Is it a bad sign if your bird starts to bathe more than usual?

[Britnicorn]

I only ask because I know a change in behavior can be a sign of illness, but what about bathing habits?
Raiju used to never bathe, but I'd chalk that up to being too scared to as he was new. Since he's moved to my room he's been bathing about once a week, I think it's been at least two months since the move.

But over this past week or two, he's starting to bathe almost every other day. The humidity or temperature hasn't changed at all, except it's been a little warmer at night than usual (It usually drops to 65 degrees in my room at night but lately its been staying at 68-70 all night)
He only bathes in one of the water bowls, Phoenix always bathes in the fountain but Raiju is scared of the fountain still
Phoenix only bathes like twice a month

Could this be a sign of illness? Is it possible for birds to over-bathe?

 

[Kassiani]

I mist my birds every day when they are molting. They all got a good misting today because it was nearly 100F outside today! So I don't think it's possible for a bird to over bathe unless it becomes several times a day?

 

[flyzipper]

In all the threads I've ever read about birds presenting as sick, excessive bathing never comes up (bottom of the cage, inactivity, fluffing up, loss of appetite, etc are the usual suspects).

Perhaps a molt as @Kassiani suggested.

Perhaps it's just fun

Overall, I wouldn't be worried.

 

[Britnicorn]

Thank you!!

 

[Oscarbird]

Oscar's has phases where he would bathe more often than usual, (sometimes as much as three or four times a week!) the last phase ended around mid-May. I don't think that over-bathing is anything to be concerned about and like Flyzipper mentioned, it's never really come up in the category of "how to know if your bird is sick."

 

[camelotshadow]

Good to be clean. I know they like it but I hate the mess they make when water flys all over.

 

[Wardy]

Isnt Raiju moulting ? this can increase the amount of baths they have as it offers some relief from the itchy moult

 

[Gabby22]

I have never heard of any bird bathing more due to illness, usually it is the opposite, they stop bathing and preening when sick. I guess it could be possible, but like I said, I have never heard of it. Birds, like us humans, can change their mind about things. Or your birds skin is itchier than normal and bathing relieves it. A lot of birds bathe daily - I would not be worried about it unless you start seeing other signs of illnesses.

 

[FeatheredM]

My birds switch up for when they take a bath, so for me there are bathing seasons and non bathing seasons, right now is a not

 

[Solly]

my finches and canaries bathe every day. Sometimes several times a day.. I get screamed at if I don’t put a bath in every morning They are quite happy to let me know what they want and when they want it. Lol

 

[Britnicorn]

Isnt Raiju moulting ? this can increase the amount of baths they have as it offers some relief from the itchy moult

He is molting, I didn’t even think about that

 

[Peachfaced]

My birds are more frequent bathers during a molt.

 

[Mizzely]

I've always seen increased bathing during a molt