Powder on their Feathers

[Camrron]

I have read about giving birds a bath so that they have powder but am not really sure what this means. Mine has had 4 or 5 baths in the last month but still looks like a drowned rat after bathing and can't fly. Tonight I tried to give him a bath as he does not seem to bathe on his own willingly. Afterwards he flew up onto his perch (sort of) and deliberately pulled out one of his feathers . I felt terrible. It was such a deliberate act of anger I don't ever want to bathe him again. Is this normal? I'm not mean or anything so I was really surprised by his retaliation against the bath and feel a terrible sense of guilt when I thought I was doing the right thing for him. How do you bathe a bird?

Cam

[Reti]

Hi Cam,
most pigeons like bathing. There are always exceptions though.
It took my Angel a whole year to bathe on her own and for that whole year whe looked like a drowned rat after I bathed her. Now she is three and she does bathe on her own, but only every couple of weeks. Her feathers formed nice though, it took almost a year for he down feathers to form.

Don't bathe him for a while, try just spraying him with a water bottle twice a week. Also add some vit E to his diet, by giving him some wheat germ oil.
Vit A helps also, a drop of cod liver oil once a month should be enough.

Reti

[Trees Gray]

Hi Cameron,

Have you given him any garlic?

Garlic works wonders on the feathers and powder production. Also some outdoor time in the sun, weather permitting.

It may be in his best interest to take him to a qualified vet and have poop checked and get him a physical. He may not be feeling 100% if he is not showing any interest in bathing.

[Anarrowescape]

you cant make a pigeon bath but it helps if you put water in a flatish dish and let the pigeon bath itself make the water about 2inchs add a little garlic like mentioned above if its a hot day pigeons usually bath good luck

[Lady Tarheel]

Do you ever notice him preening at the base of his body where the tail feathers are growing. That is where their oil gland is and they "dip" into that frequently when preening to help lubricate and waterproof their feathers. You can gently separate the feathers and see the gland. It is just a little nub that stands up a little. Sometimes, an injury could possibly damage the gland but usually it is so protected by feathers that it should be ok.

Do try misting him some every day, very lightly, and that should help him preen. It will probably just take a little time.

Maggie

[Camrron]

Thanks all and a Merry Christmas to you. As aways your advice and encouragement are very much appreciated.

I haven't given any vitamins in the past but now is probably a good time. I am going to give the garlic a try as well. I love the idea about misting. So that's how you bathe a bird!!! It's perfect and sounds so much easier than actual bathing in a sink. I am learning that this little Buddy of mine has quite a temper. A personality all his own, very territorial too. He might enjoy misting because it's a hands off approach. The vet also is in the cards so maybe he can check the oil gland for me since I am not totally sure what I am looking for. That's great information for me by the way. I haven't read about the oil gland any where before and actually wondered how the oil proofing related to bathing birds. Also was not sure what powder meant but hoped he would get it on his own. He does preen a lot but is almost flightless once he gets wet.

Have a great new year!

Cameron

[mr squeaks]

Mr. Squeaks would let me know when he wanted a bath by walking in the cat's water dishes! I had a litter box that I used with a couple of inches of water. He would splash up a storm!

Then, I read on this site that some pigeons like showers so I decided to try it. What a godsend! I have shower doors and can either let him shower alone or I can be in with him (NO soap for me until he's finished and out of the tub!). He'll stand under the "waterfall" for ages if I let him and will lift his wings to get wet underneath. By the time he's finished, he sure is a wet bird!

I also use a hair dryer and he likes that too...

Anyway, just a few thoughts for pondering...

[Camrron]

Hi Mr Squeeks,

That just cracked me up. Had a good laugh! Birds like showers? It never occurred to me to try that. You probably twist the spray nozzle so that it is not too powerfull for your bird. I might just try your idea. I would be nervous about using warm water though because it is so difficult to judge the actual warmth of it. Let me know, do you just run a cold shower?

Your bird must be very spoiled I think. Thanks for the laugh!

Cameron

[mr squeaks]

Squeaks IS a very spoiled bird. Since he can't fly, I handle him A LOT!

The showers sure helped me! Of course, I could always go back to putting a litter pan in the tub and let him splash away. He always gets out when he's done.

However, I usually prefer to get in the shower with him. I keep the water warm but not hot, just warm enough so I don't freeze! The few times he's in the tub by himself, the water is "cool." I can have one side of the shower door open to adjust the shower head and keep the water IN the tub! I've found that he likes me to cup water in my hands and let a stronger flow hit him, especially when he lifts his wings! He'll move about until he finds just the right amount of "rain." As mentioned, he will stand there and just let the water fall on him if I don't finally pick him up and put him out in the bathroom while I take MY shower! I try not to get him that wet so often because I don't want to chill him. I keep the bathroom door closed until I get a chance to turn the hair dryer on him. He, again, would stand there for hours, looking like he's in 7th heaven, if I'd let him! Of course, I watch the dryer distance so it's not too hot.

I have a different situation than most, because Squeaks can't fly. I suppose that if a flying bird didn't want a shower, he would fly up and out of the shower...Mr. Squeaks will take a drink from the cat's water dishes, but when he starts stomping around in them, it's shower time!

[TerriB]

Walter didn't bathe for the first 4 months we had him, but we just kept offering a tub every few weeks (and rinsing him in the sink when he declined). I think it took a while for him to feel comfortable enough around us to let himself be that vulnerable. The warm summer day he finally figured it out, he bathed for an hour! Now, he prefers a shower (or rain). A few weeks ago, he had just stepped into the tub to soak when I started hosing down the flight pen. He jumped out of the water and ran over to lay in the hose spray. So I spent 10 minutes, standing in the rain, watering my pigeon. He still doesn't have as good powder as the other birds, so I do bring him in for a blow dry if it's chilly.

[Camrron]

I love the way you all write sometimes! In my mind I can just see your pijjies stamping in cat water dishes or you showering your friend while standing out in the rain. Can't explain why it hits my funny bone so much but the mental pictures are worth a thousand words. Maybe it helps take the edge off me feeling bad about Buddy getting so upset about his bath. These pigeon friends of ours do have such distinctive and unique personalities. To me though it shows how much love you have for your pet friends by providing them with an experience and an environment that they might not otherwise have unless they were totally wild. What I mean is that if your birds lived out in the open world they would naturally have the experiences that you are giving them. Like the sensation of rain drops pelting on their bodies or puddles to jump in. That is why I am now convinced about the idea of showering but I will take it slow at first and let Buddy decide if he likes it or not. Something tells me though that it might be in his nature to accept the sensation of a rainy/showery environment. Thanks gang. I think your great!

Cameron

[Trees Gray]

Originally Posted by Camrron

What I mean is that if your birds lived out in the open world they would naturally have the experiences that you are giving them. Like the sensation of rain drops pelting on their bodies or puddles to jump in. That is why I am now convinced about the idea of showering but I will take it slow at first and let Buddy decide if he likes it or not. Something tells me though that it might be in his nature to accept the sensation of a rainy/showery environment. Thanks gang. I think your great!
Cameron

Hi Cameron,

You may be happily surprised. My 50 pigeons have access to an open aviary and they all don't like baths. 1/2 of them like do, and run inside when there is rain coming down or I turn the hose on...the other 1/2 love the rain and bath, and will sit outside under the hose or rain for hours.

[mr squeaks]

know when they need a bath - even those who love their bath or shower.

There were times, I would think Squeaks wanted a bath and I would drag out the kitty litter box, fill with a few inches of water, set on the floor, place bird in box and watch. He would look around for a minute and then hop out. "Oh no, you don't," I would say and plop him back in. Out he'd hop. Well, I FINALLY (duh!) got the message after the third hop out!

Now, I'm more observant! He trains me very well and is probably thinking, "well, it's about time!"

[Lady Tarheel]

Shi, you're absolutely right. We have had that happen many times. Little devils.

Maggie

[TerriB]

Yep, pigeons definitely have strong opinions! When you try the shower, you might want to aim the spray up, so the drops arc up and then fall down, more like rain than a direct spray. Grace particularly enjoys having a gentle "rain" while she is soaking in the tub. Try different things and see how he reacts. Pigeons aren't shy about expressing their preferences.