The Shower!

[Vikingchamp]

I have been considering letting slick play in the shower, but I have some questions (as usuall). How warm should I let the water get? Where should I let him perch in the shower? How long? Any advice would really help me! Also do all cockatiels like showers? or just some? Anyway, thanks guys!

[Monica]

The water should either be warm or slightly cool as most birds prefer cooler water temps than we do. You can have him on a shower perch, handrail, curtain rod, or the door, if you don't have any other place for him to sit at. You can have him with you during the entire shower though he may not like being in the shower for a bit so don't put him in the spray of the shower unless he'll only get the mist or spray off from you. At first, if he doesn't really care for the shower, don't put him under the spray but rather let him get used to it. If he likes it however, you can put him under the spray (soft) for up to 5 minutes unless he demands more.

My Casey enjoys spray bottle bathes, bathing herself, and bathing out in the rain. She doesn't enjoy going in the shower (though I've never actually tried to get her used to the idea either). I believe Indigos tiel enjoys the shower.

[lcbrink]

Squeaky comes into the shower with me more to stay within sight than to be in the shower.

He has his own perch and the shower head I have is a massage head so I adjust the spray and water pressure. He's not a big fan of it, but he's not a big fan of bathing in general. He's more interested in talking to the towel when it's time for me to dry off.

Keep the spray gentle. and indirect. Squeaky prefers to be sprayed after the water bounces off my body than from the water falling from above.

He's got some strange behavior I have yet to figure out after 10 years.

[Takoda]

i bathe in whatever temperature i feel comfortable at, and my birds get whatever bounces off me. By the time it flies through the air it is cooler than what I'm getting.

some birds like it, some don't.

[Lungfish]

I have a wooden T-Stand I put in the shower with me. Water bounces off me and hits the bird on the stand. They love it.

[SweetPea]

One of my Lovebirds, today during their time outdoor, was being so silly.

She only baths when I spray her...In which she shows me she really enjoy it by puffing out her feathers, and flapping her wings etc.

Today, however, while I was spraying her, she quickly jumped to the water dish, and gave herself a bath too WHILE I was spraying her!

It was so funny!

My other Lovebird hates me spraying him, although he'll occassionally tolerate it. However, he always give himself a bath at least every other day.

I think the trick of the misting is to just keep misting over an area and give your bird a choice to come in and out of the water... just like they would in a real rain fall!

In the wild, I read there is usually a bird that doesn't shower with the flock but act as the "designated" bird, on the lookout for predators to warn the ones enjoying their daily baths! I thought it was pretty cool when I read this!

[Vikingchamp]

Thanks sweet pea, that is good info for a noob! LOL just kidding, welcome to the board.

[PArRoT_CrAzy11]

You mean ppl actually shower with their birds. If I do that my mom will send me to the mental asylum.

[The Outlaw]

I only have one smaller parrot (Quaker) but here's what I do when Tilde needs a bath:

I put her in the kitchen sink and using a child's watering can, I gently pour cool water over her. No trauma or drama.

THE OUTLAW