How to i give my BG a shower..

[MelanieAnn]

I GOT MY 10 YR OLD BG MACAW A FEW WEEKS AGO, HIS PREVIOUS OWNER SAYS HE LOVES THE SHOWER, BUT EVERY TIME I TRY TO PUT HIM IN HE FREAKS OUT!
PLUS I AM STILL NOT COMFORTABLE WITH TOUCHING HIS BACK, SO HOW WOULD I DRY HIM OFF>?
IS IT ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL HE SHOWER 2X A WEEK?
tHANKS

 

[lisamarie973]

I GOT MY 10 YR OLD BG MACAW A FEW WEEKS AGO, HIS PREVIOUS OWNER SAYS HE LOVES THE SHOWER, BUT EVERY TIME I TRY TO PUT HIM IN HE FREAKS OUT!
PLUS I AM STILL NOT COMFORTABLE WITH TOUCHING HIS BACK, SO HOW WOULD I DRY HIM OFF>?
IS IT ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL HE SHOWER 2X A WEEK?
tHANKS

The bird will be just fine while you and he are adjusting to an appropriate and acceptable bathing routine.
Some Times Macaws like to be misted with a hose, ours bathed that way, I would take them to their outside cage or take their cage outside, get a gardening spout/spicket extension for your hose and put it on a light misting. Start off be holding the sprayer above his heads so he's just getting misted instead of getting soaked all at once, he may scream bloody murder at first, but just try to mist him a little bit at a time, if he continues to scream and try to escape the water, stop. There are so many options for bathing birds, but, it's harder when the bird is bigger because you almost have to do a shower or misting shower as opposed to him hopping in a pool of water to bathe himself, although, it can be done, in a tub, a kiddie pool, etc... But, if I were you, I would for sure try spritzing him first. You could even start out with something as small as a water bottle, and squirting him with that first, then graduate up to a water hose spraying.
If taking him outside isn't an option, try taking him into the bathroom when YOU'RE showering, but, don't force him in the shower, just let him watch you while you're in there, do it often, eventually getting him a little wet here and there, until you graduate to having him sit on a perch inside the shower, or he perches on the curtain or just plays on the bottom of the tub, while the water runs on top of him.
Regardless, take it super slow and he'll eventually come around, about the first time you MAKE him do it, for sure it will not be a happy time for either of you. So, slow and steady, little by little.


OH and btw, you do NOT have to dry the parrot off, he will shake all of his feathers off and then preen himself while he's drying off. So, no worries about drying him off, usually birds just air dry while they're preening.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

Since it's a new place he may be a little nervous, or feel claustrophobic in this new small space. Make sure he has a way to get away from the water too if he feels uncomfortable. You don't need to dry him off, he'll do that himself. If it's cold in the house and your worried about him getting sick you can keep him in the warm/humid bathroom and hangout with him as he drys.

Because macaws are from tropical climates they do need a lot of baths or misting, once a week should be fine but once he settles in he would probably appreciate more. Especially if you use a heater, that can dry out the air and make their skin very itchy.

Do you have a mist spray bottle? Those are great, I heavily mist my bird almost daily.

 

[goalerjones]

my hahn's gets on my arm first thing once I'm in the shower and gets himself a little wet every morning then goes and gives himself a bath in this teeny little water dish on his table stand. I hafta get him something else, I feel sorry for him taking a dinky little bath like that.

 

[MelanieAnn]

Thank you both, i will try the misting first. the previous owner said he loved to just sit in the bottom of her shower and she blow dried him? or used a towel i didnt know he would dry himself, that makes it easier. In my room i have a huge walk in tile shower, so i know once he gets in there he will love it, thanks for the advice! im going to get a water bottle and mist him see how he likes it

 

[MikeyTN]

Willie used to be terrified of the shower unless I go in there with him then he's fine. Now he LOVES shower time and no I didn't see the need to blow dry him but my ekkies and Dixie the too loves to be blow dry. Basically just give it multiple shot and he will get used to it.

 

[Joeyx]

he's freaking out coz of the new shower environment, probably. yes, try misting him first
and see if he enjoys it.

 

[Safira]

My B&G loves to be misted, but it took hera while to figure it out.

You could put him on the shower rod on top of your shower (unless you have one of those door ones.) I did that with mine whenever I took a shower, she loved the heat and splash that comes up, but didn't want to come in with me. So I use a water bottle and she likes that.

 

[RescueMe]

Willie used to be terrified of the shower unless I go in there with him then he's fine. Now he LOVES shower time and no I didn't see the need to blow dry him but my ekkies and Dixie the too loves to be blow dry. Basically just give it multiple shot and he will get used to it.

You may want to reconsider blow drying you birds, many blowdryers have teflon in them which is toxic to to birds.

 

[MikeyTN]

My blow dryer have no teflon in it!

 

[mtdoramike]

Mikey is right, I had the same problem with Macky, my Eclectus. He came from a home where his flock leader died and the guys wife started back to work, so she would have to lock him up all day long. He went from baths every other day to NONE.

So when I got him, he had been over-preening and started plucking his thigh feathers. So Mickey suggested that I go in the shower with him. I put on a shirt for him to grip my arm and a pair of shorts. In the shower we went. I had to get wet first, so I got my head wet. Then macky was fine with it and will even walk into the bathroom when I take a bath by myself and wait to see if I will pick him up and take him in.

I give Macky a bath every other day, which has really helped his over-preening and has pretty much stopped his plucking. In the winter I used a blow dryer on him. But since I live in central Florida, it's down right hot in the spring and summer, so no blow dryer needed. I just make sure he gets a bath before noon so he doesn't go to bed with a wet head.

 

[JJones1719]

I would advise you to purchase a shower perch, you can find them at most pet stores.
The fastest way to teach your B&G to enjoy the shower is for you and the B&G to take a shower together. You are the alfa flock leader and when they see you taking a shower and enjoying it, they too will enjoy being there just because you too are there.
When they are in the shower with you and calm down, this is when you reward them with an almond or favorite toy.
While in the shower, I take a dime size of 100% pure aloe vera rub it into my hands then all over their body, this is great for their feathers and skin, rinse it out just a little, Then towel dry them. Place a hair dryer on low and hold it approx 36 inches away from your Macaw while petting them, telling them how great they are until they are dry. Both my boys love to look at themselves after the shower in my bathroom mirror. Hope the best for you and your B&G. Joe

 

[MelanieAnn]

sorry what is preening?.. and just to update you on the SHOWER situation it did NOT go well for ME lol... at first i misted him, he didnt like it, then i thought maybe if i turned the shower on and put toys in the bottom? nah he wasnt having it, then i said ok danm ill get in the shower and he will see me doing it and want to get in, nope nothin, THEN i said ok bird he hasnt showered in 3 weeks since i got him so i got his perch thing and i held it and moved it NEXT to the water.. Ohhhh MISTAKE. he crawled with his giant talens up my naked arm shoulder neck until he, my giant BG macaw, was on mMY HEAD! So now im naked in the shower with TK sitting on my head, try to get him off my head? oh no way, why? he likes it there, so now im tending to my arm wounds walking around the house in my robe with my happy PERFECTLY DRY parrot on my head hahaha ohh its always a lesson. it was more funny then bad

 

[MelanieAnn]

Jjones TK doesnt trust me..nor do i trust him enough to rub anything all over his body... i pet his head and back but i have not yet tried to touch his tummy,.. i like my hands lol

 

[MikeyTN]

Preening is when they clean their feathers with their beak pretty much the best way to put it. It will take several tries, have him on your arm in a lowered position in L shape so he can't climb on your shoulders or head. Run the shower head on you not him then slowly move over where the water just hitting your sides and arm where he's at. Then let the water run over him. Talk to him during this process in a calm voice like when you talk to a child. Praise him to take a shower, make it fun for him. Another way is like what Joe mentioned, use a shower perch. Place him on the perch first then turn on the shower. I'm still trying to get Java to do the shower perch, he freaks out big time....

 

[MelanieAnn]

No matter how L shaped my arm is he ALWAYS gets up higher, he is a lot bigger then my arm and climbs right up. i need to have his nails clipped they are out of control! i am def going to go get a shower perch tom!

 

[MikeyTN]

I find the shower perch works best if you get the suction cups wet first then press it firmly against the wall. Otherwise it may fall!

 

[MelanieAnn]

i am going to look for one that it permanently placed into the tile like drilled in, TK is VERY heavy and does not at all know how to fly or used his wings if he fell because a suction cup wasnt strong enough i would feel terrible

 

[pamcor57]

My B&G didnt like any shower. I ended up Misting him everytime while he was "in" his cage....he loved it, he flaps his wings and flares his tail feathers while I'm misting him until he is entirely drenched! Good luck...he will let you know how he likes to be wet...lol

 

[Safira]

Melanie,

a concerete perch in his cage will help LOADS with his nails! I haven't had to do my B&G's nails at all and i've had her since last october! I have one like this (link below), I'd get a "large" one. Make it one of the higher perches, so he'll want to be on it.
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Living-World-Pedi-Perch-Medium-Color/dp/B0002DGYZK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334864400&sr=8-1]Amazon.com: Living World Pedi-Perch - Medium (Color may vary): Pet Supplies[/ame]

be aware that sand and concerete perches can make the bottom of their feet tender int he long run. so if they start looking sore or red you should take it out of his perch. But I haven't had that problem yet and I like the concrete MUCH better than the prickly sandy ones.