teh aplacolups beastie colleen ([info]kuwaizair) wrote in [info]cockatiels,
@ 2004-12-20 17:03:00
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bathing
well, I guyess its time to ask about bathing.

I can't get my bird to bath solo, the only thing that works is if he obviousl digs his claws into your skin to perch on your body when, you your self is in the shower.

I spent 20 minntues and gave up trying to get him into water, he has been spedning a lot of time on the floor of his cage eating zoopream food dusk, causing him to stomp in his own dung. also his tail tips seem to be slatherd as well.

seriosuly, all "let him bite your hand" stuff aside, how do I get him in the water?
I don't have anyone close to clip the wings, and I can't cut them myself, how do I do it? I'm going to wind up tramatizing the animal by trying to grab him with various cloths on my hand. Oh that too, rerember this is the bird who gets violent over his asexual lover, fabric. If I try to do somthng with the bird and fabric, he'll lean off my sholder to bite at my face.
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also, whenever anyone eats at the dining room table (bird cage now in dining room) he goes "crazy", he'll drop to the cage floor and run around in fast circles stomping and stomping.
now, maybe this is normal, healthy and somthing I should encourage but I find it annoying and rude.
so what do I do, besides put him in the living room again, where mind you there is no place to put the cage on top of, it world be wrong cover the cage right? I don't know.

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[info]silver_leaf
2004-12-20 11:07 pm UTC (link)
My bird isn't very fond of water either. I would recommend getting your bird used to an object, like a small shallow pan, and once he is familiar with hanging out in and around the pan (maybe tempt him with some millet in the pan or something), fill it about an inch deep with warm (comfortably warm, not too hot, not chilly) and then let him play around it at his will. It is entirely possible that for the first many times he is near the pan with water he will not go in the water, but hopefully he'll get so he isn't afraid of it. Then maybe just plunk him into the middle of the pan, and since it is only an inch of water it isn't like he should panic too much, and because it will be still in the pan it shouldn't be as scary.

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[info]kasatka
2004-12-20 11:13 pm UTC (link)
My birds only like a spray bottle. I turn it to a fine mist and spray it above them, letting it fall down onto them. At first they pretty much react with "Oh no!!!" and run like mad. Takes them a minute to figure out what's going on, and then they do their happy birdy rain dances.

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[info]snusnubird
2004-12-21 02:10 am UTC (link)
smeagol has begun to love showers. Early on we bought a shower perch.. which he loves to be on. Wee put it in a place so that half of the shower perch is in the way of the shower, and half is not.. at first he didnt like the water/was afraid of it.. but now he loves to go into the mist and fruff his feathers. I dont know what to tell you, i think it just takes patience and time.

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[info]alcozma
2004-12-21 09:09 am UTC (link)
Zazu loves to be misted with a spray bottle - as it is quite warm here I do it a couple of times a week.... he spreads his wings and rubs his head under the wing that I am spraying then he swaps to the other side... he really enjoys a spray bath. I've never tried a bird bath, I think he would just poop in it! I think a spray bottle is the way to go!

If there is no avian vet in your area maybe you are better not to clip his wings, I catch Zazu in a thermal glove so he can't bite me but he still doesn't like the wing clip deal!
http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesArticle/id-2148.html
this picture is a guide but I still don't suggest you do it yourself the first time...

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[info]ltdead
2004-12-21 09:24 am UTC (link)
I`ll second the `try a squirt bottle` idea. My guys only shower with squirt bottles. It takes them a while to get used to it, but once they do they LOVE it.

I`ll also agree that it`s best to find someone who can show you how to clip. Avian vets, avian pet stores and avian rescues are good places to check to find someone in your area who can demonstrate for you. In rare cases there are even mobile bird grooming services! ...but maybe that`s just a California thing...

As for the dashing about while you`re eating, my guess is he wants in on the action. Cockatiels feed in flocks. So what you`re having, he wants! Try putting some of what you`re eating in his cage (as long as it`s not too greasy, salty or sweet for him). If that still doesn`t calm him, you can get a play stand and put it closer to the table and feed him his treats there.

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[info]kuwaizair
2004-12-21 01:23 pm UTC (link)
tnaks for the advises...

I took a shower that morning, and wasn't in the mood to undress and wash with him, considering he's alredy riled up, the sight of me "hurting fabric-love' would convinse him to bite me.

my problem with cliping is my idiot dog somtimes goes to snap at the bird, I watch him closly when he isn't sleeping on his asexual lover "pillow", I need a muzzle for this dog.

fod: I thought I could do that, but then I'm thinking "if I give him this food, wouldn't he just be rewarded and think he has learned a trick?"

mist: I was thinking...yeah a spray bottle. But then I coldn't find mine, it ran away.

Perch: yeh, if i knew how to, I tryed to tie a dish towl to a yard stick, get him to perch and put him into the shower. He did't like it.

gloves: gloves are fabric, i wore a glove and Ecco half unfolded his wings and went "eurguigehguiguiicluckcluck" which his his crooning to fabric, if I'd do any "harmfull movements that would hurt fabric he'd attack.

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[info]djehutydjesi
2004-12-21 01:39 pm UTC (link)
I use a spray bottle instead. Make a big production of squealing "Bath time! Bath time! Bath party chickens!" while you spray them and they'll love it ;>

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[info]mookitty
2004-12-21 07:29 pm UTC (link)
I just dump my birds in a plugged, clean sink or bathtub and let the showerhead/faucet fill it while they're in it. When it gets past the mid-belly I start draining it. The trick is to get them wet enough so that they can't fly away easily. ;D In a sink, you could just splash water over them (try not to get too much in their faces, if you don't like it they won't either ^^; )

Afterwards I dry them off with a towel and finish off with a blowdryer. :p

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