Re: Dirty Birdie
Posted by JKCASWELL on 1/12/08

On 1/12/08, Macaw Mom wrote:
> I'm looking for a bit of advice. I have a "second-hand"
> B&G, whom I adopted (for cash) from a "questionable"
> source. Nonetheless, I love her and with affection and
> attention she's turning into a wonderful companion. I do,
> however, have one issue with her...she HATES to bathe. She
> screams and runs away when I try to sprintz her with a
> spray bottle, and I'm very careful to be gentle with it.
> She refuses to shower with me or without me, she simply
> gets down from wherever I place her and waits on the floor
> until the door opens, then runs like crazy. She is very
> sensitive and I don't want to traumatize her (I suspect
> she's been through enough already), but, frankly, she
> SMELLS! She is in serious need of bathing, but I'm sort of
> at a loss as to where to go from here. My vet suggested I
> just keep putting her back in the shower until she stays
> there. That bombed bigger than Britney Spear in family
> court. I'm no expert, but there's GOT to be a better way.
> Any suggestions? Thanks a million for any help.

My Scarlet hated to bathe when I got her. Spray bottles are
a huge mistake with her. I think it was used as a
punishment. Showers only got alot of screaming and trying to
climb the walls. Then I tried the bath tub. I started out
with only enough water to cover her feet, she was scared, but
not panicked. Every day I added about 1/2 inch of more
water. Lots of toys too, plastic cups etc. anything she
liked to toss around. I eventually got to about 3 inches.
It only took about a week and she was begging to get in the
bath tub. She dives, jumps, splashes, flaps and soaks my
bathroom, but she loves it, and it's only water, cleans up
easily! She really likes to be in the tub as it is filling,
and playing under the faucet. After 6 years with her, this
is the only way I can bathe her. I am fortunate, that nobody
else has to use that bath tub, so I never have to worry about
leftover soap residue. In that case, I'm not sure how one
would clean out the residue, prior to bathing the bird.

Good luck and let me know if this helps.

Jenn

Posts on this thread, including this one

• Dirty Birdie, 1/12/08, by Macaw Mom.
• Re: Dirty Birdie, 1/12/08, by JKCASWELL.
• Re: Dirty Birdie, 1/13/08, by Ashleigh.