Plumage care in the budgerigar

The fact that budgerigars like to bathe can be observed in the wild, in the open air and sometimes even in cages. They hang upside down on branches or on lattice edges and spread their wings so that every part is hit by the water. Or they lie down on the freshly washed lettuce leaf and wallow in it. This is not only about the fun factor, but also about the care of their plumage. Water plays a crucial role in this.

To replace the rain, there is an easy way. Buy a flower atomizer and set the nozzle to the finest degree of atomization. Then carefully spray the budgerigar with it. If he likes it, keep going for as long as he's comfortable. If he tries to escape, stop spraying and try again later. It can also help if they put the bottle next to the cage for the first few times. Anxious birds get used to the bottle and are no longer afraid of it when spraying.

Caution is advised against flower sprayers that were already provided with flower water and fertilizer or pesticides. These bottles should never be used, even if thoroughly cleaned. Leftovers could still be present and endanger the health of the budgie.

Another possibility is with tame budgerigars. Get him used to the bathroom and the shower or bath. Take him there more often. Once he gets used to the place, you can try it and gently shower him. Caution, do not adjust the jet too much, there is a risk of injury! The water temperature should be lukewarm.

If you don't want to let the bird out of the cage or if the location of the cage is not suitable, e.g. there is wallpaper directly behind it, the upper part of the cage can usually be removed and placed in the sink, bathtub or similar. This also has the advantage that the sand does not get soaked.

Budgerigars exude powder down dust, which is formed in the special powder downs. The branches of these downy feathers are constantly ground into a fine, greasy dust that protects against drenching and flightlessness. This is perfectly normal and helps keep the plumage in good condition. The distribution takes place with the beak.

Budgerigars that have no bathing facilities gather dust. When he flaps his wings, the cloud of dust spreads around the room and settles everywhere. This can be reduced to a minimum by regularly soaking the feathers. Furthermore, the moisture in the cage helps to increase the humidity around the bird, which helps it breathe better. All in all, bathing contributes to better health and therefore to a longer life. In addition, this helps to make a nice change in the budgerigar's everyday life.

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#17943898 by VitCOM

Source: WP Magazine