Maxi Doesn't like to bathe

[Randyc2800]

We have had a Maximillion Pionus for a week now, and she's shown no interest/intent to bathe. Is misting as good? Her feathers are really waterproof, and misting doesn't appear to do much. Today, I filled the bath with lukewarm water and let her flop around for a minute, but she even seems to lack the instinct to preen after the bath. Conversly, our Sun bathes at least a couple times a week in his water bowl, and preens very well after.

Any help here?

[Dani#2]

Sorry I just saw this. Jezebel was like that at first too. One day, while vacuuming, she went into bath mode.....putting her wings up, getting all excited......flapping all over.....

Pi's normally like to be misted...I did hear of a few who will bathe in the water bowl.....but I"m glad she doesn't. I mist her on her cage, and we don't need the vacuum anymore either!!

i do have a Hahn's that will bathe in his waterbowl, just like your Sun.....but he's not into heavy preening afterwards.

[newf]

We have a shower perch for our WC and he loves showering. The thing we noticed with him is that the water cant be on full blast..more like a gentle rain. We are going to get another shower head that has a mist setting, and I think that will be far better for him.

[Randyc2800]

Originally Posted by newf

We have a shower perch for our WC and he loves showering. The thing we noticed with him is that the water cant be on full blast..more like a gentle rain. We are going to get another shower head that has a mist setting, and I think that will be far better for him.

Funny you mention that. Monday evening of this week we had a really heavy rainstorm. Jewel could see it out the window and she went nuts...dancing on her perch, flapping wings, etc. I think the shower perch may be the ticket. I'll give it a shot.

[2horse]

My IRN only bath in the rain or with the hosepipe never in the dish.

[newf]

Good luck with the shower perch. Murlin loves it. He wasn't too sure of it at first, but now he is very comfortable with it and with spread his wings out and have a blast in there.

[Buteo]

Yeah it takes quite a bit of misting to soak a Pionus!!
Pi are a South American species and as such they evolved oils as protection against rainfall levels much higher than what most of us are accustomed to in North America.

As for willingness to bathe - every bird is different.
Grace (our young special needs WCP) LOVES her showers!
As you can see from the attached pics, she fans her wings & tail out to catch as much water on her as possible. The waterflow must be very low though, so I turn down the pressure with a flow control valve I installed just before the showerhead.
She's absolutely soaked when she's done and doesn't do much preening afterwards. I use an old hairdrier on her to help dry her off. She loves sitting in the warm breeze...occassionally shakin herself to throw off any excess water.

[waterdragon]

The shower perch is good, I read Pionus' enjoy being part of your morning routine. So Maxi has a perch for the mirror by the sink (make sure the toilet lid is always down so your little one can't fall in) and she has one in the shower. She likes the steam and gets sprayed a few times a week.

Attached below is similar to what I have only mine is a plant mister. The top is the same though.

The funniest thing ever, I never once saw Maxi bathe in her bowl until alst Saturday when she decided to pic her smallest water bowl to take a shower in. It was the funniest thing. I grabbed her and took her into the shower and sprayed her (she does what the WC above does).

[kathleen]

Haha. Your birdie looks like he's mooning us.

[sammythegreyt]

I have a BH Pionus and he loves to be misted ! I have to fill the mister twice, because he will cry at me for more! He is only 10 months and is getting used to the shower perch also. Scooter really likes to play in his water dish so I went and bought him a little birdie bath tub with the mirror on the bottom~ His other favorite thing is staring at himself ! LOL That is my doing we always look at ourselves (my 2 CAGs and BH Pi) and talk about how pretty we are and how nice our feathers look. We will see if this works for the Greys. My new Grey dropped off to me was starting to chew her tailfeathers when I got her and now they are growing back! Now, If I could only get her to bathe. Some Greys can be a real challenge! Try the little bath tub it is fun to watch them play in the water! Got to Love Pionus such great birds!
If they were not so hard to find!

Take care enjoy your Pi! Sammy