Humidifier/Vaporizer? sick OCWBs?

[Nanajennie]

Raggedy and and Andy have been looking rough lately. I thought they were in a molt, but then I read that a dry home can cause them to lose feathers and such. They are looking really rough. One was worse than the other last week but since then, the other has really gotten odd looking. his/her feathers are so thin and the tail feathers look almost like they are dusted... can't get pics, they are so fast.

So I went out and bought a humidifier for that room. I also bought a vaporizer for my room, as I have been waking up with a dry throat (Winter in Vermont and the heat is on)

What is the difference between them as far as the birds go (I understand, humidifier is cool moisture, the vaporizer is steam)

Coconut lives in my room. I might add that both rooms are very large and and airy.

Thanks everyone. And anyone with OCWB knowledge, I would really appreciate any input. Could be a molt?

[Sally]

It could be the dry air. I have used a humidifier in my bird room before, though I had to watch that it didn't get too humid in there. Pukasand just mentioned in another thread about putting a pie tin full of water on top of an oil-filled radiator/heater to provide humidity. Are they getting daily baths?

[Martie]

This does seem kind of extreme, but I know here in upstate NY, it's really dry in the house, too. In the bird room, I leave an open bath on the floor of each cage. The birds can bathe any time they like - do so often - and I/they don't have any issues with humidity. It gets messy sometimes - and you probably could do just as well with outside mounted baths.

If after bathing regularly for a while, they don't look better, you will have eliminated this as a cause and can move on to look for other issues.

Hope they shape up for you!

[Nanajennie]

Sally@Martie I don't have any other way of humidifier other than the one I bought... Bathes are always available. I am praying it's a molt.... they act ok, eat and drink as usual