Question: Do Pet Birds Need to be Misted?

I have noticed that some bird owners mist their pets with a spray bottle each day. Should I do this for my pet bird, and if so, what are the benefits?

Answer: Misting your pet bird with fresh clean water each day can provide a variety of benefits to your feathered friend.

Aside from the fact that many birds enjoy a good spritz, misting can promote healthy preening of the feathers, leading to reduced instances of feather picking and plucking, as well as helping to invigorate your bird's skin.

Misting is especially important to birds that are molting, as it can help loosen the keratin sheath that covers new pinfeathers. This makes it easier for your bird to remove this sheath during normal preening behavior.

Another thing that daily misting can do for birds is improve the health of their respiratory systems. Captive birds in the home are often deprived of humidity in the air that would normally be in their natural environments. Replacing some of this humidity by misting your pet and his enclosure each day can help ensure that your bird's lungs stay as healthy as possible.

In order to properly mist your bird, your must first obtain a new, clean spray bottle that has never had any chemicals in it, as residue could linger in the bottle and be toxic to your pet. If the bottle has an adjustable nozzle, make sure that it is set to spray a fine mist, and not a stream. Use plain water that is room temperature and mist the bird all over it's body. Be sure not to saturate your bird's feathers; only mist until you can see beads of water accumulate on your pet's body.

If you've never misted your bird before, he or she may be apprehensive about the procedure. Try slowly working it into your daily routine and gauge how your pet reacts. If your bird is frightened by the spray bottle at first, try leaving by his cage for a few days so he can adjust to this new object. Mist yourself with the bottle, and show your pet how wonderful and soothing it is. You may also try giving your pet a special treat after he has been misted, to help him look forward to his daily "shower".

Most birds will come to enjoy being misted after a short time. If your bird requires a bit of extra help to get used to being misted, stick with it and don't give up. It's amazing what a simple little spray can do for a bird's looks, health, and happiness!

Paul D Leathers
pdleathers@yahoo.com

Secretary and Rescue Coordinator Quad Cities Parrot Society