Continued from Page 3Winter Bathing / After Bath Care
Many parrot owners have related to me that they are not as likely to shower or bathe their parrots as often during the winter months if they are residing in colder climates. Unfortunately, this is the time that their parrot would appreciate a more frequent bathing schedule.
When you consider the dryness produced by our heating systems and the inability to open windows for fresh air and humidity during freezing outdoor temperatures, the parrot will relish the opportunity to bathe more often. We have a tendency to shower them less often during the winter months for fear of them getting a chill. My motto has always been "if the house is warm enough for me, it is warm enough for my birds".
The nighttime temperatures in the jungles of the world drop significantly and the birds are surviving quite well in these areas. Temperatures of 50°F are not unusual after the sun has gone down on the jungle. I can safely say that I have never been in anyone's home that has had their thermostat set to under the 50°F range. So relax, you can bathe your birds indoors through the most extreme outdoor temperatures.
"But my bird shakes after I bathe him/her" is what I commonly hear from those that are concerned about bathing during the winter months in our North American climate. I have an observation to relate to you: They will shake no matter what the thermometer reads. Parrots will shake in 90 to 95°F temperatures! The reason behind this is that they will use muscular/follicular vibration to quickly expand their down feathers for additional warmth and to respond to the immediate need for flight. It is an inherent biological response ingrained into their survival mechanisms. Fight or flight is essentially what birds are all about. Humans shake when they are cold, producing heat through muscular vibration. Birds will do the same thing. There is nothing wrong or abnormal in this response. It is unusual to us that parrots will shake in high temperatures as well, indicating that there is more going on here than what meets the eye.
Drafts and the very idea of drafts will make the average parrot owner crazy. We have been bombarded with the information to avoid drafts to the point that we will carry lighted candles through the house to see if the flame flickers in a draft. For a healthy parrot, in good nutritional condition, a draft will not be detrimental to its health. A healthy parrot in excellent plumage will use its down feathers to regulate its need for warmth. (We pay large sums for down jackets and comforters to keep ourselves warm. Parrots carry it with them at all times!) I'm not saying to place your bird near an open door or window (use good common sense) when the temperatures are plummeting, I'm simply saying that healthy, well cared for birds can take quite a lot of error on our part. Placing your bird in a warm area after its bath is just good common sense. Parrots do not die from exposure to mild drafts. Extreme temperature changes and a draft to a parrot with a compromised immune system resulting from a nutritionally deficient diet, poor feather condition, and improper care can lead to the death of a parrot. Bathing is a means to keep the parrot in excellent plumage, allowing the down feathers to perform the function they were designed to do by keeping the bird warm when required.
Modern parrot keeping allows us the advantage of electrical appliances to aid us in the 'after bathing' care of our birds. Many birds simply love the hairdryer after their bath. I feel that if your bird likes it, and the attention that it gets from you, you should continue the practice. There is nothing harmful in this as long as the bird is an adequate distance away and does not become overheated or burned. We now have available to us advanced heat lamps, panel units, etc. that provide warmth to the birds without emitting harsh light.
The only caution I can relate to with the use of these products is that your bird not be allowed to come in contact with these devices. I have heard of some birds that have been burned when they either fell onto or had a unit fall on them. Make sure that all heat devices are securely mounted when in any area with the bird. Also provide the option for the bird to retreat from the heat source at will. Parrots can become easily overheated, even when wet.
The sun is an excellent means for parrots that prefer to dry out au naturel. I allow my birds to dry naturally whenever possible, it is as nature has intended. Natural sunlight activates vitamin D through certain pathways in the parrot's body and it begins with the skin. Unfortunately not all of the benefits of sunlight can penetrate our windows, but the warmth of the sunlight can be advantageous in drying the parrot after the bath. Again, you must keep in mind to provide the option for the bird to retreat from the sunlight to a shaded area as the bird desires. Parrots know what they need in a "natural sense" and providing options allows them to meet these needs.
Conclusion
Through centuries, parrots have survived the poor care they have had to endure while in captive situations. To a parrot, our environment is very harsh when you consider the environments they have naturally evolved in. They have survived in spite of us. Having encountered several parrots that have never been given a bath has led me to the work I have completed to date. The response from a parrot that has the opportunity to relieve itself from itchy skin, dryness, and just to feel that good for a brief moment can really bring about a change in the attitude of their human caretakers.
The need for bathing in the parrot is fundamental to their proper care. Simply remember where they came from! Six to eight feet of annual rainfall is the average in the rainforest homes of our tropical birds. Will our companion parrots ever feel that much water in their lifetimes while in captivity? Observe your parrot. Surveying the condition of the feet, skin, and the plumage should indicate to you whether your bird's bath is long overdue. The next time you're in the shower try to recall the last time you showered your parrot and ask yourself if you could go that long without one? They are not much different from us in respect to bathing and the frequent need of bathing for good health. Perhaps today is a good day for a shower. Go and see what your parrot has to say about it.
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