Is it okay to force my gc conure baby to take showers?

[Sabo]

He cleans his beak and legs often enough, but his feathers never get any attention. So once every 3 or 4 days, I drop him in warm, shallow water and drizzle warm water over his back and wet his head, and clean his beak. He hates it.

Anyway, afterwards, I dry him with a towel, crank up the heater and place him near it. I've read somewhere that conures need frequent showers. Is this true? It kind of looks like he scratches more after his showers though. Also, is he going to get pissed for forcing him to get a rinse like this?

He's never seemed angry; just purely disliking it.

 

[Tro]

I wouldn't force him he is likely to scared of the water and you when you do this. My conure was terrified of water when I first brought him home but I would bring him in the bathroom when I took a shower and put him on the shower curtain rod. He enjoyed the mist from the shower and felt safe because he was up high and not pelted w water.
He got used to it and slowly gradually started showering w me (he still only likes getting wet by the splashing water, but this is because my shower is to hard for him)..
Anyway let your little guy get used to it own his own don't force it IMO

 

[ZephyrFly]

How long have you had your little guy? And how old is he?

Parrots clean themselves, they may seem hesitant with water at first but frequent positive exposure and they love it. I personally let my gcc air dry with a towel around my shoulders to keep me dry (though I know some people use a hair dryer on a low cool setting on their birds).
If it's becoming a negative experience then he'll not look forward to it and you may find later that he becomes troubled around bath time, so take it slower. Run a tap lukewarm, put your hands and even arms in and show it's safe and fun. May take time if he still dislikes it but after some time he'll warm up to it. You could also try a dish of lukewarm water on you table (put a towel down) and see if he prefers that kind of birdy bath.

It was a month of having mine before he was brave enough to jump in the water and wash, and sometimes he gets soaked and looks funny, sometimes he just wants a quick not too soaking dip. His choice. He takes his sweet time too, "oh I don't know, should I wash? no... Yes!" then I think he's done and he goes back in.

 

[June2012]

My advice would be to trigger his instincts? Some people have suggested vacuuming the house before showering or misting. The noise the vacuum makes should sound like a thunderstorm. Some have sworn that you have to do it close to the cage for them to feel the "rumble", aka the vibrations. Some don't agree and just let them hear it.

Some people also make a DIY shower perch. Some PVC and suction cups attached to put on the wall of your shower. That, and you can very lightly mist yourself. Act like you're high on drugs! He'll be curious and want to investigate. Let him out and he'll be cautious, but he'll be curious. It might take a few days, but it's worth it! I don't suggest treating him. I think you should rather just give him verbal praise.

 

[Flboy]

All of these suggestions have worked for my babies! But big dog dish, filled with water, give your buddy enough time, magic! My jojo, every 2/3 days, bath time!

 

[ZoeS]

My rosecrown will only bathe (outside of his water dish) if I'm washing my face or doing dishes, and I cup my hands to hold water for him. He will run down my arm when he's ready for a bath. He will use a bowl but only if I'm holding it in my hands.

I also have a shower perch but neither of them is interested in the shower water. They just nap.

 

[Sabo]

My rosecrown will only bathe (outside of his water dish) if I'm washing my face or doing dishes, and I cup my hands to hold water for him. He will run down my arm when he's ready for a bath. He will use a bowl but only if I'm holding it in my hands.

I also have a shower perch but neither of them is interested in the shower water. They just nap.

Mine's wings are still clipped, so his mobility is too restricted for that hah

 

[Sabo]

All of these suggestions have worked for my babies! But big dog dish, filled with water, give your buddy enough time, magic! My jojo, every 2/3 days, bath time!

I don't know where to put it though; he'll crap in it if I leave it in his cage.

 

[Flboy]

All of these suggestions have worked for my babies! But big dog dish, filled with water, give your buddy enough time, magic! My jojo, every 2/3 days, bath time!

I don't know where to put it though; he'll crap in it if I leave it in his cage.

Cage not a good idea, it will make a mess and rust the cage. His playpen is on the counter and I offer the bowl to him there. When he is ready, he makes it very clear!

 

[veimar]

I used to mist my gcc when he was younger and took him to shower with me (but didn't shower him). He hated the misting at first, but then got the taste of it in summer, and now he bathes vigorously almost every day in the big water dish (and often the other birds join him, and that's really funny). And he gets completely soaked so he cannot fly at all! I keep the water dish on the flat top of one of the cages that's covered with paper, so the water doesn't get into the cage. It's a shallow food container - just perfect size and shape.
It might just take time - mine didn't start bathing until he was about 8-9 months old.