Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!think.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!cis.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!att!att!cbnewsd!mep From: mep@cbnewsd.att.com (mary.e.pasternak) Newsgroups: rec.birds Subject: Re: mccaw swimming pool Message-ID: <1991May29.174049.8942@cbnewsd.att.com> Date: 29 May 91 17:40:49 GMT References: <2500001@otter.hpl.hp.com> Distribution: usa Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories Lines: 40 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