Grudges

Well I managed to bath zippy today and he been in huff with me ever since like a hole 9 hours instead of sitting in front TV with me he hanging out on top of curtains giving me the evils lol

Sounds like you either need to make bath time more fun, or figure out how Zippy enjoys bathing!

Any ideas on how I can ? He starts trying fly of if knows going in bathroom so tried sink and putting big bowl in cage but refuses to use it at min using spray bottle I've tried treats and and putting fav toys round but he having none of it even tried taking him on with me and sitting him on back of chair in bathroom while bathing my little ones so could watch them playing as likes to watch them run about during day but seemed to be getting to upset so took him back to cage

Have you had Zippy since he was a baby (i.e. are his first home after the breeder/pet store) or is he a rescue bird? Many rescues have had negative experiences with water being used for punishment instead of fun and playing. Or as Monica suggested, you just haven't figured out his 'preferred' mode of bathing yet. Plenty of birds prefer being placed in a SHALLOW tub of water or the sink (you know, like an inch or 2 of water and very very close supervision) and taking a birdbath by themselves. Others prefer the squirt bottle, and others prefer the shower or hose (on a mist or gentle spray of course). Just keep trying with him. If he's been traumatized by water in his past, it may take some conditioning to teach him water is not being used as a punishment.

No I haven't had him since he was a baby only had him bout 4 month and he is around 6 yrs old I've tried the water bowl so he could do him self but he won't touch that neither the nearest I see him to having a bath is with his water from his drinking bowl but that don't even get him the littlest bit wet lol I feel awful spraying him as he don't like it but am unsure of what else to try

Sadly, there are people out there who squirt their birds as a misguided form of "discipline". And while the 'shock' of being hit with a stream of water may temporarily stop the undesirable behavior, the end result is the bird learns to fear water, not stop screaming, chewing, biting or whatever the actual issue was to begin with.

You may never know if this was the case or if Skippy is just one of those birds who was born not wanting to get wet. Either way, he does need to be bathed and you'll have to get him used to it. I would suggest a gradual desensitizing to it. Start by simply setting the full water bottle near his cage and leave it there for a week or two so he gets used to it being a non-threatening presence. Then try spritzing your hand a little bit and really exaggerating how much 'fun' it is and be sure to 'reward' yourself with his *favorite* treat. Do this a couple times a day for a few days until he becomes so intrigued by this thing that your having so much fun with AND get a treat for that HE wants to try. And at first, only give him one or two spritzes before praising and giving a reward. Then you can gradually bring it up to a light misting, and so on until he becomes at least tolerant enough of it he can get a good soaking once a week for the health of his skin and plumage (about the minimum a parrot needs to be bathed).

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

Most of all, try to make bathing a fun experience!

MonicaMc said:

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

Most of all, try to make bathing a fun experience!

Click to expand...

Try it on a train
Try it flying on a plane
Try it floating in the bath
Try it with a big giraffe.
Try it with your closest friend
Try it lying end-to-end.
Try it in a tub of noodles
Try it with some tasty streudle.
He won't fuss and he won't fight
He won't screech and he won't bite.
Once he learns then he will see
How water's not the enemy.

Lol I love that poam I'll give all them a try

I am going to persist with the water bottle see how goes from there he don't get nasty at me just tries to get away just hope gets used to it soon as hate seeing him that freaked out