Making Showering a Game For Your Bird

Photo by Jamieleigh Location: Erie, PA Showering: Blue throated macaw "Jinx", Camelot macaws "Comet" & "Tusa" Sometimes you have to make showering a game in order to get your bird to do it. This is how my mom initially got my galah, Bondi, to shower. She would play the "sink game" with her where she'd run the faucet and Bondi would get sp...
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Stop! Are You Drying Your Bird Off With a Towel and Blow Dryer?!

Photo by Jamieleigh Location: Musha Cay, Bahamas During a shower: Blue and gold macaw "Jersey" Lately I've received a lot of emails and questions on the topic of bathing your bird and how to go about it without forcing, yet safely. I've found a lot of popular articles (like on ehow) that advice people to use a towel to dry their bird, and a ...
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Hyacinth Macaw Showers

Photo by Jamieleigh Location: Orlando, FL Wet Bird: Hyacinth Macaw "Hymie"  Hymie took his first shower with me within the first week of his stay. I was super happy because it is so hot here in Florida during the summer months and I was thinking he really needed one to cool down. I tried 2 times unsuccessfully before this. I approached Hymie ...
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The Things They Get Into

   Photos by Jamieleigh Location: Dawn Princess, Princess Cruise Lines Drinking: Swainson Toucan "Fiji" A few years ago on board Princess Cruise Lines, I was with my Swainson Toucan, Fiji. Now Fiji knew a few behaviors on cue but I hadn’t gone into much detail with her on any real tricks. I was happy just having her around.   She pretty much own...
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Force Bathing Your Bird

Photo by Dave Location: Holland America Stateroom Shower Wet head: Congo African Grey "Cressi"  Although your bird should be bathing 5-7 times a week, force bathing your bird to do so is not the equivalent to that. No bird should be forced to bathe – if he or she is running in fear from the water, do not make him stay under it. Getting your b...
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Showering a New Baby Bird

Photo by Dave Location: Sandpoint, Idaho Showerer: Rose Breasted Cockatoo "Bandit" I took Bandit into the shower for the first time while staying at my parents' house in Sandpoint, Idaho. I didn't take a shower perch but he had watched Bondi (a 3 year old of the same species) from a shower perch before. He merely perched on my hand and I covere...
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