Bathing

[northernmist]

New to finches...

How often should I provide water for them to bathe in and should it be a certain temperature?
They are caged inside. Thank you.

[B CAMP]

Mine get tap water most days they want it everyday,some finchs don't bath very often.
It is good for there feathers.

[Sally]

Some species bathe more than others, but it is a good thing for most of them. I use tap water, and I mix cold and hot just to keep it so it is not cold. I personally add 1 T. organic apple cider per 1 gallon of water, supposed to be good for the feathers, but it is not necessary--plain old tap water will work too.

Oops, I meant to say organic apple cider vinegar!

[trljr14]

Just give them water to bathe in,i put a couple of drops of apple cider vinegar,tom.

[ac12]

I give them a bath to use every day.
Some will bath several times a day, others rarely bath. It all depends on how the bird was raised, and if it had a "teacher" bird that bathed.

As for temp of the water, in the spring, summer and fall I use room temp water. In the winter, I zap it in the microwave, to take the chill off the water. 10 sec / 8 oz of water.

I use filtered water, same as what I put into their water tubes. This is because they will also drink their bath water. To the water I add 1-1/2 drops of ACV per 1 oz of water. This is because they will poop in the bath.

[franny]

I use a shallow terra cotta plant pot saucer, fill it with water the coldest I can get out of the tap. I tried warming it, but they seem to prefer it cold. Go figure!

Mine get a bath every day. I like to clean the cage after they bathe, because they splatter water over everything, so it softens the dried on poop. I mop up the water with a damp shop towel, then wipe the messier perches and wipe poop off the wires, replace the paper on the bottom of the cage, a few minutes after bath time. It comes off much easier.

[FinchDegg]

If i remember correctly you have zebbies, provide 1 everyday as you will prob find they love bathing

[northernmist]

I use a shallow terra cotta plant pot saucer, fill it with water the coldest I can get out of the tap. I tried warming it, but they seem to prefer it cold. Go figure!

Mine get a bath every day. I like to clean the cage after they bathe, because they splatter water over everything, so it softens the dried on poop. I mop up the water with a damp shop towel, then wipe the messier perches and wipe poop off the wires, replace the paper on the bottom of the cage, a few minutes after bath time. It comes off much easier.

Great tip! Thanks.

[northernmist]

If i remember correctly you have zebbies, provide 1 everyday as you will prob find they love bathing

Yeah I know have a proper little bird bath to place in the cage after they decided to bathe in their water bowl!! It was too cute!

[ac12]

@NM
If you have a newspaper floor in your cage, be aware that the birds will learn that WET newspaper is easy to tear...and they will tear up the newspaper. Especially if they have a nest.

[Total Finch]

mine dont take a bath when I give them water.
Pls PM if you know what I have to do.

[ac12]

@TF
The 2 ways that I know of are
1 - Put the bath out for them. They "might" eventually use it.
I have a gouldian that I am doing this with, and so far after 4 months...nothing. All she ever did was to drink out of the bath.
My wife read that putting a piece of lettuce in the bath water might get them go into the bath, to get to the lettuce. So far that trick has not worked w my gouldians.

2 - Have a "training" bird that bathes. Following the "monkey see monkey do" idea, the bird may copy the bathing bird.
Example I have 3 societies. 2 bathed a LOT, 1 did not. After months of watching the other 2 bathing, it decided to try bathing. Now it bathes just as much as the other 2.

BTW, birds also forget how to bath. I have 3 juvenile gouldians that used to bath every day. I had to remove the bath for a week, during cage renovations. After that week w/o a bath, they seem to have forgotten that they used to bath every day. I've seen one or two of them to a dunk bath maybe once every few weeks. I keep putting out the bath, hoping that they will start using it again.
I am hoping that the fledgling that is in w my societies will learn to bath, and take that into the community cage and "teach" the others to bath again.

[franny]

mine dont take a bath when I give them water.
Pls PM if you know what I have to do.

Gouldians don't seem to like to bathe as much as some others, so don't worry too much. You could try using a mister (like for misting plants). But be sure to use one that's never had any plant food or any chemicals in it. You can usually get one at a dollar store. Put just plain water in it, and turn the nozzle so it gives a fine mist. You don't want to blast the birds and scare them!

They will probably shake their heads a bit when they get wet, but I tried it with my Goldbreasts and they got to love it. I misted them as they sat on one perch. When they'd had enough they would fly to another perch and groom. Don't over do it - be sure to let them fly away from the sprayer after a couple of mists. Once they realize it's just water and won't hurt, they'll come back to the perch you are spraying at, all on their own, when they want a misting.

[mrshorn]

Mine get warm baths everyday with vitamin drops mixed in. They drink the water too. My societies will bathe all day long. That bath goes in, and it is party time! My Goulds and Shafttails could care less. Go figure.

[northernmist]

@NM
If you have a newspaper floor in your cage, be aware that the birds will learn that WET newspaper is easy to tear...and they will tear up the newspaper. Especially if they have a nest.

No. I have corn cobb ...is that the correct name?? Should I use the newspaper?