How to bath??
- Thread starter Jessxoxo
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ruffledfeathers
New member
- Aug 23, 2012
- 1,970
- 3
- Parrots
- Gilbert Oliver, Blue Crown Conure; Georgie, Sun Conure (2/8/01-8/8/12) RIP little girl; Percy, budgie 1993-1999. RIP Pepito-spanish timbrado canary
My girl LOVED to bathe on her own. I filled a big bowl with clean, kind of room temp water (not too warm or it can dry their feathers a bit i think) and she would go to town. She made a big mess, lol. And her favorite time was right when i cleaned the cage and then put in fresh food and fresh water in the morning. She would dive right in.
How long was he with the previous owner, and how long has he been with you? You need to build trust. It might take some time. You need to work at his pace. Imagine if you were living with a friend (same time as the bird) and now you're in a new place (same time as the bird)
How would you feel if someone was trying to grab you from your room? Birds may look different but don't be fooled. They are incredibly intelligent!
Ebella812
New member
Since he is still getting used to you he will have to build up trust. Keep the bowl in the cage for now. Once he is used to you then try bringing him in the shower with you. Buy a shower perch to attach to the wall of the shower. Our Lucy loves taking a shower with us. Just make sure you don't put him in direct water.
BoomBoom
Well-known member
- May 2, 2012
- 1,722
- 58
- Parrots
- Boomer (Sun Conure 9 yrs), Pewpew (Budgie 5 yrs), Ulap (Budgie 2 yrs), Eight & Kiki (Beloved Budgies, RIP)
Just wanted to chime in about the shower. Your bird is more likely to want to try it if he sees you enjoying it. I take a 'fake shower' with Boomer where I wet myself first then I take him in. I only do 3-5 mins on the weekends with the gentlest stream setting. Lately he's been enjoying it and would spread his wings and catch the water. He would flap his wings, wiggle his tail, preen and sometimes just rest his head on my finger enjoying the stream lol.
Another technique I do on weekdays is to offer running water in the sink, put a shallow container he can walk on, in this case a plastic handheld mirror. He would bath himself that way.
You can also try to give a shallow bowl and pretend to play in it. It might entice him to follow suit.
Misting used to be tolerated by my bird but now he protests at the sight of the spray bottle.
See what your bird is open to. Just introduce it slow. Make it a fun experience, keep it short. If he is done, he will move away. The more you respect his wishes, the more open he will be to doing it again in the future. Good luck and have fun!!!!!!
Another technique I do on weekdays is to offer running water in the sink, put a shallow container he can walk on, in this case a plastic handheld mirror. He would bath himself that way.
You can also try to give a shallow bowl and pretend to play in it. It might entice him to follow suit.
Misting used to be tolerated by my bird but now he protests at the sight of the spray bottle.
See what your bird is open to. Just introduce it slow. Make it a fun experience, keep it short. If he is done, he will move away. The more you respect his wishes, the more open he will be to doing it again in the future. Good luck and have fun!!!!!!
Last edited:
WannaBeAParrot
New member
- Jul 5, 2012
- 1,219
- 2
- Parrots
- Cody-Blu, female Blue-Crowned Conure, Hatched - (approx) June 1, 2014, in a South Florida tree.
Pritti (Cherry-Head Conure) -- Fly in Peace my beautiful boy. Forever I'll love you.
Listernine baths. Never heard of that. Can't imagine what that would feel like getting in the eyes. Water is plenty enough. It amazed me how much Pritti took to the shower. Give it a try. I read about so many people on this site taking or placing their birdies in the shower, so I tried it recently. I do what someone above recommended -- make it seem like so much fun, i.e. lots of "weeeeeee" and "wow". You can try it out with a towel on your shoulder, or place your birdine at the edge of the shower area and see how it goes. He might just surprise you.
My Pico loves to give himself baths. He does it in his water bowl (he has a tall, big bowl) usually once a day. He has fun making a big watery mess and then cuddling in his hut. I've tried giving him a bowl of warm water specifically to bathe in, but he wanted nothing to do with it. I've given him baths in the sink before with the nozzle and he seems to enjoy standing in the stream.
If worse comes to worse you can use a spray bottle or a hose with a gentle setting outside while cleaning his cage. We had a few cockatiels that were abused and were hand shy so when we deep cleaned their cages outside with the hose we sprayed them down and they enjoyed it a lot. One of them enjoyed it so much he actually let me hold him once after. These were birds that would only let you pet them through the cage! Just make sure that its very gentle. If its not you can make it "rain" by spraying above their cage.
Unless your bird is dirty for some reason, you shouldn't really worry about bathing him. If he feels dirty he will try to bathe even if its only in the little water cups you put in the doors of the cage.
If worse comes to worse you can use a spray bottle or a hose with a gentle setting outside while cleaning his cage. We had a few cockatiels that were abused and were hand shy so when we deep cleaned their cages outside with the hose we sprayed them down and they enjoyed it a lot. One of them enjoyed it so much he actually let me hold him once after. These were birds that would only let you pet them through the cage! Just make sure that its very gentle. If its not you can make it "rain" by spraying above their cage.
Unless your bird is dirty for some reason, you shouldn't really worry about bathing him. If he feels dirty he will try to bathe even if its only in the little water cups you put in the doors of the cage.
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