My Cinnamon GCC wont bathe. Should I be worried?

[Mrs.Lucas]

Hello,

I have a 7 month old Cinnamon GCC and he just wont bathe. I have tried a number of things, like letting water run in my hands in the kitchen sink and making a little pond for him in my hands and also tried a spray bottle on mist because I had read that they like when rain drops on them but he doesnt even seem interested in water. I have put water drops down his back but he just stays wet and doesnt even shake out. What should I do to get him to take a bath? Should I be worried that he wont bathe?

[patdbunny]

Hey ya again.

You've only had the bird less than two weeks. It's sounding like the bird's not very well socialized. Give Peewee a month to settle in and then let us know if some of these things like bathing just kinda resolve themselves.

Have you had Peewee actually vetted by a good avian vet just to make sure he's healthy?

[zazanomore]

My cockatiel hates water.

I thought for the longest time that my budgies hated it too, but a while back, my budgies dived right into their water dishes!

Some birds have their own preferences.

[entrancedbymyGCC]

Most GCCs are water babies. But I agree with patdbunny... one thing at a time! If I don't give scooter a bath often enough, he'll bathe in his water dish. Peewee will probably let you know when he's ready. Bathing does make them vulnerable -- they can't fly with wet feathers and it is probably ingrained such that even a clipped bird won't bathe if it feels uneasy.

[CheekyandMalolo]

they can't fly with wet feathers

Tell that to my Yellow Sided

Give him some time, and then try him in the shower. I leave it the same temperature as I like it, if it's too hot they'll jump out. But ours love the shower, dance in it and sing and play. Love it. I need to get them a perch for in the shower.
Actually on that note, I'm gonna see if I can get the Princess Parrot in the shower, he's quite scruffy lately, might help his feathers. I think the humidity helps too a bit. I'm sure it'd be good for clearing any airways and such.

[htop]

(I posted this in answer to another question about bathing.) When Ike, my lovebird, first became part of our family, I attempted to get him to bathe in a birdie bath and various bowels and containers inside of his cage. He had no part of it. He didn't enjoy being misted (had to do it while he was caged); however, he tolerated it after about the 4th time. I didn't enjoy misting him because I knew he didn't like it and I had to dry his cage and everything in it; however, it was necessary. When he was allowed to be free from his cage, I introduced him to a glass pie pan by placing very small bits of broccoli it it. Once he became used to perching on the pie pan to obtain the broccoli, I placed a very small amount of water in it. When he would go after the broccoli, he became used to his head becoming wet when he grabbed it. Gradually, the amount of water was increased. I moved the pieces of broccoli in the pie pan so that he had to stretch to get it and get his chest wet. Eventually, he hopped into the pie pan with shallow water in it and joyfully discovered that he could bathe. I quit placing broccoli in the pie pan. Now, the pie pan is filled at least 3/4 deep and he happily bathes when he wants to do so. He prefers cool water. Ike hops in and out of the water splashing all around until he is totally wet. The pie pan is placed on top of his cage. It is such fun to watch birds bathe. You may want to try this using an appropriate sized flattish container and food that your bird likes.