Hates showers ... but likes ‘air’ bathes?

[birdashes]

Hi! Wow it’s been awhile since I was on here...

So my RB2 hates showers. I rarely shower him due to how much he HATES them. I think he is mostly afraid of the spray bottle, but I’m not sure. It’s very frustrating , because he gets to the point where he really needs a bath but it scares him.. so I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to scare him.


Interestingly he LOVES ‘air’ bathes- like when the fan is blowing on him. He acts like he’s taking a shower/bath. He has a ball and today he got actually pouty and flew away and ignored me for a good 5 minutes when I turned off the fan!


... I’m wondering if I can somehow use this to my advantage to get him used to water? I thought about spraying mist into where the fan was blowing? I also have thought about jut taking him up to the shower to actually shower... but I don’t know if that would scare him the same as the bottle.


Any ideas?

 

[Porter]

Have you ever seen those fan misters?

Amazon.com: O2COOL Deluxe Misting Fan, Handheld Misting Fan, Battery Operated Fan, Water Spray Fan, Mini Portable Desk Fan, Personal Cooling Fan Outdoor, Fine Mist Sprayer, Purple: Home & Kitchen

Blows the air and then adds a ill water when you squeeze.

 

[birdashes]

Have you ever seen those fan misters?

Amazon.com: O2COOL Deluxe Misting Fan, Handheld Misting Fan, Battery Operated Fan, Water Spray Fan, Mini Portable Desk Fan, Personal Cooling Fan Outdoor, Fine Mist Sprayer, Purple: Home & Kitchen

Blows the air and then adds a ill water when you squeeze.

Oh wow I never thought of those! that might work. I’ll have to try one.
Thanks!

 

[Porter]

You could also try turning on the fan near a plastic container full of water. When I had Charlie (Macaw) we used a bit tuppermaid under the bed tub.

 

[SandraK]

You could also try turning on the fan near a plastic container full of water. When I had Charlie (Macaw) we used a bit tuppermaid under the bed tub.

I was going to suggest the same. Maybe also just leave him a bowl of water so that he can sit/stand in it and maybe actually bathe himself? Sounds wacky I know, but we all know that the only thing weirder than a bird parront is the bird(s) they care for.

I have tiels which usually like being misted, some of mine will come and sit in the designated water bowl and wait to be misted. BUT there's a handful of them that don't like being misted. They HAVE to stand (or sit) in a red, heart shaped bathing bowl. Go figure.

 

[birdashes]

I was going to suggest the same. Maybe also just leave him a bowl of water so that he can sit/stand in it and maybe actually bathe himself? Sounds wacky I know, but we all know that the only thing weirder than a bird parront is the bird(s) they care for.

I have tiels which usually like being misted, some of mine will come and sit in the designated water bowl and wait to be misted. BUT there's a handful of them that don't like being misted. They HAVE to stand (or sit) in a red, heart shaped bathing bowl. Go figure.

A long time ago, when I first got him I tried introducing him to a bowl of water. He seemed kind of disinterested and I took it as that’s not the way cockatoos bathe? Might sound ignorant but I’ve never seen a ‘too bathe in a dish before, the ones I’ve seen and met always preferred spray bathes.

I should give it another go. Thanks !