how do you wash a cockatiel?

Question

We just got a cockateil 2 weeks ago. He is starting to get dirty how do we wash him?

Answer 1

You don't wash a cockatiel. You do NOT use soap on a bird! What makes him dirty?

The most that you can do is spray him with a warm water mist. Cockatiels are powder based birds. They do not have oil glands like other birds. The dust or powder you see that comes off of your bird is normal.....the more dust you can see means that you have a healthy and normal cockatiel.

If you have any further questions about cockatiels...contact me...I will try and help you. I have bred cockatiels for over 20 years.

Answer 2

There's a few ways you can wash your cockatiel. Some owners will take a shower with their bird and let the bird sit on a special shower perch (you can use a wooden towel stand) or their shoulder. The spray as the water bounces off your body is all the bird needs. No soap, no scrubbing :-).

If that isn't for you, you can fill a spray bottle and switch the nozzle to the fine spray setting. Make sure the water is luke warm and not cold or too hot. Spray your birds down by spraying from below their perch so the water sprinkles down from above like rain. Cockatiels have an adorable bath dance that's a hoot to watch!

The third option is to get a large water bowl and leave it in the cage. Sometimes vacuuming will trigger a bird to bathe. My female, Mindwipe, will start bathing where she sits when I vacuum the bird room. She hasn't quite understood that she should do that IN the water bowl when I'm cleaning **Sighs**

Cockatiels are one of many bird species that love water. They're not quite as obsessed with it as conures are, but they do love to bathe once they learn how and they're given the chance. Remember to start slow and don't force your guy to bathe if he's too scared. After the shower the bird will preen themseves by zipping their feathers together. They'll dry on their own and it helps them keep their feathers in good condition. Ideally a bird should be bathed every day, but twice a week is more realistic for most folks :-). it may help if you spray yourself, too and do a dance while the water hits you. Sometimes a bird just needs an example to show them what they need to do. Besides, Tiels love it when their owners act goofy!

Good luck!

Answer 3

My cockatiel loves the sound of water. After (he) being dumped 3 times I took him in. I have only outdoor pets, cept him. He pounds on the dishwashing machine when it is going, tries to dive into the sink when I am doing dishes, the washing machine I think is his best friend, and now I have to close the door when I take a shower or bath, even though he has a perch in there I don't think he needs to be in there every time I am. I made a tape of different water sounds and I'll be if he didn't try to rip the recorder apart!!! To calm him down after that I put a bucket of tepid water down and he jumped in like an olympic diver. I know he is not dirty all the dust is normal, but what gives. Sorry to answer your question with an question, but don't you think it is strange?

Answer 4

About the screaming... If my bird gets out of hand and nothing I do seems to please him, I cover his cage for 10 minutes to let him calm down. It needs to be mostly dark or it doesn't seem to work so make it a blanket. I have had great luck with this. He really hates it when we are not at home so I play music Cd's, leave the radio on with soothing music ( the harder stuff only aggravates him) or leave the TV on but try to avoid anything with birds on it or he will start up again. Another thing that keeps him entertained is a Cd that is made just for birds. All it has on it are songs that someone is whistling to. Give these things a try and good luck.

Answer 5

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
how do you wash a cockatiel?
We just got a cockateil 2 weeks ago. He is starting to get dirty how do we wash him?

Answer 6

He'll wash himself as soon as you let him. They love baths. Offer him a pet store cage-accessory bird bath instead of a dish, and then you won't even have to worry as much that he's pooping in it before he bathes. You can also let him perch somewhere out of the way of the stream of water while you shower, and give him mists with a bottle. They're all pretty fun for the bird. Just don't force water on him if he seems upset. He'll keep himself clean. If he isn't (like his feathers look kind of messed up and 'oily') he needs to see a vet: only a stressed or sick bird will let its feathers clump up.

Answer 7

Take a spray bottle, fill it with room temperature water, and lightly mist him for a few minutes.The cockatiel might not like it at first, mine did not, but after about a week they got used to it.

Answer 8

I have 5 cocktails. There is a spray that freshes the birds on the market but I also once a week set a bowl of tempered water in there cage with about 3/4 inch of water and my birds splash around in it and love it then they prune their feathers after that. I have had my birds for 9 years and it works for them.

Answer 9

My tiels enjoyed a shower bath in the sink, with tepid water coming out at a trickle. You've got to wrap them up in a towel right away or keep them in a warm room with no drafts until they're totally dry.

Answer 10

I can't speak for your cockateal, but the one I had just loved sitting on my shoulder while I showered. He would do it every day. You can try to let the shower run in about half the cage and see if the bird showers himself. Odds are that he will.
Good Luck,
Rodo