Lewi's 1 month Progress update!

[Alligator]

A little over a month ago, I took in my Grandmothers OWA Lewi. He had been stuck in a cage since her dementia diagnosis about 3 years ago, with only my grandfather feeding him and speaking to him occasionally. I live about an hour away and was not able to give him the interaction he needed so as soon as I got out of an apartment and into a house I took him in. Lewi has always been a one person bird and very attached to my Grandmother (he did not like Grandpa) and would bite her if she let anyone come close to her. He is also a very picky eater, only eating fruit and seeds.. I'm happy to update not only has Lewi started eating his Veggies and Pellets, he now has human friends! He very quickly beacme attatched to me our first full week together and was very, very angery that my partner was in the house but after a few bites, whistling matches and my partner not backing down and constantly interacting with him, last week he stepped up from the cage and onto his hand, now Flying onto his sholder is a common occerence! He also has taken a liking to my friends (they are obsessed with him) and last week stepped up from my sholder onto theirs and allows beak scratches!

Getting him to bathe in anything but his water bowl is still a challenge. I've tried misting, taking him in the shower with me, using the shower perch, offering a bigger bowl, running the vacume but he wants to bathe in nothing except his water bowl. Everytime I shower and hes awake I take him in with me, last week i offered the water on a light setting and he hated it :/
he will tolerate the spray bottle but doesn't do any bathing behaviors, just lets the water roll off of him. When he bathes in the water bowl he just soaks his head and I don't believe hes had a propper bath in a few years (I attempt about once a week) any advice, tricks or tips would be greatly appreciated

Our next goals are
1. Trying a neutral colored pellet (no dyes)
2. Bath Time and rewarding bathing behaviors
3. Target taining!
4. larger and newer cage! after 20 years its time for an upgrade.
Also whats your birds favorite treats? So far Lewi is very almond motivated but I would love to expand his horizons a little more!
pics of birb for tax! let me know what you think of his set up! Im always trying to add more

 

[Respect]

Just curious, have you tried bathing him in the kitchen sink? A little quieter and smaller than the shower but still has running water. It sounds like you are doing an amazing job with him

 

[Alligator]

I’ve tried in the kitchen sink with a towel but he didn’t want to step down on it however I did get him a shower perch and I could try to put that in the sink and see if he’ll perch and consider taking a shower! And thank you

 

[Clueless]

Sounds like Secret with regards to baths.

I'll see if I can find a thread for you. Secret has a crock bowl that was probably a dog water dish. She can stand on the edge of it and then step into the water.

Try different temperatures. Secret prefers a tepid temperature. MC (my amazon that passed away from cancer) liked colder temperatures. MC had a stand I place in the bottom of the shower and he would spread his wings. Secret? It's a bowl or nothing.

Try a pistacchio in the shell WITHOUT ANY SALT OR ADDITIVES ON THEM. I also use almond slivers from the baking aisle (no salt obviously).

It is awesome what you've done for this Amazon. Way to go!

 

[Clueless]

Here's the thread, there's pictures of Secret in here.

Need ratty tail feather advice

Hey all! I have a 12yo BFA that I acquired almost a year ago. She has been an absolutely awesome bird, she’s super nice to everyone, and while loud, it’s alllll singing and talking, not screaming. Very operatic. We named her Peggy as she didn’t come with a name. Peggy arrived in a small cage...

forums.avianavenue.com

 

[Sparkles99]

Love the update! How is the vacuum supposed to help with bathing?

 

[Alligator]

Here's the thread, there's pictures of Secret in here.

Need ratty tail feather advice

Hey all! I have a 12yo BFA that I acquired almost a year ago. She has been an absolutely awesome bird, she’s super nice to everyone, and while loud, it’s alllll singing and talking, not screaming. Very operatic. We named her Peggy as she didn’t come with a name. Peggy arrived in a small cage...

forums.avianavenue.com

I never even thought to combine the bowl and the spray bottle lol I'll try that for his next bath and see what he thinks, thank you! He did try a pistachio and he LOVES them, I'm gonna try to chop them into smaller bits for a training treats.

 

[Alligator]

Love the update! How is the vacuum supposed to help with bathing?

It tricks their toddler brains into thinking there's a rainstorm in the house lol Doesn't work for all birds but with Lewi if I start vacuuming he starts bath time in the water bowl, which is good however, he has a very dusty butt and wings that need washing!

 

[Respect]

It tricks their toddler brains into thinking there's a rainstorm in the house lol Doesn't work for all birds but with Lewi if I start vacuuming he starts bath time in the water bowl, which is good however, he has a very dusty butt and wings that need washing!

I’ve heard of this trick before, but when my green cheek hears the vacuum he thinks it’s a screaming contest rather than a rainstorm

 

[Emma&pico]

He’s Gorgeous sounds like your doing an amazing job

 

[Emma&pico]

Love the update! How is the vacuum supposed to help with bathing?

Pip baths everytime he either baths in bowl in room when hoovers on or if he hasn’t soon as I put him back in cage to veggies and hoover up all mess from foraging toys from being out he’s straight his water bowl so hoover works for him
Pip likes cold water

remi will bath in sink when I change water flys to my shoulder crawls down my arm and I have to cup my hands run water and fill up sink remi likes half n half so warmer than pip

blu he’s a trouble at mine bathes in his water bowl but misses back so I have started misting him he’s not a fan but sits still

 

[Emma&pico]

I’ve heard of this trick before, but when my green cheek hears the vacuum he thinks it’s a screaming contest rather than a rainstorm

This is remi and Blu

 

[Alligator]

He’s Gorgeous sounds like your doing an amazing job

Thank you!! I need to get some pics on him in the Sunlight bc it’s UNREAL how cool he looks! And I’m glad to know Lewi isint alone in his picky bathing habits

 

[Emma&pico]

Thank you!! I need to get some pics on him in the Sunlight bc it’s UNREAL how cool he looks! And I’m glad to know Lewi isint alone in his picky bathing habits

Definitely keep us updated and share loads of pics with us
Honestly I swear birds are worse than kids

 

[kadeconure]

He is so adorable. I am bringing home an OWA soon, and I love the species!

It took me two years to get my conure bathing his whole body, not just his chest in his water bowl. I think you are doing great with trying to see what he is receptive to, as every bird has their own preference. What helped the most with Percy was giving him a large shallow bowl on the counter and then desensitizing him to it. I would put little treats in the water and let him investigate at his pace and figure out how to stand on the bowl and eventually hop all the way in. I also tried the sink but he was scared to be lowered in, though I knew he liked when I turned the faucet on. Putting a platform across the sink to place the bowl on helped. Anyway, I'm sure you will figure his baths out with observation and experimentation.