Every time I try to give my cockatiel a bath in the sink with drain down she keeps flying and flapping her wings trying to get back to my shoulder. Anyone have andy tips that will work is greatly appreciated
2006-11-24 02:37:55 · 12 answers · asked by Billy-Billy-Bo-Billy 2 in Pets ➔ Birds
I've seen other people do this on YouTube so I thought thats what to do
2006-11-24 02:44:50 · update #1
First, you DO need to give your birds baths. It's essential for them to keep their feathers in good repair. They emit small amounts of oil to keep them waterproof, and it builds up in their feathers. DO NOT USE SHAMPOO OR ANY OTHER ADDITIVE ON YOUR BIRD. Water is all they need.
My birds are much larger than yours, but they take showers with me. If your bird and you have a good relationship, you can have your bird step up on your arm, and when you get in the shower, just take them in with you.
Slowly introduce the bird to the water. A few splashes here, a few splashes there. As they tolerate it, your job is to react like a lunatic cheering on your favorite sports team. "Woohoo! Good Baby! Yaaayyyy! Woohoo!"
This is the exact way I got Rio, who was punished with water for 4 very long years to start enjoying bath time. Now, if I get in without him, I hear about it, and it isn't pretty.
2006-11-24 12:30:45 · answer #1 · answered by sdkramer76 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Cockatiels don't like to be pressured into bathing ... that's a sure fire way to get them to hate it! My cockatiel would never go for the warm bowl in the cage routine, but love to be held on my finger in the mist that sprayed from the showerhead! Not in the direct stream, mind you, but the very misty part beside the water. He'd get just soaked and turn his body upside down with his wings raised ... he loved it! give it a try! Just make sure the water is a good temperature, and move him *SLOWLY* towards the water. If he flies away, let him be and try again later.
2006-11-24 11:02:26 · answer #2 · answered by twistedbunny88 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I use a sprat bottle on by budgies, they love it :) they fly towards the spray flapping their wings. One of them will occasionally have a bath in shallow dish of water but not very often. Try both of thee options, or taking your bird into the shower with you, as some of the other posts have said or try turning bath time into a game. Give your bird treats when he gets wet and make it fun for him. Never try to force him to have a bath as he might learn to fear it. Just keep trying as bathing your bird is very important for it's health!
2006-11-24 21:56:38 · answer #3 · answered by Evilstrawberry 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some birds love to bathe and some don't. It is probably pretty scary to your feathered friend the way you are trying to do it. It may get used to it but I doubt it.
If you can you should get a "Mr. Birdie Mister" it is more like rain than a shower for your bird. Some warm water, pump it up and spray they will ussually fluff out their wings and love it.
2006-11-25 04:09:55 · answer #4 · answered by rcolsen11 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All birds need to bathe, how they prefer to bathe is diferent by species and each bird is different.
We have Tiels here that like a bowl of water to bathe in and other tiels that like to be misted...
Offer your tiel a fairly good sized bowl of water to bathe in, be patient and see what happens, if your bird fails to bathe in the bowl, take a spray bottle and fill with cool water...not cold...cool and set on mist and mist your bird...
Join a bird forum such as Aviary.Info and learn more about your bird and his-her needs.
Good Luck.
BrokenWing
2006-11-24 11:02:16 · answer #5 · answered by Brokenwing 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Baths are important for the condition of your birds feathers and skin. You're on the right track! You can continue to bathe your bird in the sink and hope that eventually she will enjoy doing it that way or you can do as was suggested by another writer to put water in her cage, but that never worked for me with my birds unless it is their water dish.
I mist my birds and they seem to enjoy that. Get a CLEAN spray bottle (one that has never had chemicals in it) and take your bird into the bathroom shower and spray a fine mist on her. She may not like it at first, but consistency is important with birds and after you've done it repeated times, she'll get used to it and may even look forward to her showers. When I mist our White-Eyed Conure, he spreads his wings so I get every inch of him.
2006-11-24 11:00:36 · answer #6 · answered by silver2sea 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Why do you need to give a bird a bath? Let the bird do it himself---fill a small bowl with warm water, put it in the cage and the bird will know what to do. Your bird does NOT want you giving it a bath and you really should not be doing this.
2006-11-24 10:40:54 · answer #7 · answered by Sandy B 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You should try spraying it with a seltzer bottle very lightly while it's on it's perch or cage. If it bathes in his water, he could get dirtier, considering that some birds poop in their water and stuff!
2006-11-25 17:34:00 · answer #8 · answered by Sierra. 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a suggestion is spray him or her with a water bottle, or i've seen things a petstores that are special cleaning sprays. I used to have a parakeet and i just sprayed him with water.
good luck i wish i had a cockatoo or cockateil!
2006-11-24 12:45:29 · answer #9 · answered by ziddyziddy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try to spray it with mist from a bottle spray.
2006-11-24 23:24:49 · answer #10 · answered by yousofsgtos 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋