Spraying Your Parrot
Most parrots adore water and love a shower! All our birds revel in being sprayed. They hang upside down, open their wings and make a noise......why? They are having a shower!
Regular spraying of your bird is essential, not only do most parrots love water , spraying is necessary to keep their feathers in good condition. Parrots have powder down feathers which grow all the time. These down feathers produce a powder which the parrot uses to clean his plumage. Without regular spraying the powder would build up and when your parrot shakes his feathers you would see a cloud of dust forming.
Birds love getting wet. Water makes them feel good and stimulates normal preening behaviour. Most homes, particularly those with central heating will be dry for your bird. A good regular spray will be most welcome.
We use
a plant mister to shower our birds, they are inexpensive and ideal for giving
a light misting to birds. Misters offer a nozzle that can give a very fine
spray or a misting of water. Always use lukewarm water and spray your bird
in the morning, this allows your bird to have sufficent time to fully dry
out before he goes to roost.
During the warmer weather and especially the summer your bird will welcome being sprayed daily. To keep your birds feathers in good condition, spraying at least twice a week is recommended.
With younger birds only give a light misting rather than soak them! Older parrots who have been previously owned may not be used to being sprayed, so introduce this gradually. Place the mister where the bird can see it and give only a light spray by spraying above him allowing drops of water to gently fall on him.
Some parrot owners take their birds into the shower with them, we have personally never done this, it is difficult to control the temperature and accidents can happen.
If you know your bird to be unwell it would be advisable not to spray him during this time, however, in such circumstances always ask your vet.
Pionus love
water, as you can see from this photo of a Maxi Pionus called Widget, who
adores his bathtime!