Understanding Archie’s Shower Behavior

He gets the spray bottle 2 to 3 times a week with room temperature water, and seems to love it. His plumage looks great and shiny, his tail feathers have nicely rounded off (don’t know if this is cause and effect), but I’m still curious whether I should be doing anything differently.

The sessions don’t last very long, maybe 45 seconds, a minute, because I don’t want to inadvertently get him into pissed off territory.

1) As soon as I start spraying, he gleefully spreads his wings and gets the mass of the water under-wings and chest, and it’s a weak, light mist. You can just tell he’s in heaven. I try to spray up a bit so some gets on his back.

2) After a bit of this, he continues with wings spread wide open, but tucks his head under a wing. He obviously still wants it, but not on the head.

3) He never turns around, and I’ve never walked around to “get” him from the other side. I didn’t do this at the very beginning because...well, you know...he really enjoyed it and I didn’t want to turn it into an attack. I guess I can now.

4) He’s never soaked like I see some of your guys coming out of the shower with you, and he waits a good period of time before preening. Maybe I’m wrong thinking he should be preening immediately.

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I know, this is a stupid thread, but insights come when and from where you don’t expect them. I’m like 99% sure I’m doing everything right, but you never know.

And before anyone suggests I take actual showers with him, forget it. I have a bad knee and take baths! Real hot ones.

Is this shower in the bathroom or in his cage?

My birdies mostly get their showers in (or on) their cages. I will designate about a third of the cage as a no-spray zone before I start. Then when they don't want any more shower, they go there. Also, if I think maybe they are done, I move the spray just a little away from them. If they want More shower-spray, they will move toward it. This can be done in the bathroom too, just as long as he has somewhere to move toward to get away-from or closer-to the spray.

IF you usually use only one angle, I suggest beginning to change by moving your hand around more at one shower, and then even more at the next. Come up with something to say whilst doing it as a warning. Then as you do it, that should give him time to alert you if not happy - or move away.

My birds really don't preen while bathing. I think they mostly even wait till they're dry. But they definitely mostly don't preen whilst bthing.

fiddlejen said:

Is this shower in the bathroom or in his cage?

My birdies mostly get their showers in (or on) their cages. I will designate about a third of the cage as a no-spray zone before I start. Then when they don't want any more shower, they go there. Also, if I think maybe they are done, I move the spray just a little away from them. If they want More shower-spray, they will move toward it. This can be done in the bathroom too, just as long as he has somewhere to move toward to get away-from or closer-to the spray.

IF you usually use only one angle, I suggest beginning to change by moving your hand around more at one shower, and then even more at the next. Come up with something to say whilst doing it as a warning. Then as you do it, that should give him time to alert you if not happy - or move away.

My birds really don't preen while bathing. I think they mostly even wait till they're dry. But they definitely mostly don't preen whilst bthing.

Click to expand...

He’s on an outside perch.

Amazons are, ummm, different, as you know. What you're doing sounds good! I might suggest you keep spraying a little longer. They'll let you know when they've had enough. That way, Archie might get a good thorough soaking. Some just don't want to get that soaked. Personal preference. Mine loves shower time, and gets demanding if I stop it too soon.

The tucked head thing... I had never heard of it before I got Baxter. My BFA hated showers or spray of any kind, but bathed in his water dish almost every day. (or more if we ran the vacuum) So, I'm told it's called the"Amazon Prayer." It's a good thing. I imagine it has to do with heavy rains in their natural habitat, but just guessing. My Baxter does it, every time.
My understanding is it's uniquely an Amazon thing. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it for myself, but, I'll be darned!

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