How To Towel Your Bird
Toweling can be used to restrain a bird for a physical examination, wing and nail clipping, or to give the bird medication. You should know how to properly towel your bird, because you never know when you’ll need to do it.
Time Required: 5 minutes to towel your bird, a few extra minutes to administer meds, etc.
Here's How:
1. You will probably need two people for this job. One will towel and hold the bird, the other will do the examination, administer medication, clip the wings or the nails, etc.
2. Take a towel that is just slightly larger than your bird. For small birds you can probably use a washcloth. For larger birds a hand-towel might suffice, or a larger bath towel.
3. If your bird is especially nervous, dim the lights a bit and be sure that there is nothing in the room that she could fly into and injure herself (cover windows, turn off the ceiling fan, close all doors).
4. Hold the towel with the ends draped over each hand and approach your bird calmly.
5. Place the towel over and around your bird’s back. Wrap your hand around so that the middle of your hand is on the bird’s back and your thumb and forefinger meet around the bird’s neck. They should meet just below her lower beak.
6. The bird’s wings should be tucked in to her sides. They should not be flapping around in the towel. Hold the bird tight enough to restrict her struggling, but not too tight.
7. Take care not to squeeze the bird’s belly. Birds do not have a diaphragm and they cannot breathe if they are unable to expand their chests.
8. Don’t cover the bird’s head completely with the towel. Most birds will chew on whatever they can get into their beaks, so expect a few holes.
9. Use a soothing voice while talking to your bird. Being toweled can be very stressful for your bird.
10. Reassure your bird when everything is over. Tell her she was a good bird, cuddle her if she’s up for it, or give her a treat.
Tips:
1.
Use two people.
Use two people.2.Always handle your bird gently -- too much pressure or force could break a toe, leg, or wing.
Always handle your bird gently -- too much pressure or force could break a toe, leg, or wing.3.Do not compress your bird's belly or she will not be able to breathe.
Do not compress your bird's belly or she will not be able to breathe.4.Practice toweling your bird and feeding her warmed babyfood out of a syringe to keep her used to being toweled, and associating it with something pleasant.
Practice toweling your bird and feeding her warmed babyfood out of a syringe to keep her used to being toweled, and associating it with something pleasant.What You Need:
•A towel that is appropriately sized to your bird
A towel that is appropriately sized to your birdBelow: A Macaw being toweled. Are these your photos? Email me so I can give you proper credit!
