Is there an unsafe temp to offer pigeons baths?

[LamarshFish]

Just wondering if there is an unsafe temperature to offer pigeons a bath. I know when it is below freezing it would be silly to do so, but it is around 40 degrees here today, and I was wondering if that is too cold? Would it be too cold for them once they take a bath and they are all wet, or will they be able to warm up fast enough after bathing?

 

[Chicken-lovebirdchihuahua]

I don't have pigeons but I do have lovebirds I know not to cold and not to hot room temp

 

[LamarshFish]

I don't have pigeons but I do have lovebirds I know not to cold and not to hot room temp

Thanks, but I am talking about outside air temperature, not water temp. I assume your love birds live indoors? My pigeons live outdoors, and it gets below zero here, but is currently in the low to mid 40s, and I'm just wondering how cold is too cold of outdoor air temps for pigeons to be getting themselves wet in a bath (mostly concerned with them getting too cold after bathing, if there is such a thing). Waterfowl do it no prob, but pigeons feathers do not have the water repellent nature that waterfowl feathers have, so I'm not sure what the cold would do while they are drying...

Anybody offer their pigeons baths when it is in the 40s?

 

[biophiliac]

I have been curious about this too,

 

[Kusanar]

My little genius took a bath in his water bowl the other day and it's probably in the upper 30's to lower 40's in the room he's in... Granted, he IS inside so no wind chill...

 

[sourland]

I always provided periodic baths year round unless it was excessively cold. Generally they do not get wet down to the skin. It is always a good idea to observe 'bath time'.

 

[Hokum Coco]

if there is an unsafe temperature to offer pigeons

I have provided baths to pigeons in fairly cold weather and sometimes they take advantage of the bath and other times not. I would suggest they know when to bathe and when not to.

 

[LamarshFish]

I have provided baths to pigeons in fairly cold weather and sometimes they take advantage of the bath and other times not. I would suggest they know when to bathe and when not to.

It is about 45 here today. I placed a warm bath in the aviary this morning. They did not go right to it, but I imagine once it warms up a bit more and the sun hits the aviary they will indulge.

 

[avjudge]

Here's one data point: Coincidentally (since I just read this thread today after doing so), I decided to put out bath water today for my 3 pigeons, who are living on my back screen porch here in northern New Hampshire this winter (pending construction of an aviary that we procrastinated too long on). It had warmed up to a balmy 30 after a week or so ranging from 0 to the low 20s. Upon seeing the water tray appear, all three headed right for it and (though somehow I'm never looking at the right time to see them doing the splashing) soon water was splashed as far and wide as ever - so apparently they bathed enthusiastically. I see no signs of harm to them!

Disclaimer: I'm new to all this after rescuing my first, apparently a wedding or graduation release, by the side of the road this last June. The other two are a pair adopted to give him company. So I don't claim any great knowledge - just what I've picked up here and on Pigeon-Talk and through Google searches, and what my pigeons themselves have told me.

 

[biophiliac]

@avjudge
Welcome, welcome, !

Great to have another pigeon lover on board. Fingers crossed I'm getting my first 6 homers in a few days.