Parrots have beautiful feathers, whether red, green, or blue. You should wash parrots to maintain their feathers, but this is seldom necessary.
Parrots rarely need to be washed with soap because they can adequately clean themselves by bathing in plain water and preening their feathers.
A parrot needs access to cool, clean water but can wash itself without shampoo.
Washing a parrot with shampoo or soap strips natural sebum from the feathers. This can interfere with vitamin D absorption from the sun and impact bonding and mating.
How Parrots Stay Clean
Parrots are self-sufficient birds. Even in a home setting, pet parrots don’t need much assistance from their owners to stay clean. The only input they need is access to fresh water.
For now, it’s enough to say that parrots clean themselves by bathing and preening.
How Parrots Bathe
Some parrots bathe by submerging themselves in water, whereas others rub themselves against the dew/moisture that lingers on vegetation.
Many parrots also use a rain shower to freshen up. Wild parrots spend lots of time bathing in lakes and natural springs, and baby parrots (chicks) love bathing in water.
How Parrots Preen
The primary function of preening is to stay clean and parasite-free. Parrots use their beaks to align their feathers and remove dirt and debris.
According to Science Direct, preening also distributes secretions from the uropygial (preen) gland onto the feathers, essentially waterproofing them.
Preening is a natural way for parrots to keep their wings healthy. However, avoid using soaps and shampoos on parrots’ wings, which may rub off the natural ‘waterproof’ sebum.
Why is it so important not to interfere with preening behavior? Well, preening keeps parrots clean and is central to their physical well-being.
Other Reasons Parrots Preen
In addition to keeping clean, disease-free, and waterproof, preening plays a role in mating, bonding, vocal development, stress relief, and vitamin D3 synthesis.
Research from Nature found that budgies distributed pheromones on their feathers through preening, making them more desirable to mates.
You don’t want to wash off these natural pheromones when breeding parrots.
Similarly, research shows that parrots use preening to bond with each other. This is particularly important for baby parrots, who often preen their siblings (which is vital for adult life).
According to Academic OUP, preening establishes a social order and can help develop a shared vocal signature. We should never interfere with something this important.
Perhaps most importantly, preening enables parrots to get vitamin D3. A parrot’s preen gland releases vitamin D precursors, which are spread over the feathers.
Then, when sunshine activates these precursors, Vitamin D3 is created. The parrot gets vitamin D3 through preening, and washing off this natural sebum undermines the process.
If a parrot doesn’t get enough vitamin D3, the body can’t absorb calcium. This leads to weak and vulnerable bones and increases the risk of egg binding (dystocia).
When To Wash A Parrot
There are occasions when you might need to wash a parrot, such as:
These instances are rare, so it’s unlikely that you’d need to wash the parrot manually.
Washing Parrots with Soap
You should never wash a parrot with commercial soap.
Soaps contain chemicals and harmful ingredients for birds, including some natural soaps, which contain toxic essential oils.
Some pet stores sell bird-safe soap, which you can use. However, you shouldn’t use soap unless the wings are soiled with oil, paint, or another thick substance.
Washing Parrots with Shampoo
Most shampoos are formulated with a lathering agent, creating foam that would be difficult to rinse off. Shampoos also strip natural oils, so you risk washing away the sebum vital for healthy feathers.
Some people make homemade parrot shampoo from apple cider vinegar and water. While this is unlikely harmful, it is usually unnecessary because plain water is fine for daily bathing.
Use bird-safe soap or consult a vet if a stain is more ingrained.
Helping A Parrot To Bathe At Home
Parrots will bathe and preen of their own accord, so owners must help facilitate this natural behavior. To do this, use these methods:
Bath
Find a tub and fill it with water. According to Watch Bird, most Psittacine birds prefer cool water.
Parrots will usually enter a pool of water. If reluctant, try splashing the water or bringing some toys to the water. You can also reward bath time with a treat to reinforce this behavior.
Spray Bottle
If a parrot seems reluctant to preen, it could be because the atmosphere is overly dry.
Rainfall causes a bird to start preening, so recreate this by spraying plain water onto the parrot.
Use only water in the spray bottle. Again, cool water is preferred because it’s like rainwater.
Shower
Some owners let their parrots enjoy a shower for a few minutes a day. Shower water mimics rainfall, and most parrots love it.
If you do this, remember that the bathroom may have some hazards for parrots (ceiling fans, razors, cleaning chemicals), so proceed with caution.
How Often Should To Bathe Parrots
Parrots like to wash and preen themselves, so provide them with access to a bath or shower daily. You shouldn’t need to wash a parrot often (if ever).
If a parrot has something messy on its feathers and doesn’t clean it by bathing/preening, you could try to wipe the stain with a damp and soft cloth.
How To Promote Clean And Healthy Feathers
There are other things you can do to ensure a parrot has healthy feathers, including:
- Provide access to sunlight – When parrots relax in sunlight, this prompts preening activity.
- Foraging opportunities – This reduces the likelihood of parrots picking out their feathers.
- Feed the parrot a healthy diet – Ensure the parrot gets enough calcium and other nutrients. Certain fruits and veggies should comprise a portion of their diet.
Change the water daily. A parrot shouldn’t bathe in stagnant water, as it’ll likely harbor bacterial microbes. Indeed, many parrots prefer running water to a static water source.
