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My cockatiel's feet are dry, and he hates baths. What should I do?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Bird | Unknown - Bird | Male | 0.2 lbs

My Cockatiel Pixel's feet are dry. It's impossible to give him a bath because he hates water. Are there any tips that you can give me to help with these issues? Thank you.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Jessica Desrosiers

Veterinary Technician

Published on May 31st, 2018

Some scaling is natural, however making sure Pixel is on a balanced diet and doesn't have parasites are two things you can do. Malnutrition can sometimes cause problems with the feet, such as with low vitamin levels. Some parasites such as mites can also cause scaling of the feet, so if you suspect this may be the case (IE he's itching a lot, you see flecks of stuff, etc), a mite spray can be used to treat it. If he doesn't like baths, you might see if he enjoys being misted with a warm water bottle set to mist as this may be less scary than a bath and still encourage him to preen and stay clean.

If the scaling worsens or you see any visible wounds or injuries on the feet, having a vet take a look to rule out any more serious issues is best.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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