Non-bird people keep asking me what birds smell like because they’ve seen bird owners on TikTok and Instagram talking about how good they smell.
I’ve kept various parrots and a canary over my life and when they’re clean they just smell sort of dusty. I think people think they smell nice because you always love the smell of someone you love. My chickens also just smell sort of dusty.
My waterfowl have a smell. My ducks all smell musky, a little like a ram in rut, even when they are clean.
But my pilgrim geese smell sweet and fragrant like some of our native tree flowers (that I don’t have in my garden). The vet says they’re both in great shape
Does anyone else experience this?
I’ve kept various parrots and a canary over my life and when they’re clean they just smell sort of dusty. I think people think they smell nice because you always love the smell of someone you love. My chickens also just smell sort of dusty.
My waterfowl have a smell. My ducks all smell musky, a little like a ram in rut, even when they are clean.
But my pilgrim geese smell sweet and fragrant like some of our native tree flowers (that I don’t have in my garden). The vet says they’re both in great shape

Does anyone else experience this?