Bathing

[Gráinne Barrett]

Hello everybody. I'm new to the forum but I know quite a lot about it and finchinfo.com! As my starter question I'd like to ask about bathing! Some of my finches and canaries when given their bath completely drown themselves in it but unfortunately others take no notice of it! I know it is good for the embryo in the egg so I'm wondering why some won't take it? Perhaps there is no relative answer!

[Sally]

Welcome to the forum! I don't know the answer to your question, as it seems that the birds that don't bathe still are able to successfully hatch out their eggs, even though the humidity is supposed to help. I've seen no difference in hatching success with mine between those that bathe and those that don't.

[MiaCarter]

Welcome!

I've wondered about this too, but I don't have an answer.

I have a bunch of dirty birds. LOL Very few bathe "properly."
Most will do a head/chest dunk, though, so perhaps that helps with humidity for the eggs?

I honestly believe bathing is a cultural thing.
Over the years, I've noticed that each cage has its own "culture", with a unique set of idiosyncracies.

It seems that when you have birds who are enthusiastic bathers, everyone in the cage partakes.
Whereas in cages where it's mostly head/chest dunkers, they tend to all do this.

[Gráinne Barrett]

Thanks for the welcome Sally and MiaCarter! Both of your answers are very true! The birds seem to be able to hatch without bathing and if one does it, typically all do it!

[lovezebs]

Gráinne Barrett
I think in many cases it's monkey see monkey do. Some watch others take the plunge, then try it themselves. Others sit close to wet birds who are fluffing and fluttering and get a shower that way. I think it has something to do with how they are raised. If they see their parents, siblings, companions bathing, I think they are more likely to give it a try.

I know all of mine like a bath in the morning, but the Socies like to take numerous baths throughout the day.

[KarenB]

I don't know about what makes them bathe or not bathe, but every single one of my finches, no matter what enclosure they're in, will bathe five times a day if I give them a fresh bowl of water five times. Mine are the cleanest birds around!

[Gráinne Barrett]

Very good! Most of mine will but others might sit on the edge of the bowl and ignore it!

[CHIRP]

Well I must say, my pair love bathing sometimes twice a day, the zebs love it, I fill my bath the same depth every time, bath filled so the water is just above the birds vent, they love to bath, everyday is bath time between 4 and 5. Sometimes if wild birds bath outside they also have a bath.........

[MariusStegmann]

A chap in Tasmania wrote about his parrotfinches that he kept in an outside aviary. He said that every morning they waited for him to break the ice on the water surface that they could have a bath. Here where I am in South Africa, I have been cautioned not to change the water during wintertime in the late afternoons, because the parrotfinches would take a bath and actually get sick because they don't dry before nightfall.

[lovezebs]

You know it's funny, but I have experimented with different temperatures of water, figuring that they would like slightly warm water. No. I tried tepid water and it was welcomed with mixed reactions. The preferrance appears to be cold water right across the board. And not only on very hot days either, all year around.
Mind you, my birds are indoors. Even so, the thought of a cold bath on a winter day is not at all appealing to yours truly.

[Mick M.]

Hi Grainne .
Some species are very particular about when they bathe and in front of who . Have found with mine that there are some water freaks and some tidy bathers , they do all bathe at some time during the day , some also sitting on eggs do too .
Don't know the science of it but who doesn't like a good shower every now and then .

Also i see from your post that you keep strawberry's , have you had any success breeding them . If so I have managed to breed chicks from a single pair and would very much like to swap some in time . Give me a shout anytime about them , id be delighted to link up .

Regards ,
Mick .

[Gráinne Barrett]

I have a pair of strawberries but unfortunately they have not bred yet! But they are young so hopefully I will have success next year as they are a lovely cute pair!

[Mick M.]

I have a pair of strawberries but unfortunately they have not bred yet! But they are young so hopefully I will have success next year as they are a lovely cute pair!

Very good Grainne , keep in touch and if they do have chicks give me a shout .

Mick .