Suggestions on bathing my Parrot

[Raque]

My CAG, Missy, only bathes by sticking her head in her water bowl (because that is all of her that can fit in it due to the cage design) then fling her head backward to spray water on her back. She works hard at it, but it really doesn’t do a good job (and ruins her drinking water) so I wanted to help her out.

Spray Bottle
This was my first attempt. I got a brand new spray bottle, washed it, filled it with warm water and set it to a fine mist. Then put Missy on her training perch and started lightly misting one end. Missy got angry and upset right away and started shouting at me loudly “NO! NO! NO!” in her old owner’s voice, which is something I had never heard her say before. I am guessing that a water bottle was used to punish Missy by her original owner. Missy is always sweet and gentle with me, so it was simply weird for me to see her so upset and angry.

Shower
Every morning I sit Missy up on shower rod while I get ready. She plays up there, chats, sings, and dances with me but never has shown any interest in the water. This weekend while I was in the shower I asked her to get down on my hand, which she did. I never put the spray directly on her but rather let the shower spray hit me so she got misted by it. She clearly didn’t enjoy it either and just wanted to get out.

Baking Dish filled with water
Since she liked bathing in her own tiny bowl, I thought she might try it in a big “pool”. So I grabbed a corningware baking dish that looked like it would make a nice shallow “pool” for her, filled it with water and put it on a towel. Missy wanted nothing to do with that new scary thing. This still might work but she has to get over her fear of it first.

Any suggestions to help her be able to bathe out of more than just her water bowl?

[Eric&Rebecca]

Hi Raque,

I think you're right about the water bottle, sounds like it was used a a punishment, which was a bit silly but you know people make mistakes.

I think give the pool more time, these things won't work right away. Maybe place in here cage and leave her to it, she may get used to it after a few weeks ad give it a go.

Alternatively you can use bird baths which are specially made for greys, I think there's one by Savic brand that's quite good.

My parrotlet will only bathe by this method, it might be more effort for you changing the water but its better than no bathing at all.

Also note water temperature shouldn't be warm but cool to room temperature instead

[marie83]

My 'tiel will only accept being sprayed after she is already dunking her head in her water dispenser so you could try just waiting until she is ready to bathe. If you try spraying harlie at any other time she just freaks out.
Alternatively just do thing gradually, spray once near her, then a few times near her, let it be her choice to get under the spray and gradually build up getting nearer and nearer to her. keep taking her to the shower with you and let her see how much fun you are having but don't force it on her, let her choose whether to join you or not. You can also keep offering a separate bathing container in her cage, the chances are she will get used to its presence and use it when your not looking.

Whatever you do don't force the issue as it may make her nervous. Birds with dusty feathers don't actually need to bath much, the dirt comes off with the dust, she will be absolutely fine even if she goes months without bathing fully.

[spiral71]

when i bathed my bird recently she jumped on her bowl from my sholder and got water all down my neck

[Pajarita]

In my personal experience (5 CAGs 1 TAG), grays are not good bathers. What you describe (the gyrations and 'hard work') is exactly what they all do and the result (hardly any wet feather) is also the same. That's the way they are and none of mine ever liked misting or showers. But, on the other hand, they never look or smell dirty so I guess that's the way it's supposed to be with them and I just leave them alone to bathe when they feel like it (I mist everybody once a week whether they need it or not but the grays fly away every time they see me coming toward them so they hardly ever get any water on them).

[Raque]

Thank you for the suggestions!

I am going to continue to try the pool method and offer the shower without any pressure from me, if she tries then great. She was so upset with the spray bottle that I am just going to give up on that one, no reason to push things when there are other viable options.

Parjarita, I am glad to hear that Missy is just being like other Grays on this issue. She also doesn't smell bad or look dirty; It is more something that I thought I should be providing for her and wanting to help rather then just watch her struggle to bathe awkwardly in a small water bowl.

Marie83, that is a great suggestion about trying when she is actively trying to bathe anyway. On another website article I read it also said they will be easier to bathe when it is raining outside because of the automatic instinct to bathe in the rain.