Would it be cruel to dye a parrot?

[JaydeParrot]

Before coming to conclusions just hear me out.

This summer, I was sat outside with my Sennie sat on my shoulder, I'd been picking berries and was feeding half of them to her. After she'd finished her half, I ate my berries with one hand, rubbing her head with the other hand to stop her from getting bored. After I'd finished I glanced at her and stared, I'd accidentally dyed her head a pinkish red with some of the berry juice still left on my hand.

After getting over the initial shock it was funny, she didn't seem to realise she'd been dyed (neither did her mate) and it disapeared within three or so days.

Lately I've been thinking about naturally re-dying my bird like this again, just the head (obviously avoiding the eye area), I was thinking of using some beetroot juice (the red liquid that naturally comes from a squeezed betroot not a manifactured drink) this time. I wanted people's opinions first though, on whether they thought it would be cruel or a bad idea for some reason? Sure it's a silly pointless idea, but theoretically it wouldn't cause harm to my sennie, if I do it right she won't even realise she's been dyed.

Before I even attempt this, I would like to hear from anyone who can think of potential cons to this idea? Thanks.

[Wolf]

I don't think that beet juice would do any harm and so cruelty is a nonissue in my opinion. The rest of it I will leave alone.

[Michael]

My birds do it themselves rubbing on a toy after a bath. Takes weeks or months to come out so I wouldn't do it intentionally.

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[Pajarita]

Beet juice stains A LOT so I would assume it would take longer than a couple of days for it to rub off naturally. And, although it would not be exactly cruel, cruel, it would be upsetting to the bird as I am sure it would not like to have something wet put on its head and, been that their heads are black or a very dark grey, I don't think it would look good... but the foremost question in my mind is: why in the world would you want to do this?! Birds are not toys and using them for the giggle factor is not only disrespectful to them, it's downright demeaning of their feelings for you and something that no bird lover would ever contemplate doing, my dear.

[paper_lantern]

I agree with Pajarita. It's not cruel as in it wont hurt the bird. But she probably won't like having beet juice put on her head and there's really no benefit for the bird... they aren't ornaments. They are living, feeling beings.