How to clean/wash a sick finch who won't bath

[Stephanie]

I have a very sick Gouldian who I don't hold out much hope for but I will try to the last. For several days I've been hand feeding supplementary emergency foods to try to get some weight on. He's hanging in but his face and neck are slightly soiled from the sticky food and because he won't bathe.

His little features are so delicate... Is there a safe method for washing/cleaning him? I have tried dabbing with a moist cloth but that achieves nothing. I would love to wash his face so his eyes and nose are clean.

[ac12]

You could use a wet Q-tip to clean his beak area.
Wipe up the food as soon as you finish feeding. It is easier before the food dries up. Trying to disolve dry food will take a lot of water.

And be very careful, water will mat the feathers and the bird will not be able to hold his body heat in. I have that problem when I had to wash the poop off the butt of some of my juvs, their feathers get all matted down and they have to dry off. Drying off takes a fair amount of energy, wing flapping and loosing body heat until the feathers get back to normal.

IOW, given his health, I would not stress him out any further by giving him a bath.

[cindy]

Try the round cotton eye make up pad removers....they are like cotton balls but compressed and a flat circle. They come in a long plastic sleeve, Target has them. Dip it in warm water and wash gently. Keep a few nearby when feeding the bird to clean him up quickly. If the bird is not well, getting him totally wet is not a good idea, he will loose to much heat. Once you give him a little sponge bath make sure you have a heat lamp on him.

[Stephanie]

I found a good method for washing his face - a very soft, flat-ended paint brush about 1/4" across. It went well.

[finchmix22]

Good idea with the brush. I use one for hand feeding hatchlings. What is wrong with your gouldian? Do you know why he is sick?

[nofred]

I have a Pied Zebra that is crippled in both hips. I give him a bath by letting him flap around in luke warm water a bit, then hold him in a towel, then set him down on the towel and hit him with a hair dryer set on low heat and low fan. He loves it! He mostly turns into "the wind", but I have turned him on his back in my hand to dry his belly. With my hand there I can also feel the amount of heat. It helps to keep the dryer moving quickly back & forth.