin. Bird soap is only used to clean the cage, and not the budgie itself.
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2Put a towel under the cage. If you're worried about water splashing out, set a towel under the cage. It is recommended to put another one around the cage if the cage is on the ground to prevent the floor from being wet. It will help catch the splashing.Advertisement
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3Place the bowl in the bottom of the cage. Set the bath in the bottom of the cage where your budgie can jump in. Make sure it's on a level surface. Keep in mind to supervise them in case accidents happen so you can assist them.
- If you prefer, you can also fill up your sink with a small amount of water. Take the budgie in there, and close the door so it can't fly away. However, make sure your sink is clean first.
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4Let the budgie play. Budgies will splash and flutter in the water. The splashing is the budgie giving themself a bath. Most budgies enjoy the process immensely.
- If you're budgie doesn't jump in immediately, give it a chance to get used to it. If he or she still doesn't hop in after a while, you may want to move on to the next method or feed some treats so they are encouraged.[4]
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5Let your bird dry off. Your bird will shake itself to get the water off. However, make sure that the area they are drying off in isn't breezy or cool so they don’t feel cold. You might want to cover his or her cage with a towel to help.[5]
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6Clean out the bath. After you bath your bird, take the bowl or bath out of the cage. Make sure to wash it out thoroughly and wash your hands when you're done. A clean bath can be used later immediately.
Using a Spray Bottle
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1Find or buy a spray bottle. You can often find these in the hair care section of a drug store or superstore. You can also often find them in the gardening section of a home improvement store.
- An alternative to a spray bottle is a perch you can place in your own shower, which you can usually find at pet stores. Just place your shower head on a gentle spray, and turn the water on lukewarm. Make sure it is not too hot or too cold.
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2Fill the spray with lukewarm to warm water. Once again, you don't want the water to be too cold. Budgies and other small birds are susceptible to cold.
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3Turn the spray head to "mist." Most spray bottles have several settings for the bottle. You don't want a thin stream of water; you need a fine mist for your bird's bath.[6]
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4Spray the water over your bird. You want to create a gentle mist that showers down over your bird. Don't spray them right in the face, as most birds will not like that. If they move or fly away from the mist, stop it as they might not want to shower or just hate showering in general. [7]
- You can offer this kind of bath everyday if you wish to keep your bird clean.
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5Let your bird dry off. Your bird will dry itself off naturally. Just make sure the area where they are drying off is warm and free of cool breezes.
Warnings
- Make sure you get a new bottle for your bird. If you use one that previously held cleaners, the chemicals could affect your bird.⧼thumbs_response⧽
- If you are using a sink as a bath tub, make sure there are no oil bits or food bits that may be harmful.⧼thumbs_response⧽
References
- ↑ http://www.birdchannel.com/bird-diet-and-health/bird-grooming/know-when-to-bath-bird.aspx
- ↑ http://www.birdchannel.com/bird-diet-and-health/bird-grooming/know-when-to-bath-bird.aspx
- ↑ http://www.birdchannel.com/bird-diet-and-health/bird-grooming/know-when-to-bath-bird.aspx
- ↑ http://www.lisashea.com/petinfo/articles/bird_bath.html
- ↑ http://www.lisashea.com/petinfo/articles/bird_bath.html
- ↑ http://www.petland.ca/pages/caring-for-your-budgie
- ↑ http://www.petland.ca/pages/caring-for-your-budgie
About This Article
If you want to give your budgie a bath, fill a bowl with an inch or 2 of lukewarm water. Next, set the bowl in the bottom of the cage so your budgie can jump in, and put a towel under the cage to catch any splashes. You should also cover the cage with a towel to keep your bird warm while it dries off. Then, let your budgie splash around in the water to bathe itself. Once your bird has finished bathing, remove the bowl from the cage and wash it thoroughly. For tips on how to bath your budgie using a spray bottle, keep reading!
