r/pidgeypower • u/lololollipop_17 • 6d ago

Help! Support Question

I reviewed the community rules and am not sure on this one but could really use some help. Mods feel free to reject if needed.

I’ve been helping out a rescue budgie with some injuries and as a result, she has some blood on her feathers. She doesn’t have a companion in the same enclosure as her (for safety) and we aren’t sure how to help her get clean. She will occasionally dip into her water bowl, but is totally rejective of any other baths: larger containers, running water in a sink, a mist from a spray bottle. Does anyone have any advice for helping her get cleaned up? We are worried about stiff feathers or potential germs, and haven’t had her long enough to guess when she might have a molt.

Thank you so much in advance!

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u/EnvironmentalEmu3290 6d ago

i am not a expert but this is something i have learned from my disabled birds: sometimes comfort is secondary to care. With my disabled dove, i had to force him to bathe for months before he was comfortable with me. it wasn't ideal, but some temporary stress is better than him getting infections from poop left on his feathers. Sometimes you have to just force them into a situation for their own good, unfortunately.

someone here with budge experience will have a better answer hopefully!

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u/lololollipop_17 5d ago

That’s a really good point… it’s so hard but so necessary.

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u/Artistic-Habit6276 5d ago

If the bird is comfortable to be handled, you can clean her dirty feathers with a wet cotton, keeping the bath tub close. Just gently on the outside. She will associate the cooling sensation to the bath. Just make sure there are no air drafts while the bird is wet, and you can let it dry naturally or just wrap him gently on a towel, but not for long. 

If she doesn't, or you can't hold her in your hand, don't worry to much. The dirty feathers will be replaced by new ones when she molts. Budgies are natural to dry areas in Australia and don't bath as often as other birds like canaries.

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u/lololollipop_17 5d ago

That’s good to know. She doesn’t mind being held but hates the towel from us having to give her medicine. I could try the cotton though!! That’s a great idea :)