Bird Cleanliness

[epriddy]

I have not seen or seen any evidence of my RCCBs bathing since I have had them. They shake and preen and they'll sort of nestle each other's necks, but I have never seen them bathe at all. There is a shallow saucer of water on the floor of their cage, fresh everyday or fresh twice per day. Should I spray them? Is there anything wrong with them not bathing? The nestling looks more like an affectionate action as whoever is receving just relaxes and closes their eyes. Everything in and around the cage is super clean. I'm not sure if I should be concerned or not, or maybe if I'm not providing the correct utensils. Some of them look bigger than they others but there's definately no feather plucking or loss of feather on any of them anywhere.

Thanks for your help!

[cindy]

Some bird bathe and some don't but I wiould not spray them it may panic them. What type of water cup or tube do you use. If you use a tube they might be iinterested in bathing in a cup.

If I give some of mine a separate bowl they ignore it and go for the cup. They stand in the spot waiting for the cup to come back with fresh water in it.....then it is a pool party.

[epriddy]

There are four containers in the bottom of the cage. I don't attach anything to the sides or inside of the small lift up places on the side where the cups that come with the cage go.

All of the containers are regular oven proof dishware. There are two with water, one smaller and deeper and one like a regualr but shallow cereal bowl with about an in and a half of water in it.

If its ok that they don't bathe that's great, as long as they'res nothing wrong with that. While at the store today I looked at a new spray bottle but passed. I can't imagine dousing them would make them very happy.

[poohbear]

Put a bottle of deodorant next to the cage as a hint....

[cindy]

[monotwine]

Mine all love bathing, but they usually need to be brave first and find out how deep the bowl is. So long as initially the water does not come past their bellies, they usually go in.
One other thing I've see that has put birds off of going into the bowl is if it is too bright i.e. a white container. Mine all like it slightly darker at the bottom, and a bit rough too. If you bowls are ceramic, it could be too slippery and they will feel unsafe entering.

You obviously are doing all you can for them. If they choose not to bath, and they are healthy then there is nothing wrong with that either.

[FinchNerd]

As long as they are healthy and preening themselves then there shouldn't be any problem. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe preening is more important than bathing in water, especially in captivity where the birds usually don't have to worry about a lot of dust, dirt, bugs, etc being in their feathers. As long as they are keeping their feathers properly groomed by preening then there should be no problem.

My zebra finches enjoy bathing in their water dish. It's a cup dish. I keep it shallow because they enjoy bathing in it so much. It has a roof over it (but plenty of space for them to get in and out) so that might make them feel more secure. You could try a few new dishes or bowls to see if they take to it, but there's probably no need to try and force it.

[epriddy]

odd that I posted it yesterday. this morning while I was sitting watching the birds eat, one of the young hens started dipping her head in the smaller dark water dish. she was flecking it around and then low and behold, she took a quick hop in and then out, then thought about it, did it again, and went to the high perch to preen.

a quesion about the nuzzeling though, that is affection, right? two of my young hens were happily enjoying each other company when i had to leave for work.

[cindy]

Nuzzling and preening are very normal, it is done with same sex, opposite sex. Finches are very social little creatures and preening is very social.