Bathing Products

[Navre]

I am looking for an opinion on the various commercially available grooming sprays available.

I have never used any of them. My bird bathes herself in her water bowl when she feels like it, perhaps about 3 times a week.

[Pajarita]

I don't believe that anything other than water is really necessary... I do add a bit of aloe vera juice in the water when I spray the new birds so as to add a bit of a moisturizing agent to it because most people do not keep birds at the right levels of humidity for the simple reason that they are uncomfortable for people (and it messes up your furniture, walls, draperies, etc!) so they could end up with plumage and skin that are a bit too dry - but I only do it for the first two months or so and then stop.

[Navre]

I saw aloe Vera on a list of plants poisionous to birds.

[Pajarita]

Aloe Vera's leaves have a thin section on the outside and right under the 'skin' that contains something called aloin (which is, basically, a very bitter sap that protects the plant from been eaten by animals). Aloin is not poisonous to humans but it does cause diarrhea and intestinal upsets even in small quantities so the plant itself is not recommended to have around animals. I only buy the organic juice made from inner filet (which is what I always recommend) and this is made after removing the outer part of the leaf so there is no aloin in it.

[Navre]

Okay, thanks.