[Keet1976]

I was shocked while reading a cockatiel book. It is The Cockatiel handbook. It said that you can get two bowls of water and add mild soap to one. Then you dunk the bird in the soapy water, but not the head. Then use a shaving brush or make-up brush to scrub. Then dunk the bird in the non-soap water and use a non-soapy brush to rinse the bird. The parts that shocked me were the mild soap and the dunking!

I have read that when a bird is molting you should bath or spray them once a week to help with the itchyness (is that a word, LOL). SO the other day my son got in the shower with Tunes and we got Tunes very wet. We have a heat light in the bathroom so we had that on and it was very nice and warm. I used a low heat and blow speed on the blow dryer to dry Tunes up a bit, so he wasn't soaked, but was still a bit damp. Before blow drying him he looked like he had bare spots on his chest and back under his wings. I am wondering if this is normal? Is it because he is molting? When he is dry I don't notice it...

 

[Laura]

hmm interesting book I have never heard of dunking a bird in soapy water
when molting I would give them a misting with warm water more then once a week
be careful with the blow dryer, some hairdryers have Teflon. Most of the newer ones don't but its better to be safe then sorry , It is important to blow dry in an open, ventilated area. I have never blow dryed mine I just towel them and keep them in a warm area.

 

[Boomberry]

Soapy water.

I offer a bowl of warm water in the winter, cool in the summer at all times on top of their cages when they are out. My budgies love it but my tiels will not bathe themselves. So I mist them with a special avian mix of aloe and preening oil about once a week.

My African Grey however gets to be power showered much to his disgust

 

[Aly]

:blink: :thumbd: No way!!! NO SOAP!

They haven't been victims of an oil rig spill!!!

 

[Sophia]

Soap I have never heard of that before. I just give them a bowl of warm water once a week, they never go in it though. LOL!!

 

[Keet1976]

I thought that was crazy! I would never use soap......

Even when I wash my horse I use minimal soap cuz it is so hard to rinse it all and if not rinsed well enough can dry them out and make them itchy.

I wish there were more up to date books in the store last night. I didn't like the Cockatiel for dummies cuz there weren't many pictures and I wanted it for my son too.

 

[Sophia]

I looked at the Cockatiels For Dummies, and the information wasn't explained very well, and you are right there wasn't many pictures

 

[xxxSpikexxx]

Yike soap is a big no no. Just water is all you need. I would not even buy bathing spray. Why waste your money on stuff like that when you can buy toys

 

[Bea]

If you want a book that's good for kids look for Why Do Cockatiels Do That, it's really cute, funny and educational. Cockatiels for Dummies is a really good book to have to, i would at least get it from the library for a read.

In just about every book i've read there's been at least one part where i'll go "WHAT?!" because it's just stupid. But i think dunking your bird in soapy water takes the cake for the stupid award, hehe. :lol: Mine either come in the shower with me, or get a mist bath.

 

[xxxSpikexxx]

I was thinking about getting this book http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books...6-item.html?ref=Search+Books:+%27cockatiel%27 It is not out yet so I thought it may be good since it is up to date.