I read that I can teach my cockatiel how to take a shower - but he HATES water. He really has a high amount of feather dust and would like to get him to bathe - any suggestions?
2006-12-22 14:38:01 · 23 answers · asked by liltygarwolf 1 in Pets ➔ Birds
Fill a clean spray bottle with water, and leave sit until it is room temp. Spray him gently with a fine mist, and he will probably love it. If he appears distressed, instead of spreading his wings and enjoying it--stop. It may take several attempts before he begins to enjoy it. You can also take a saucer with clean water and put it in his cage and instinct should take over. Cockatiels really do not need regular spraying, but it won't hurt as long as he likes it. just be sure to keep him warm afterwards, until dry--Birdman
2006-12-22 17:39:40 · answer #1 · answered by birdman1890 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
when I had a bird it went a week before taking a shower. That's because I forgot that even animals take showers. One day I let my bird out of its cage, but it would never run from me. Anyways I left a small bowl with water in-case the bird gets trusty. Instead my bird swoop down in the water and took a bath. Just give the bird time until it wants to take a bath.
2006-12-23 12:13:17 · answer #2 · answered by mahjabeen_haque 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can also fill a sink with 1/2 -1 inch lukewarm water. Let the bird play in there if he wants.
I have a cockatoo, and she loves to take showers. I put her on a perch and turn the shower on, and she loves it. You could try that, but for a cockatiel, watch the water pressure.
If you don't want to use either of the above methods, a spray bottle will do.
2006-12-23 00:57:46 · answer #3 · answered by Katzen 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That answer from "Need Help" is horrible...please dont even think about it.
A regular spraybottle,is what you use.Fill it halfway full with hot tapwater,spray some on your elbow to test temperature first(like you do with childrens bathwater) it should come out warm,but not hot.Spray the bird gently with that.Afer a few showers,he will learn to like it,and actually come towards you when you come with the spraybottle.Cockatiels are smart birds,you could say the same word every time its showertime,like Bathtime...and he will soon know.Maybe even start saying Bathtime when he wants a shower.He will quickly dry up and clean himself off after the shower,and feel ooh sooo much better!
2006-12-23 00:48:20 · answer #4 · answered by Flowergirl 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I put a dish with about 3/4 inches of water on the floor of my finches' cage & once they figured out what it was for they loved it!
Try to do the same thing for your bird but on a larger scale. Actually a bird bath would be perfect. Whatever it is I wouldn't put more than an inch of water to begin with.
It might not be the water he hates so much as its that he can't control when & how he wants it.
2006-12-22 22:58:12 · answer #5 · answered by Judith 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
White stuff is normal. This what I read from a book called "Taming and training cockatoos" by Risa Teitler." All have powder down beneath the outer layer of plumage. The powder down provides insulation to keep the body temperature constant, but more remarkably this down sheds a thick powder which is used for waterproofing and cleansing the outer feathers. Although many variates of game birds have powder down, COCKATOOS ARE THE ONLY PARROTS THAT HAVE POWDER DOWN FEATHERS. When you rub your hands on the feathers of a healthy bird, you usually find your hand coated with the powder!"
2006-12-24 02:08:04 · answer #6 · answered by Capibestboy1 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I put my African Gray in the sink on a cloth so he don't slip around and spray him with a spray bottle of warm water, just spray it lightly in the air over there head like a mist and let the waterfall down upon them, each time doing it a little longer, at first they might not like it but they come to like it after a while, mine did.
2006-12-26 10:52:06 · answer #7 · answered by snoweyowl44 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take a spray bottle full of just plane water NO SOAP!!
Mist your bird 3 or 4 times and then the bird will do the rest.
But DO NOT SOAK the bird!!
2006-12-23 01:31:42 · answer #8 · answered by Preacher's Daughter 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
take a spray bottle,fill it with lukewarm water make sure its a light mist. stand a little ways back and give your bird a few sprays of the water. make sure its not night ime when it is ready to go to bed it can catch cold that way. maybe in the afternoon
2006-12-24 14:50:14 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well what I did with my cocktail.....
First, I got him a wash cloth with a little bit of water on it and wiped it against his head. At first he didn't like it.
But I always gave him a little treat after. And soon enough he loved it. Then I got him one of those perches you can put in the showers (on a mirier ext.) and just put him in the shower with out water running.
Soon enough I gave him a shower and he loved it!
Good luck and Merry Christmas!
2006-12-23 01:37:03 · answer #10 · answered by jesso 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋