Hummingbirds are beautiful, delicate creatures that play an important role in pollinating flowers and gardens. Their tiny size and high metabolism means they need to consume nectar almost constantly to survive. This leaves them vulnerable if they come into contact with any toxins or chemicals. Many well-meaning people have tried using Dawn dish soap to clean oil or other debris off of hummingbirds, but is this actually safe for them? Here we’ll explore whether Dawn is a hummingbird-safe choice for cleaning their feathers.
What is Dawn Dish Soap?
Dawn is a popular brand of dish soap made by Procter & Gamble. It is designed to cut through grease and oil on dishes and other surfaces. The original Dawn formula contains the following ingredients:
| Ingredient | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Water | Dilutes the cleaning agents |
| Sodium lauryl sulfate | Cuts grease and oil |
| Sodium laureth sulfate | Creates suds |
| Alcohol ethoxylates | Additional cleaning agents |
| Sodium chloride | Thickens the soap |
| Fragrances | Adds pleasant scent |
| Dyes and colors | Colored visual appeal |
The key ingredients that give Dawn its grease-fighting power are the sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate. These surfactants work to literally surround and encapsulate oily molecules so they can be rinsed away.
Is Dawn Harmful to Birds?
At first glance, a heavy duty degreaser like Dawn might sound too harsh to use on delicate hummingbirds. However, Dawn is not actually as dangerous for birds as some other cleaning products. Here are some key points:
– Dawn does not contain bleach, ammonia, phosphates, or other chemicals that can poison or burn avian organs.
– When properly diluted, the surfactants in Dawn are gentle enough for use on baby birds and their sensitive skin.
– Wildlife rehabilitators routinely use diluted Dawn to clean oil spills off waterbirds like ducks, geese, and swans.
– Dawn helps defeat the waterproofing of feathers so oil and debris can be lifted away. This is vital for allowing birds to fly and thermoregulate properly.
So while Dawn isn’t actually 100% innocuous, it is far less problematic for birds than harsher soaps or detergents. The key is diluting it properly so it is non-irritating.
Proper Dilution Ratios for Bird Bathing
When using Dawn to clean hummingbirds, it is crucial to dilute it down to a very weak concentration. Authorized wildlife rehabilitators recommend a dilution ratio of 1 drop of Blue Dawn to 1 cup of water.
This concentration allows the soap to do its job of cutting oil while minimizing risks to the bird’s eyes, nostrils, and fragile skin. Anything stronger can cause stinging, irritation, respiratory distress, and skin burns. Some sources even recommend diluting Dawn further to just 1 drop per 2 cups of water for hummingbirds, given their ultra-tiny size.
Always mix the solution in a separate container first, then gently sponge it only onto the oiled areas of the feathers. Avoid getting soap near the bird’s eyes, beak, and nostrils as much as possible. Rinse with plenty of fresh, tepid water immediately after washing. Repeat if needed until the plumage is completely clean.
Other Potential Issues with Using Dawn on Hummingbirds
While a properly diluted Dawn solution is unlikely to cause outright toxicity in hummingbirds, some experts still recommend avoiding it for the following reasons:
Removal of Natural Oils
In addition to washing away contaminating oil and grime, Dawn will also strip away the natural oils in a bird’s feathers that help waterproof them. This can leave the bird vulnerable to chilling and prevent it from flying properly until its feathers can replenish their oils.
Excessive preening attempts to quickly restore these oils can also result in the bird swallowing more soap residue than is safe. This natural preening response means you may do more harm than good by using any soap on hummingbirds.
Skin Irritation
Hummingbirds have incredibly thin, delicate skin. Their feathers are so tiny that there is much more exposed skin than on larger birds. The sodium lauryl sulfate in Dawn can cause chemical burns or other irritation if not adequately diluted or thoroughly rinsed off.
Respiratory Problems
If ingested or inhaled, Dawn’s detergents may cause swelling, inflammation, and discharge in a hummingbird’s nasal passages and air sacs. The bird can also aspirate foam into its lungs. This can cause respiratory distress or make it harder for the hummingbird to feed.
Inability to Fly
If a hummingbird’s feathers become badly matted and soiled, it may lose its ability to fly properly. Flying is energy intensive and rapidly depletes their limited energy reserves. If the Dawn washing leaves their feathers stripped of oils, they may struggle to take flight again, putting them at risk.
Other Risk Factors
Baby hummingbirds, rescued birds who are weakened or starving, and species already threatened with extinction are even more vulnerable to the potential effects of Dawn soap. It may be safest to take at-risk and visibly unwell hummingbirds to a wildlife rehabilitator rather than attempting to wash them yourself.
Alternative Cleaning Agents for Oiled Hummingbirds
While Dawn is undoubtedly an effective degreaser, there are some alternative cleaning agents that may be safer choices when you need to wash oil off of a hummingbird:
Cornmeal
Plain cornmeal can be rubbed gently into oily feathers to absorb grease without stripping away natural oils. The cornmeal itself can then be brushed out.
Feather Powder
Special feather cleaning powders made for birds can dissolve oil and dirt without being as harsh as dish soap. A hummingbird’s entire body can be dusted with the powder then rinsed clean.
Vinegar and Water
A 50/50 vinegar and water solution helps dissolve grease and oil without harsh detergents. Distilled white vinegar is gentlest. Rinse well with plain water afterwards.
Dawn as a Last Resort
In severe cases of oil fouling, a properly diluted and minimally applied Dawn wash may be warranted if other methods aren’t getting the feathers clean. But use it cautiously and only if truly needed.
Conclusion
Dawn dish soap is designed to cut through tough grease, so it can be effective for removing oil from hummingbird feathers. However, the detergents in Dawn strip away natural oils and can irritate hummingbirds’ extremely delicate skin and respiratory systems. A very diluted solution applied minimally may be used safely in some cases, but other cleaning agents like cornmeal, bird powders, or vinegar cause less stress to the bird. Most importantly, get heavily fouled or visibly distressed hummingbirds to a professional wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible. With appropriate care, an oiled hummingbird can be successfully cleaned, rehabilitated, and released back to the wild.
