Are budgies terrified of..

[Tinker]

hairdryers? Sorry to ask, but I remember hearing about someone using one on their bird in very short bursts to dry them.

Lucki has been going through a really bad moult and is super itchy with heaps of down coming off as well. He's itching against every available surface every moment of the day. I know he would really benefit from a spray bath, but it's the middle of winter here and there is no way he would dry off. I have a heat pump but I'm sure he would still not be warm enough to dry off. Any suggestions please? I don't want him to get a chill. Perhaps I should plug the hairdryer in at the other side of the room tomorrow when he's calm and see how he reacts from the other side of the room first? I don't want him to have a heart attack at the mere sight or sound of it nearby as it's quite loud and he's never seen one before so I don't think he'd be relaxed. Has anyone actually dried off a wet budgie before, and please don't tell me something silly like to lock him in the hotwater cupboard!!!

[expressmailtome]

I would not suggest using a hairdryer as some are coated with teflon. If your budgie is inside he should dry on his own.

Matt

[usamma]

What about putting him a small covered cage with a heating pad under it after his bath? I used to do that with my budgies in the winter and they loved it.

[Tinker]

I can't do that usamma - I don't think he would be keen on the idea of being caught and transferred to another cage. He's not hand tame and last time I had to catch him it was near impossible. I also don't have a heating pad. I'm not sure what one looks like or where to get one. My hair dryer isn't teflon. I didn't try it today anyway, and I'm planning on spraying him rather than putting his bath in, because he's never actually gone down to use his bird bath - I think he's still not used to it.

[RXK]

Originally Posted by Tinker

My hair dryer isn't teflon.

i hate to push this because i would like to take your word for it, but i have to know: are you sure there are no non-stick parts in it, i.e., did you check with the manufacturer to make sure? i was going to use our hairdryer on our conure once, but before i did i checked with the manufacturer and sure enough there was teflon in it!!

[mrsuper]

my budgie loves to get wet so much that we hopes in the shower with me and sits on my head.

And when its time to dry him i tried it with a towel but he just jumped away so i got him to sit on my should for about 10 - 20minutes and he just dried himself.

[birde]

Originally Posted by mrsuper

my budgie loves to get wet so much that we hopes in the shower with me and sits on my head.

And when its time to dry him i tried it with a towel but he just jumped away so i got him to sit on my shoulder for about 10 - 20minutes and he just dried himself.

Awwww!!! :) :)

[Monica]

It's cold in New Zealand... specifically south island. Never been there, but I have a relative who's living there... and she recalls one morning waking up with frost on the bed! Being made up of islands, New Zealand is also pretty humid - so when it gets cold, it's chilling to the bones! In America where we may have central heating throughout the entire house, many in New Zealand (at least that's the impression that I got) only have heating in the livingroom and kitchen areas. If there's any other heating throughout the rest of the house, it's probably via oil fin heaters, space heaters, and gas bottle heaters. (this is what I was told)


Tinker, I suppose my only suggestion is to put Lucki in the warmest spot in the house, give him a bath, and allow him to dry off on his own. If you have a fire place, don't put him closer than 6' (although perhaps 10' would be safer). If any of the information I have is wrong, feel free to correct me!


In regards to the heating pads - do you know what an electric blanket is? If you do, well a heating pad is basically the same concept, only smaller and usually with rubber or something on the outside of it. I've actually been told that your electric blankets are more like a pad that's put underneath the sheets. Been told you can find them [heating pads] "anywhere" although if you are looking for a small one it might be hard to find... maybe at a vet/pet store?

You might even want to ring up a vet and ask - or perhaps look into a heating/warming lamp, instead. (was just told to use "ring" in place of "call" - call is to go in person, ring is to use the phone, correct? )

[USAmmasChickie]

If you probably put it a distance away from the bird,I think he will be fine.

[Liquid]

hairdryer? Ofcoure. Even children are scared of that loud noise.