"C. Kitchen" <ckitchen@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu> (05/27/91)
I'm having trouble finding something big enough for my bird to swim/bathe in. She is afraid of the shower, so that is out. Although I mist her daily, I know she would love to get into something holding water so that she could splash and play and keep cool. Any suggestions would greatly appreciated! (It must be very sturdy)
pme@otter.hpl.hp.com (Pete Earlam) (05/29/91)
/ otter:rec.birds / ckitchen@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (C. Kitchen) / 4:06 pm May 27, 1991 / I'm having trouble finding something big enough for my bird to swim/bathe in. She is afraid of the shower, so that is out. Although I mist her daily, I know she would love to get into something holding water so that she could splash and play and keep cool. Any suggestions would greatly appreciated! (It must be very sturdy) ----------
mep@cbnewsd.att.com (mary.e.pasternak) (05/30/91)
In article <2500001@otter.hpl.hp.com> pme@otter.hpl.hp.com (Pete Earlam) writes: >/ otter:rec.birds / ckitchen@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (C. Kitchen) >I'm having trouble finding something big enough for my bird to swim/bathe >in. She is afraid of the shower, so that is out. Although I mist her > daily, >I know she would love to get into something holding water so that she > could >(It must be very sturdy) I, too, have a macaw that loves splashing around and getting wet. Initially, I discovered this because everytime I was doing the dishes she insisted on getting in the water (and soap suds!) and playing about. Even now, on occasion we'll let her play about in the kitchen sink (minus the dirty dishes and soap :-)). Because she seemed to like water, I started taking her into the shower with me. At first she was afraid of the water spray and just sat on the shower curtain rod (or top of the shower door, depending) and watched me with total fascination. After several months of this, I was about to give up on her ever enjoying taking a shower. Then lo and behold, one day she decided to come down intp the water spray and have fun herself. Since then she eagerly looks forward to shower day (every weekend or two). A word of warning: Birds catch cold easily and a wet one even more so. And when Pandora (my macaw) gets out of the shower she is soaking wet! So, at that point I put her on one of her favorite perches and direct a heat lamp at her to keep her warm. In about 2 years of showers, she hasn't caught a cold yet. (Make sure the lamp and its cord are well out of the bird's reach -- we had a real scary time once where she knocked the lamp over and it burned a nice big hole in the carpet before we realized it!) So, to summarize: try the shower/bath tub again -- this time letting the bird watch YOU play in the water! Repeat until the bird gets the idea/realizes there's nothing to be afraid of. Mary Bamford att!ihlpf!mep
klm@eecs.cs.pdx.edu (Kathy L. McRae) (05/31/91)
In article <CMM.0.90.2.675356808.ckitchen@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu> ckitchen@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (C. Kitchen) writes: >I'm having trouble finding something big enough for my bird to swim/bathe >in. She is afraid of the shower, so that is out. Although I mist her daily, >I know she would love to get into something holding water so that she could >splash and play and keep cool. Any suggestions would greatly appreciated! >(It must be very sturdy) How about a galvanized animal feeder? You can find them in various sizes in farm and garden stores. Seems to me that if you got one big enough, it could be weighted with a couple of rocks in the bottom. This would also give your bird's feet some exercise. Kathy
stewartw@cognos.UUCP (Stewart Winter) (06/01/91)
In article <1991May29.174049.8942@cbnewsd.att.com> mep@cbnewsd.att.com (mary.e.pasternak) writes: >wet! So, at that point I put her on one of her favorite perches and >direct a heat lamp at her to keep her warm. In about 2 years of showers, >she hasn't caught a cold yet. (Make sure the lamp and its cord are well >out of the bird's reach -- we had a real scary time once where she >knocked the lamp over and it burned a nice big hole in the carpet before There is another danger as well (if the lamp is too close). If the bird were to shake and spray cold water onto a hot bulb, it is possible for the bulb to explode. Stewart -- Stewart Winter Cognos Incorporated S-mail: P.O. Box 9707 VOICE: (613) 738-1338 x3830 FAX: (613) 738-0002 3755 Riverside Drive UUCP: stewartw%cognos.uucp@ccs.carleton.ca Ottawa, Ontario The bird of the day is .... Blue & Gold Macaw CANADA K1G 3Z4