My canary won't bathe. Is he sick, or is the room too cold for him?

Fluffing up is a sign of either being cold or not feeling well. so you may want to look for cold drafts near the cage (and move the cage to a draft free place) and if this does not work, take him to a bird vet for an exam. If Ringo eats, drinks, and behaves normally and is lively when he is not resting, then the room temperature may just be a bit cool for him, or it may just be his way of keeping warm when resting.

This definitely sounds like something other than molting, especially if he's very lethargic or showing other signs of illness. I would bring him into your vet for a complete exam and even possible bloodwork to rule out issues such as parasites, infections, illnesses or even nutritional deficiencies that may be causing it. Making sure to keep him warm with easy access to a balanced diet and water may help some until you can be seen by your vet.

Thanks for reaching out about Bobo. It is fine to bath him as long as it is a warm environment in which to warm and dry. If the itching persists, a veterinary visit is needed to discuss nutrition and other possibilities. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Rico. It is fine to allow bathing as long as warm enough to dry off. There are heat lamps available to provide heat support, available at most pet stores. Tropical birds have difficulty stay ing warm in colder weather, as required lots of energy. Covering the cage or providing a tent is not adequate for cold weather. A conure's body will not heat the air in the cover cage to trap heat. Good luck.

Thanks for your question about Hazlet, and thank you for the photos - they are very helpful. You are correct in that Hazlet is more fluffed than a normal canary should be. You are also correct that this can be a sign of illness (it is part of what we call the "sick bird posture" - this also includes sitting low on the perches or sitting on the ground, closing the eyes, tucking the head, faster breathing). It can also be a sign of stress, or being cold as well. I would recommend that you evaluate where the cage is located - is it near a window, near an outside wall, or near a door? Is the temperature in your house 70F or below - if so, I would recommend increasing the temperature. Now that it has been two days since you posted (I apologize for the delay, by the way), if this has continued and the temperatures and cage location are appropriate, it may be time for a veterinary visit. Often it can take a few days for a bird to get comfortable in their new environment, but if it is still going on now, I would recommend taking him in to see a veterinarian. They can perform a physical examination, and depending on the findings, may have treatment recommendations for you. They can also evaluate the husbandry/care/diet for Hazlet and may make recommendations that are tailored to you and to him. I hope that gives you a place to start, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Not all birds will bathe all the time or even enjoy taking a bath. You can set a dish of clean shallow water in the cage and give them a chance to check it out and bathe themselves. Some birds also enjoy being misted with a cool spray bottle (not directly aimed at them) instead of a bath. However, if your birds are otherwise clean and healthy, I wouldn't worry too much.

This may be "normal" for Ringo. Molt times are only estimations based on 'most' birds. Stress, illness or diet can play large roles in molting. You can have him examined by your veterinarian to diagnose any illness or to confirm good health. Confirm proper environmental parameters and diet. There is no way of determining when he will begin singing again.