Alexandrine wont bath/shower?

Do your Alexandrines like baths?? I just cant get mine to so much as go near water. I have tried spray bottles, taps, showers, bowls of water. He wont have any of it.

The only time he shows any sort of bathing behavior is after I have showers and my hair is wet. He rubs himself in my hair and its really annoying xD.
I found a youtube vedio of someone elses Alexandrine doing what mine does.

He does this everytime my hair is even a little bit wet. Its really really annoying and I wana teach him to take baths so maybe he will stop, lol.

Heres the vid:
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDq_2lwkWZM]Bathtime on a Human!! LOL! - YouTube[/ame]

Just realized that they are actually using a spray bottle in this vid. My bird just rubs himself Im my hair and "grooms it". He opens up his wings and tail feathers like this though.

I think he might have a fear of water, because even if I place him in like half a cm high bowl of water he flies away from it.

I tried putting his favorite toys in some shallow water and he decided he didn't want to play with them anymore...

My Vino didn't like the shower so I just kept taking her into the bathroom with me when I was having mine and let her perch on the shower curtain rod. The whole time telling her what a good girl she is. Occasionally asking her to step up but not forcing if she didn't want to. Eventually, she got in with me

If you have someone who has a spray bottle or plant mister, you might try pairing your alex's bathing behavior to being sprayed. This may be annoying, but as your alex baths in your hair, have someone else (unless you can do so yourself) spray you and your alex. Over time, he may learn to bath on his own when a spray comes down.

Another option... find some fresh, safe branches in your area and try to make sure they are relatively clean - but they still need lots of leaves on those branches! Then present the branches to your alex and spray them down.


Here's a video of a budgie bathing in wet lettuce

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vav4zp7X1rs]Baby budgie bathing on some wet lettuce - YouTube[/ame]




Here's some bathing techniques you can try....

• Try luke-warm water
• Try cold water
• Try ice-cold water
• Try a spray bottle
• Try a plant mister
• Try in the sink with the water running or just some water in the bottom
• Try in the sink with the sprayer
• Try in the tub with some water in the bottom
• Try a casserole dish or similar with some water
• Try the dish with ice
• Try the dish with foot toys
• Try the dish with some leafy greens like endive or other types of lettuces that may create a "natural" bowl
• Try the dish with a vacuum cleaner
• Try in the shower with you - watching you having a blast getting wet!
• Try dancing the bird into the shower with the water already going
• Try spritzing yourself, and have fun doing it! Then spritz the bird
• Try outside in an empty cage large enough to spread wings during a nice rain shower
• Try outside in an empty cage using the hose with a mist/shower attachment

My Alex was a bit hesitant at first. I took him into the shower everyday and at first I'd just wet him but he was terrified and would get as far away from the water as possible. I didn't purposely wet him after that, however he did seem to love the steam though, he preened and preened.

As time went on he would creep along the perch and get the bit of spray off my body. He absolutely loves it now, but the water must be fine and light. He doesn't enjoy the full force of the shower. I was just patient and persistent with him.

Maybe try a damp towel since he likes rubbing on your hair. If he uses that, then slowly start to use a spray bottle on him while rubbing up against the towel. Then when he gets used to the sprayer, very slowly bring him into the shower and don't we him but just let him stand there and observe and go from there.

Just keep trying new things, if there is something he is comfortable I'm sure he'll love the opportunity.

Good luck

Tango absolutely LOVES baths and showers. He doesn't always want to get in the water but anytime he hears the water running he flies over to the bathroom to join in, at least sitting on the top of the door of the shower and talking up a storm.

Sometimes isn't always easy to wash your hair when theres a bird who has decided that the top of your head is the place to be.

If you ask the Tangobird, bath time should always be bird time.

He is okay with the shower but he wont stay on his perch. He is absolutely insistent to stay on my head and even hangs off my hair. Its so annoying that I cant even shower properly.
I think I might keep trying though, and hopefully eventually he will stay on his perch.