Why do parrots bathe when you vacuum?

[LakeDesire]

Hi all,

My red-crowned amazon likes to bathe in her water bowl when I vacuum. I've heard this is rather common. What might motivate a parrot to think it is bath time when we are vacuuming?

 

[mandolynn]

Maybe it sounds like heavy rainfall to them? I honestly don't know but I've always found this so funny.

 

[Sasha2]

A long time ago I had an aviary with 4 untamed tiels.And every time I vacuumed at least a couple would hang upside down and act like they were bathing.It was really funny.
Now all my guys just scream.They love it and I dont mind them screaming their little lungs out while I vacuum since I barely hear them.

 

[sodakat]

I think it is the vibration as much as the sound that inspires them, and things besides vacuums will trigger the behavior. If I vacuum in a bedroom the birds can hear the noise but don't bathe. If I vacuum near them they get the urge to bathe. I've been known to turn the vacuum on and set it in the bird room. Soon everyone is ready to be sprayed down or has jumped in a water dish. I use a pump up garden sprayer.

We lived on a sail boat for a few years with Rose and LaFitte. Every time we started the motor in preparation for leaving the slip, they would each jump in their water bowls. We never went sailing without a wet bird.

 

[ruffledfeathers]

I always joked that they love everything clean. "Oh, she's cleaning again. I guess i'll go get clean too." Gilbert is more 'normal' with his baths, whereas Georgie did it over and over. She LOVED a good splashin' in the bowl. LOL She was crazy for bath time and made a crazy mess with water everywhere.

 

[BoomBoom]

I've thought about this before and I don't think its the sound of the vaccuum. Just a theory but when we vacuum, dust gets kicked up in the air and if they're in the same room, I think our parrots feel like they need to bath themselves to get clean.

 

[Jtbirds]

some say it sounds like a heavy rain in the rain forest, but i have to agree with soda on that it is more the vibrations. we had to unclogg a drain and use a motorrized snake and the drain was in the bird room, so while the machine was running(electric not gas) it vibrated and the floor was soaked before we knew it

 

[WannaBeAParrot]

I lean toward the sound being like a rainfall or waterfall. A little more far-fetched -- the position and movement of our arms (wings) -- back and forth.

 

[Grenage]

That would be handy! Aizen just gets terrified; I have to put him in a travel cage upstairs whilst I clean the living room.

 

[LakeDesire]

That would be handy! Aizen just gets terrified; I have to put him in a travel cage upstairs whilst I clean the living room.

That is too bad! Jade used to scream at the vacuum in her "DANGER DANGER PREDATOR!!!" squawk but now she likes it when I vacuum... took her to age 16 to like the vacuum! I think because saw that Henry likes it so it must be fun/not scary.

 

[psychocircus91]

I've seen videos of birds going crazy and opening up like they're bathing when near the running dishwasher.

 

[HalfInsane]

Pixel gets inspired to bathe by pretty much anything. Vacuuming, dishwasher, me blow drying my hair, raining outside, me watering my house plants, running water... The sound of the toilet flushing... Yeah. Lol. She's very clean!