Quaker Parrot Won't Bathe

I'm having trouble getting my Quaker parrot to bathe. I don't know what to do since my last parrot Elmer, a sun conure, always dove right into the sink to take a bath.

When I try to bathe Charlie in the sink he constantly tries to climb out. I've sat there for 10 minutes and the entire time his focus is all on escaping.

I've thought maybe it's the depth of the sink so I tried a shallow pie pan, but he still doesn't like being in the water and runs out.

As a last resort I took him into the shower today but he burrowed into my chest and was frightened from the falling water.

The temperature of the water is fine and he tries to bathe in his own water bowl so I don't understand why I can't get him to bathe elsewhere.

Any suggestions?

Have you tried using a spray bottle? My bird seems to enjoy it when I mist her with room temperature water.

Getting your bird used to bathing slowly...Take him into the shower with you many times, and eventually, if you show/tell how lovely the shower is, he'll join you... Forcing a bird to have a bath will rarely work.

Is there a reason he can't bathe in his water bowl? My conure does it almost every day. She enjoys it so I just let her. Then I change the water, but with her I have to change it pretty often. She dunks pellets in it, too.

Pete likes the shower or a spray bottle, but won't use a bowl or the sink. Merlin likes a big bowl but hates being sprayed or misted. I just let them each do their own thing. I know when Merlin wants a bath because she will try to get in her water bowl, which she really doesn't fit into. Then I bring her out and give her a big bowl.

Kazi refused to bathe in any sense of the word when he first came to live here. He hated the spray bottle, the shower, the sink, a dish of water, his water dish (except to drink from). He especially hated being splashed or sprayed with water.

He also stank to high heaven. So I forced him into the shower with me. He hated it, but he no longer smelled.

After that I put him on the shower rod when I took a shower and made a HUGE deal about how much fun it was in there. Huge.

Then I bought him a shower perch and put it toward the back so he could take advantage of the humidity and a bit of ambient spray. It was pretty quickly after that that he decided showers were awesome fun and he splashes and flaps and bobs and weaves all in the spray now. I aim the shower head at the wall just above his perch and he loves it.

So keep trying, but don't force if you don't have to. If he likes his water dish have you tried a bigger dish for him to splash around in?

My Quaker Ralph enjoys his baths-- but will only bathe in his drinking water dish, and only when it's in its usual place inside his cage. He hates being around running water and would never bathe in the sink. He does like being misted though-- try that with Charlie. Aim the spray over his head and let it fall on him like a very gentle rain; most parrots prefer that to being sprayed directly.

You might also try offering the shallow pan of water again, but this time, play in the water yourself, and show Charlie how much fun you're having. Splash around a little with your fingers, dribble a handful of water back into the pan, and so on, and Charlie may catch on that baths can be fun.

Con was terrified of water when I brought her home but now I can spray her with a spray bottle and she loves it. You need to go slow and play with the bottle and only spray it a few times so the bird learns that's where the water comes from. Do this a few times a day and let them touch it and become accustom to it. That's how I got Con to love her spray bottle

Well I bought a bird "bath" product made by a reputable company and began misting it on him. In a very short time he stopped wanting baths and it took months for him to regain his pleasure and comfort in baths. Luckily, he has been back to enjoying his daily baths for several years now.

Have a look at my post here

http://www.parrotforums.com/poicephalus/16251-billys-first-bath.html

I had the same problem, might help you with an idea.

madatter said:

Have a look at my post here

http://www.parrotforums.com/poicephalus/16251-billys-first-bath.html

I had the same problem, might help you with an idea.

Click to expand...

Thanks madatter for helpful post