I know this is a really odd question. I know you can wash a dog with dog shampoo but I have yet to see a bird shampoo out there.

I know technically my bird (Miracle) doesn't need to be shampooed but I would like if I knew there was something I could use on him.

Also is there a way to get him to take a bath? I placed him in the sink last night with warm water and he just kinda stood there in the corner wanting out.

What kind of bird do you have? I had a cockatiel when I was little and I used to take showers with her. My dad has a cockatoo and he showers with her all the time. He usually doesn't wash her with soap, just lets her play under the water and the dirt just washes off, but when she's really dirty he uses Neutragena Rain Bath which is safe for animals.

My bird is actually a cockatiel too.

I remember our female cockatiel would actually sit on the edge of the water dish and would fluff out her wings and try to toss water onto herself. But I've never seen Miracle do that.

And I know this is a weird question but can they swim like ducks? I've put Miracle into the bath water with me when the water is low and I just watch him. It freaks him out to not be able to touch bottom so he holds his wings out but I would think he could sit like a duck does if he really wanted to.

And I know this is a weird question but can they swim like ducks? I've put Miracle into the bath water with me when the water is low and I just watch him. It freaks him out to not be able to touch bottom so he holds his wings out but I would think he could sit like a duck does if he really wanted to.

NO!!! **BIG**DROWNING**HAZARD** if you are not there to supervise every single second. Do not trust your bird's ability to swim, because it has none. You'd be amazed how easily a bird can drown in a very small amount of water. Tiels do not have webbed feet & cannot sit like a duck - even if they really want to.

Call me a paranoid bird mom, but I've heard too many horror stories & witnessed a few that will keep me paranoid for life.

R~

Yeah I'm always sitting with him when I do that.

It freaks him out to not be able to touch bottom so he holds his wings out but I would think he could sit like a duck does if he really wanted to.
And why exactly would you want to do that when it obviously scares him???

Cockatiels are not meant to swim and birds will actually rarely bathe in the wild. They polish their feathers with the beak and rub a “cream” (?) on to keep their feather water-resistent, that they get from this area over their butts

Many parrots are indigenous to the Rain Forest (although cockatiels are not, they're native to Australia) and using a misting bottle daily with purified water works pretty well to substitute rain for them. Misting them also cuts down on the amount of bird dander which is healthier for them and their environment. Although I've noticed our cockatiels don't like the misting as much as the Cockatoo and the Quaker. And the 'tiels and other birds besides the Quaker never liked to submerge themselves in water. The younger 'tiels are starting to take to misting now, holding out their wings and moving around. But my oldest cockatiel still doesn't care much for it though he tolerates it. It took the 'tiels awhile to get used to it though, and I spray them in their cages. And I have to be careful not to get their food all wet. I don't think shampooing a bird is ever recommended. Although I think for birds and water fowl caught in oil slicks they do use a really gentle detergent. I agree with the other cautions mentioned here, please do not put your cockatiel in water, especially if its frightened. I've read about shallow dishes like pie tins or plates being used with just a little bit of water in them if the bird likes it. But not all birds like to submerge themselves in the water. And of course, if you mist your bird, spray just above the head so the droplets fall down onto him. And make sure its not in a drafty area. The room has to be warm and comfortable as far as temp. If your cockatiel got a draft, especially when wet, it could get sick. HTH :smile: