Zilla Finally Enjoyed a Bath!

[Amanda_Bennett]

I'm so glad I kept working with her and the mist bottle!

This afternoon she finally enjoyed it completely! Opened her wings, flapped around, spinning her head on her back, making happy noises!

My hand is sore, she is soaked, and the spray bottle is empty!

 

[ParrotsAhoy]

Oh cool, go Zilla!! Can you please tell me how you managed to build up to this? Tachyon really dosnt like being sprayed, he grumps loudly and takes off; but I think he would really enjoy it if I could work out how to build up slowly.

 

[DoodlesMom]

LOL.... I can "see" Zilla doing the birdie flash dance!! You go girl!

 

[Amanda_Bennett]

With Zilla I had to start across the entire room from her. Her previous owners had squirted her with a spray bottle when she made noise, so she was terrified of it.

I started with no water in the bottle, just letting her see it from far away. The I put some water in it and misted the air across the room from her and just let her watch it happen. I gradually got closer and closer to her and finally the other day she let the mist fall on her without running away.

We have done this a few times now, with me just misting above her and letting it fall on her. She would sit and tolerate it for a few minutes and then move away.

Today she was all in and almost had a sad look in her eye when the bottle was empty!

 

[Mango121913]

Now, wait until she dries. Her feathers will be bright and shiny!

Probably smells better too

 

[labell]

Each new sign of trust is so special isn't it?:jumping40

 

[Allee]

That's great! Yaayyy Zilla! Another big step forward. I feel like birds are missing a lot when they don't enjoy their baths.

 

[RavensGryf]

Great news ! I'm glad she liked getting sprayed. Hopefully it will be easy from now on!

Raven and Griffin hate it!! It's a fight every week . The only reason Robin puts up with it is because he gave up fighting it over the past 20 years lol.

I have to trick them to get over to the next room with the shower stall and it's not easy. I used to spray them in the room, but it would get too humid and I didn't like everything all wet.

 

[Amanda_Bennett]

Now, wait until she dries. Her feathers will be bright and shiny!

Probably smells better too

She is looking so much better than she did a few months ago! I'm so proud of her!

I'm already a zon huffer! I love love love how she smells!

Each new sign of trust is so special isn't it?:jumping40

I jump up and down inside and do a happy dance every time we reach a goal! This was a major one for us, to overcome what her previous owners did to her with water! It was very sad how scared of it she was. I'm really surprised it only took us a few months, I thought it would take much longer.

 

[RavensGryf]

That's great! Yaayyy Zilla! Another big step forward. I feel like birds are missing a lot when they don't enjoy their baths.

I feel so mean when I force the stressful situation upon them anyway lol, but oh well it has to be done! I saw a huge cloud of fine dust come off Raven today when he shook in the right lighting. I said OMG you need another bath already young man! He did NOT agree.

 

[Taw5106]

YYAAYY !!!! It took Buddy to shower with me going in a warm shower with him on my shoulder. Congrats you didn't have to strip and get soaked like me, lol!!! You and Zilla hit a mi
Estone, congrats!!!!!

 

[Amanda_Bennett]

That's great! Yaayyy Zilla! Another big step forward. I feel like birds are missing a lot when they don't enjoy their baths.

I feel so mean when I force the stressful situation upon them anyway lol, but oh well it has to be done! I saw a huge cloud of fine dust come off Raven today when he shook in the right lighting. I said OMG you need another bath already young man! He did NOT agree.

I have been feeling so bad. The vet has had me forcing her to shower at least every other day and get water in her face so it would go down her sinuses, and then she has been molting and needed at least a light misting on the off shower days...I'm so glad she likes misting now (or at least this once she liked it) I'm crossing my fingers that she will like it again next time!

 

[Sunset_Chaser]

Woohoo! Now we need some birdie bathtime pictures of Zilla looking all wet and adorable!

 

[Amanda_Bennett]

Woohoo! Now we need some birdie bathtime pictures of Zilla looking all wet and adorable!

not sure how I will hold her in one hand and spray her with the other and take pictures all at the same time!

I'll see if I can work on that though!

 

[Sunset_Chaser]

Lol, there's nothing cuter than a bird enjoying a bath/shower! My B&G REALLY gets into it, I made a shower perch and just set that in the shower and she LOVES it! Gotta love the smell of a wet mac.....

 

[ParrotsAhoy]

Ooooh I didnt even think about doing it like that; thats how Ive gotten him used to everything else (us, hands, food, treats, toys, new cages etc)! Ive got lots of (bird safe) house plants in here which he likes so I'm going to spend some time misting them on the other side of the room and gradually move them closer to his cage and see if hes interested in coming out to help me 'garden'. I also wondered about me and my husband spraying each other and showing him how fun it can be (its summer here so misting the SO is actually allowed lol).

 

[Ann333]

That's awesome! Im glad you both enjoyed it. I missed the begining of Zillas story, I'm new to the forum, was she a rescue?
I wonder if Pumpkin would like being sprayed... he loves baths! He takes one every single night in his water dish and even took two today.

 

[Amanda_Bennett]

That's awesome! Im glad you both enjoyed it. I missed the begining of Zillas story, I'm new to the forum, was she a rescue?
I wonder if Pumpkin would like being sprayed... he loves baths! He takes one every single night in his water dish and even took two today.

I consider her a rescue, but not in the traditional sense. She had a rough life from what I have been able to gather. Wild caught and imported here approx. 28 years ago. Was super loved and cared for at some point, bite pressure trained, startle trained, etc... her original owner couldn't keep himself on the right side of the law so she kept being given to "friends" of his and then when he would get out of jail he would get her back. I was told this went on for over 20 years then one of his friends talked him into giving her to some people who had her for 6 years but weren't taking care of her properly. Feeding her coffee, soda, cookies, crackers, and whatever was on his plate for dinner without a care if it was good for her or not. She has had chronic respiratory issues for years and they were taking her to the vet they take their dog to who knew nothing about birds. She would be given antibiotics (which they never finished because she would start acting better) so in a month or two the issues would come back, etc... They finally put her on CL but no one bought her. They then gave her to an acquaintance of mine who had her for about 8 days before he called me and said he didn't want her anymore and I could have her if I wanted her.

They said she was a male Peach Wing Cockatoo, so that's what I was told over the phone. Imagine my surprise when a little green Amazon came out of the carrier instead of a big white bird!

I had to learn fast since I wasn't told about her chronic respiratory issues and knew nothing about amazons. About 10 days after getting her here she had to be rushed to the ER vet because she was wheezing and having a hard time breathing. After tons of tests and about 4 or 5 vet visits she was diagnosed with asper and kidney issues. She just finished a 90 day round of anti fungal meds and will be on a safe kidney diet for the rest of her life.

If you do a search for the threads I have posted you can get caught up on her story and get more of the timeline and details. I think you do that by clicking on my name and then on "posts" started by me. Maybe someone else can give more info on how to do that.

 

[Bundiibird]

Way to go Zilla!!!!! I bet your mommy is so proud of you.

Bundii wants to let you know that birdie baths are super awesome.

 

[Ann333]

Ohh wow it sounds like she had it VERY rough, poor bird! And for such a long time. Im glad she has you now though, you seem to care for her a lot and i am so happy for you both for the progress you have made! I doubt i would have been up to such a challenge! You should be very proud! Thank you for sharing such an inspiring story of devotion to your bird