jo
Hatchling
Posts: 17
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Post by jo on Apr 14, 2015 8:52:47 GMT -5
Hi
So I just brought Digby a bath and have a few questions...
How do I get him to use it?
How much water do I put in?
What temperature?
Is tap water ok?
What time of day do they prefer to bath?
Thanks!
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Post by easttex on Apr 14, 2015 10:23:29 GMT -5
If he doesn't take to it himself, you can try splashing your hand around in it, or putting a favored toy or something like a lettuce leaf in the water. Just keep offering it. If it's low-sided and sturdy, he should get the idea.
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Post by aaron on Apr 14, 2015 11:33:47 GMT -5
I usually put about an inch and a half of relatively cool water in the bath for Cupcake. You want to make sure the water is cool because birds overheat much more easily than us, and hot water accomplishes this quickly. I personally don't like to go above room temperature with the water, but I am a bit overcareful perhaps because I once overheated Cupcake by giving her a shower in water that was too warm. She was pretty loopy for a couple hours afterwards, although very sweet. Tap water is fine in most cases. There are some places I have been where the tap water smells in a way that would make me hesitant, but I use the tap water at home for baths. Cupcake does not usually drink from her bath, but if Digby does, you might want to switch back to some sort of cleaner water. I find that Cupcake generally doesn't want to bathe once it starts to get into late afternoon/evening, but she will sometimes surprise me and ask for a bath at a weird time. I think this is going to be a matter of bird preference.
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Post by julianna on Apr 14, 2015 14:07:13 GMT -5
My Oscar has bathed at various times of the day.... but mostly just before dinner. I wait for Oscar to tell me when he wants a bath and then I get it ready for him. The way I know is because he will face the bathroom and wiggle his wings.... I will say... do you want a bath? and he will hit my hand with his bill (not biting) but this is his "yes" signal.
I find he baths around every 3-4 days... You will find a routing for yours very quickly. If he/she doesn't go in the water... then don't force the issue... they will bath when they are ready.
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Post by Jan and Shah on Apr 14, 2015 16:23:35 GMT -5
I usually take the chill off the water so it is tepid but not too warm. It depends on the size of your dish as to how much water you put in. Mine isnt very deep. I do use tap water but then I drink it as well. Shah's drinking water is filtered but I know he does take a drink of his bath water. He tells me when he wants a bath - it is usually a couple of times a week although the weather is getting cooler and he hasnt wanted one for a couple of weeks now. I have to leave the room as he now refuses to bathe in front of me. If I put the bath in his cage and he hasnt asked me to, then I cop it. He screams and has temper tantrums until I remove it. How dare the slave try and out-think the master
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Post by biteybird on Apr 15, 2015 2:49:44 GMT -5
We have a bath tray (we use a small oven baking tray) that we put about 1 inch of tap water in - Melbourne has what's widely regarded as the best drinking water in Australia - and we leave it on the window sill. We don't put it in the cage, but I guess if Bonnie's wings were clipped we probably would. She only bathes once per week or so and often chooses to do it late afternoon or early evening. Sometimes I carry her over to the tray and place her into it just to see if she'll bathe at that moment. Sometimes she does but mostly it's just when she feels like it. Certainly I wouldn't try to force Digby into bathing, but don't worry, he'll get it.
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Post by Jan and Shah on Apr 15, 2015 4:59:42 GMT -5
I haven't heard that about Melbourne's drinking water. I think most water in the coastal regions of Australia isn't too bad. Inland, however, is a different story.
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Post by biteybird on Apr 15, 2015 5:52:10 GMT -5
Sydney's water is probably just as good (I almost put a 'quip' of apology in my previous post, Jan ) and these days the rest of the country may not be far behind. I remember that Adelaide's water used to be really horrible, but that was many years ago.
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jo
Hatchling
Posts: 17
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Post by jo on Apr 15, 2015 8:14:02 GMT -5
Thanks, I'll just keep offering it and see what happens
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Post by julianna on Apr 15, 2015 13:58:14 GMT -5
Well.... being in the great white north... I am going to say our water is the bestest... lol... if comes from the ice glaciers... lol... just kidding.
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Post by aaron on Apr 15, 2015 20:28:14 GMT -5
You are probably right about that... It certainly ought to be
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