Continued from Page 1The Crop Bib
Many parrot owners are amazed by some parrot bathing behavior. The most common idiosyncrasy that parrots exhibit is that they will have had their shower and immediately jump into their water cup as soon as they are put back onto their cages. My theory on this behavior is an inadequately drenched "crop bib", which is what I call the area of feathering that covers the crop area on the necks of our birds. The articles published on hand-feeding of baby birds indicate that the crop content of our birds is very hot and food should be administered to hand-fed and weaning chicks at 108°-110°F. With these temperatures in mind one may understand that the skin in this area is very warm indeed.
An area of a bird's body that is generating this much heat is a breeding ground for bacteria and an inadequate soaking of the skin in this particular region can perpetuate the perfect environment for bacterial growth. If this bacterial growth continues it may spread further down the body of the bird until the area is within reach of the beak and the bird begins to chew and pluck feathers attempting to relieve itself of the itching caused by the bacterial growth. It is vital to the showering process that the crop area be soaked to flush existing bacteria from the skin. To illustrate this concept I will describe the standard preparation of a slide in micro biological study. To prepare a slide you would introduce bacterium to the slide and heat fix it over the flame of a Bunsen burner. (essentially "cooking" the microbe onto the glass) After it is heat fixed you would apply a stain and then wash or rinse the residual stain from the slide. Your slide is now ready for viewing under the microscope. If you were to omit the heat fixing step from your routine you would stain and wash, washing your organism completely off the slide. Nothing to keep it there, get it? The same thing occurs when we wash our hands, we wash bacteria from them. The same principle applies to the skin of our parrots which is why it is so important that we bathe them frequently, paying close attention to the "hot spot" or crop bib. In the case of our powdered species, such as the cockatoos and greys, the powder may cause particular problems by trapping the bacteria between the heat of the crop-area skin and the powder. If the skin is not flushed properly to eliminate the powder and microbes, the bacteria may proliferate in this environment, and plucking problems are more than likely to occur. This is an excellent indication as to why they are plunging their neck areas into their water cups! Without the benefit of the rainfall in their natural environment, and an owner that has not examined their basic need for bathing, the water cup becomes the next step in utilizing that which is found in an artificial environment. Provide your birds with an adequate bath for its good health and to eliminate the itch caused by dry skin and bacterial growth.
The First Line of Defense
If your parrot begins to tear at its feathers and you've ruled out anything in its environment that may be the cause of stress or apprehension, you may want to examine the frequency in which you have been bathing him/her. I was saddened by the story told to me by a woman this past year regarding her Mollucan cockatoo. The bird began to pluck its feathers, was taken to the veterinarian, and placed on hormone therapy. When I asked the age of the bird she said, "Eight months." Of course I suggested that she consult a second opinion and begin a regime of frequently showering her bird. I am happy to report that this bird is now fully feathered and enjoying a life without the disadvantages of hormone therapy at such a tender young age.
Frequent or daily showering/bathing of your bird is essential to its feather and skin condition. For birds, bathing is fundamental. As a first line of defense in the feather plucking issue the frequent shower should be implemented. It is more natural to our parrots than corticosteroid treatments, hormone therapy, and collars that have been routinely suggested as treatment for this problem. If your avian veterinarian suggests more frequent showering of your bird you must stick to it! You cannot proceed with this suggestion for one or two days and expect a good result. You must soak the bird well and you should bathe the bird every day. Try to realize where the bird genetically evolved and what it has been missing in its basic, fundamental care. This is an area, in keeping these magnificent creatures, that we have not looked at properly and it appears that the time has come to rectify this situation. Bathe them well and often and they will exhibit the splendor that comes naturally to them.
Bathing With Your Bird
Many parrot owners tell me that they shower with their birds. Great! When I suggest that the parrot receive a good shower on its own one or two days a week I will get a weird look (never from the parrot, incidentally). Bathing with your bird has its advantages and disadvantages...let me explain. While bathing with your bird is advantageous for the bird to reap the benefit of your company, the added humidity and moisture, and a somewhat adequate bath, it may fall short when you consider the importance that bathing has for our parrots. In this instance they will not be able to perform the bathing ritual in a natural fashion as is sometimes indicated by species- specific bathing behavior. Bathing on their own allows them to exhibit these behaviors without our interference. Imagine bathing with your significant other, spouse, neighbor, or a stranger every time you bathed or showered. Creepy, isn't it? Somehow you just can't get all of the things done in the shower you need to do when you have this constant companion. It becomes uncomfortable and you just can't "let go" and get the job done. Is it different for birds? I don't think so. We must always be in their way, forcing the issue, and doing it wrong when we think that we are doing it right. Give them the freedom to make the decisions on which way to turn, whether to be in or out of the water, and which wing is to be lifted and when. Bathing on their own affords them these decisions. Do you recall the water temperature issue previously mentioned? If you bathe with the bird, be prepared to lower that water temperature to a "parrot comfort level" which will probably be a little uncomfortable for you! (unless you're in the habit of taking what we would consider a cold shower) Be considerate of your parrot friend allowing him the respect and privacy of a good solo shower.
The Sentinel Bird
In the wild, our parrots are generally communal bathers. Since the majority of our parrot species are flock oriented in their habits, we may look at their bathing habits as being a part of a flock mentality. In all flock activity you will find a single, solitary bird that will stand guard or "sit sentinel" over the flock during any given activity. Whether feeding, sleeping, playing, or bathing, the sentinel bird will be on duty. During bathing, a wet bird is a slow bird and a slow bird can be a dead bird. The warning from a sentinel bird can mean the difference between survival or demise. Even though our environment eliminates the natural predators of these birds there is still the need of a sentinel to warn of impending danger. That's where you come in...the surrogate sentinel. It is essential, for your bird to feel secure, that you remain with him/her while the bathing process ensues. To place your bird in a bathing situation without you acting as a sentinel could cause a little apprehension for the bird. To illustrate the situation I will tell you the story as told to me by a woman with great powers of observation. This woman owned a shop and would bathe her Blue & Yellow Macaw in the utility sink in the back room. She related how the macaw would go in and out of the water by climbing in an out of the sink, splashing and vocalizing, and making a big bird mess with the water. She noticed that when she had to leave the bird to go out and attend a customer she would return to find the macaw sitting on the sink. Awaiting her return, the macaw would sit there until he saw her before getting back into the water to finish its bath. Ah Ha! The return of the surrogate sentinel bird! Only with a feeling of comfort in having his sentinel did the bird feel he could continue his bathing.
Spending time with your bird during its bath is a part of its "flock mentality". Birds inherently understand this mentality through their genetic make up. Being exotic, not domestic animals, we have not yet erased these traits from our birds through our years of breeding them. Their exotic nature is a grand part of their appeal to us. Respect the needs of your birds by remaining with them while they bathe and by giving them a secure situation in which to perform the ritual of the bath.
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