Birds generally do a very good job of grooming themselves, and there is not much skin care for your bird that you will need to concern yourself with. Aside from bathing the bird regularly to help keep it clean, and occasionally assisting with preening areas such as the back or the bird’s head and neck, where it cannot always reach, skin care for your bird is a simple matter. It is important to be able to identify signs of potential problems, though, and know when to seek help. Most birds should be bathed a few times a week. Regular bathing not only reduces the amount of dander on your bird, it encourages self-preening and helps your bird keep herself cleaner. If your bird is unaccustomed to being bathed, the bathing process usually starts with lightly wetting the bird using a mist or spray bottle. Shampoos should not normally be used on your bird, since they can strip the feathers of important natural oils. Be sure to use lukewarm water and keep your bird protected from drafts until she is completely dry. Some birds like to be dried with an electric hair dryer on a low or cool setting; others prefer to dry naturally. Many birds enjoy baths and look forward to being sprayed with a water bottle or even a shower nozzle, especially those birds introduced to bathing at a young age. Birds preen their feathers daily, often spending a good deal of time on this important activity. If you have more than one bird in a cage, they may preen themselves as well as each other. If you have a solitary bird, you may need to assist him with preening body parts he can’t reach alone, such as the back of his head. This can be especially important during molting. Preening may be done with the bird’s beak or her feet, and helps remove old feathers, waterproof the feathers, and generally keep them in good shape. Since removal of old feathers is important for skin health, preening is also one way your bird takes care of his own skin care. Signs of bird skin problems can include flaky skin, feather loss that is not due to normal molting, and dull or damaged feathers. Bird skin problems are often caused by external parasites or by nutritional problems. Identifying the problem early, as soon as you notice signs of bird skin problems, is important. Proper diagnosis of the cause is best left to your avian vet, who can help you identify the reasons for the skin problems and recommend the appropriate skin care for your bird. A common bird skin problem is the simple scratching that comes with having dry skin. This dry skin can be caused by vitamin deficiencies or dry indoor air, especially during the winter months. If the culprit seems to be a vitamin deficiency, talk to your vet about whether or not your bird needs supplements, or if simply a dietary change is in order. Running a cool mist humidifier and frequently misting your bird with warm water can help reduce the itching and scratching associated with dry skin caused by environmental conditions, helping provide good skin care for your bird.
