Shower Stress

[Shayne]

How does everyone deal with a macaw that hates water. I take him in the shower with me but after 5 minutes of flapping and stress I lose a whole weeks training progress due to lost trust. Its really frustrating me as I feel I can never make any bloody progress with him as we take ten steps back every time I have to wash him. I wouldn't bother with it if I didn't have to. I feel like putting him in the garden and sneaking up behind him and dunking him with a bucket of water. Washing done with in only 1 quick second of stress for him. But on a more serious note I think Ill take him outside when its chucking it down with rain. But it hasn't rained for a while here.

 

[getwozzy]

Maybe he's just scared of being in the shower? Not all birds like showers....

You could try misting him with a water bottle that produces fine mist.... Or put him in a travel cage and take him outside and lightly hose him (spray the water UP and let it fall on him- don't spray directly at him).

My galah HATES baths but she goes crazy for the cool mist humidifier so I recently ordered one of these
Hudson Multi-Purpose 2-Liter Hand Pump Sprayer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003ARTX94/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_vYgdvb10XK7RE
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003ARTX94/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_vYgdvb10XK7RE

 

[Christinenc2000]

Mine hated water. I still have not gotten him into a shower. I bought a pet spray bottle. It pumps up like a garden spray so not a lot of that noise they hate when its used. He tolerated it a few times and now seems to enjoy it. I spray him while in his cage. Anywhere else and he freaks. So the cage shower works for us now. I put a beach towel down on the grate and he knows its shower time and gets on a perch and fluffs up .
I am just about 100% sure someone used to spray him to get him quiet. Mean people


EDIT : https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003ARTX94..._vYgdvb10XK7RE That is exactly what i use

 

[Shayne]

Well I'm definetely not bothering with the shower anymore. He wasn't too bad the first 2 times but went nuts this time. And now he seems to have lost all trust in me as he wont even step up anymore. Which is really frustrating as I had him cuddling on his back last night. I don't get how a bird from a rainforest could hate water so much.

 

[Christinenc2000]

Well I'm definetely not bothering with the shower anymore. He wasn't too bad the first 2 times but went nuts this time. And now he seems to have lost all trust in me as he wont even step up anymore. Which is really frustrating as I had him cuddling on his back last night. I don't get how a bird from a rainforest could hate water so much.

That made me LOL> I think mine is scared because the spay bottle was used as a punishment . He would get in the corner of the cage and just try to make himself small when he even saw the bottle. I felt awful . And mad that someone could be so mean .

 

[JerseyWendy]

I'm sorry to hear he's hating the showers so much, Shayne. I do think, however, he will forgive you pretty soon, and will once again snuggle up to you.

 

[Minimaker]

We built a shower stand out of pvc and turn the water on lower pressure so that it's not so scary. I take my hand and stick it under the water and it sprays up at her in a fine mist when it hits my hand. Maybe your bird would benefit from a less stressful experience. A stable perch stand, you not in the shower with it, a lower water pressure, and a light spray might help. You could try it and see if it helps at all. This is the type of perch we built (ours is a little shorter and wider) and she seems really comfortable on it despite her fear of the water:

And I always hand her a nut in shell afterward as a reward to make her feel like it was a good thing.

 

[Birdman666]

A hose with a mister attachment usually works. Mine get that in the tree on hot days...

All but one of mine love water, and always have. I've never had a big mac that didn't, so that's something I've never dealt with.

My CAG hates it, but I make him do it anyway, and he has just learned to deal with it.

 

[goalerjones]

Hahnzel bathed in her mini-sized water dish from her table stand for 3 years. I'd take her into the shower but she looked like a kid eating her vegetables, just miserable.

Then I decided to get a bowl that was flat enough and deep enough for her to try. I had to lean over next to her and splash the water with my fingers. It worked. She saw that it was okay for me, and then she went right in and splashed around for real.

 

[mollybird]

Both Buford and Kazoo hate showers. We tried misting with a spray bottle, but both hated that even more - apparently they had both been 'punished' with a spray bottle for 'bad' behavior.

We have a PVC stand that I put in the shower. I put one of them on it, then I get in and turn the shower on. I splash around and act like I like it. I make sure the shower head is set so that they 'accidentally' get splashed.

They both enjoy being with me and seem to like watching me have fun even though they don 't like getting wet.

 

[Shayne]

Well it only took as long as he took to get dry for him to forgive me

 

[JerseyWendy]

Well it only took as long as he took to get dry for him to forgive me

ROFLMAO! Too funny!

 

[Fredrik]

If all else fails, get a cat litter box (about 30x12x4"), fill it halfway with water and put it on a stable surface (table). Put the parrot next to the box, start to vacuum the floor (they all love the noise) and pray your floor won't be damaged by the water splashing everywhere.

Best regards, Fredrik

 

[Selph85]

Well I'm definetely not bothering with the shower anymore. He wasn't too bad the first 2 times but went nuts this time. And now he seems to have lost all trust in me as he wont even step up anymore. Which is really frustrating as I had him cuddling on his back last night. I don't get how a bird from a rainforest could hate water so much.

Sorry to hear you are having troubles. My B&G doesn't like water. Period. Misting bottle, bowl(so he can control the tempo), shower, bath, or rain. You name it, he just doesn't care for it. He does however like to sit up on the shower rod while I shower. And he loves food. So, i thought, lets strike a compromise with him. A five minute shower nets him 15-20 minutes on the shower rod, and a treat after we are both clean. Corn bread with veggies in it, egg, pancakes, whatever i happen to have that he typically goes crazy for. Now, its become this thing where he doesn't really like it, but good things come afterward. It doesn't disturb our bond or his trust in me. He does pout for a bit afterward, but we play games, talk, and make loud/silly noises just because we can. The goal, is to make it a net-positive experience. Now, he fusses, but i still get my cuddles and my buddy afterward, because it wasn't a terrible experience all together. We end it on a positive note.

Dont just take them in the shower and go right for the water. Maybe give it some time were they can sit, out of reach of the water and watch you. Let them see it isn't hurting you, it can be fun, and something you can do together. Take a few weeks or a month to get him comfortable with being in the situation. Mine has a "dance" he only does while in the shower. Its one big giant game for him. Good luck, i feel your pain on getting them bathe!

 

[Taw5106]

LOL I'm sorry, I know it's frustrating but it's funny at the same time. When I got Buddy, he wanted nothing to do with water now he loves the shower and if I take him in the bathroom he will take a dry shower even if the water isn't running. I first tried misting him and he ran like I was trying to set him on fire. I finally caved and took him in the shower with me and he watched from the shower perch while I acted like I was having fun so then he moved under the water. It wasn't hot water, but it was colder than I liked. I had my bathing suit on, and do you know what it's like to jump in a pretty cool shower, not applying any soap to your hair or make up while you are getting soaked, hair in a big sticky glob and make up running down your face and you're making a production of how fun it is??? The things we do for our fids. No there are no pictures of that event!!! You could take him in the bathroom and let him watch you take a shower and may decide he wants to join you. Also the misters are a good idea as well as the water bowls. Venus likes to bath in her water dish daily. Oh and another member here used a humidifier that misted. Her bird was the one that hooked up that idea, lol.

 

[deque]

My B & G HATED water when he first arrived. I tried, showers, spray bottles, misters the works.

Taking him outside was really the trick for me. I let him spend time on his stand, while I water the garden than just occasionally misted him in between the flowers. Little by little he began to tolerate it.

I wouldn't say he enjoys it as my others do but he doesn't object to a good soaking anymore.