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I use 3, 2 gal buckets. Leftover from my horse days. ? I place them on a table and fill with warm water.
I have my shampoos ready. I use a human shampoo as well as a 'blue' shampoo on white and light colored birds. I put a squirt of blue shampoo (this can be a human version such as Clairol Shimmer Lights or a horse or dog version) in a small cup to dilute with water. You don't want to apply it to your bird full strength as it will turn them purple.
I also use an old toothbrush to scrub their feet
This is my bucket of soapy water. I add my shampoo AFTER I fill my bucket with water and give it a swirl with my hand. This prevents having a ton of suds running out of my bucket.
My two blue buckets are rinse water. After bathing in the soapy water, dip your bird in the second bucket to rinse. Bucket 3 has a splash of vinegar in it so when you do your last rinse, the vinegar will help remove all traces of soap.
Place your bird in the soapy water. I normally do this with 2 hands carefully keeping their head over the side of the bucket. If they struggle it helps prevent them from going under water and possibly aspirating. Gently wash your bird making sure to get all feathers clean paying close attention to the vent area. I do not wash the top of the head.
After bathing, I set my bird on the side of the soap bucket and use my old toothbrush to scrub his feet making sure to get all dirt off around the scales and toes. Then I rinse my birds in the next two buckets described above.
I then place my bird on a towel and wrap him like a burrito.
I'll leave the bird wrapped up in this manner to absorb excess moisture before I dry him.
After I have towel dried my bird, I'll spray him lightly with a silicone hair polish such as Lazer Sheen or Show Sheen. This helps to repel dirt and dust and keep him cleaner
While my bird is still wet, if I have any bent feather shafts, I gently work those to straighten them.
I use a hair dryer to dry the bird as needed. If the weather is nice, I'll dry until just damp and place the bird outside to finish drying. If the weather is cold, I will finish drying with a hair dryer indoors .
When drying a frizzle, I dry the opposite direction the feathers grow to accentuate the curl. You don't want to dry them flat. Frizzles and silkieds should be 'fluffy'.
