What to do with dirty birds?

ranchnanny · Post by **ranchnanny** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 7:45 pm

I have a few finches that don't bath. I supply bath water but they won't use it. The Gouldian pair just dip their faces in the water trough and shake their heads. The male has used the bath dish once..... My GS & BC's don't bathe either.
No problem with the finches in the flight cage.

what should I do?

finchandlovebird · Post by **finchandlovebird** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 8:06 pm

What kind of "bath tub" are you using? Maybe it's something too deep that they don't want to get into. I just have shallow ceramic dishes & they are happy splashing around in there.

nelloyello11 · Post by **nelloyello11** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 9:17 pm

Also, what color is your bath dish(es)? I have found that mine are FREAKED out by black dishes. They will not go near the bottom of the cage if I put a black dish in there. Maybe they think it is a great abyss in the floor....
If you're not already, maybe try something white or clear to see if that changes their willingness to bathe.

ranchnanny · Post by **ranchnanny** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 9:32 pm

The baths I offer are the type that hang on the cage door or clear shallow plastic containers and I don't put more then an inch of water in them. I also have two large plastic containers that I made to keep the bath water from splashing all over the floor. The finches in the flight cage love it and used it right away. I have a small jug bath I use in the society cage with no problem.

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nelloyello11 · Post by **nelloyello11** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 9:37 pm

That container one is fantastic! What did you use to make the edges not sharp-ish from cutting it? I have some cage door guards I think would work if I could find some of these containers...

I have a couple birds who absolutely refuse to use the baths on the cage door. They will not exit the cage for any reason, it seems, as they also wouldn't touch an outside nest box....

AngieCort68 · Post by **AngieCort68** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 9:44 pm

Sherry thanks for sharing. That gave me some ideas too.

ranchnanny · Post by **ranchnanny** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 9:48 pm

I got the large containers at good old Wal-mart. They are for liquids or cereal etc. but I just leave the top as is and turn on its side. The back of the
container has a handle of sorts for griping but when turned on its side it give the bath a shallow end and deeper (not much) on the ends. I use black electrical tape around the edges but the plastic things used around cage openings would work great. When I cut the opening I cut the bottom of the bath higher then the top so water won't run out. I couldn't believe how fast they used it. I first used the smaller jug which was purchased full of nuts. It worked great but there was a line in front of finches waiting their turn it was a hoot.
Now there is no waiting enough room for three + birds in there.

ranchnanny · Post by **ranchnanny** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 9:50 pm

See what happens when you have to much time on your hands. Being retired I sit around thinking of things to make
for the finches.

PrettyBird · Post by **PrettyBird** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 9:56 pm

What a great idea! less water in the cage...good thing ;)

wellingtoncdm · Post by **wellingtoncdm** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 10:14 pm

Can you calmly mist the non bathers? I have two cockatiels that hang upside down to get sprayed.

DanteD716 · Post by **DanteD716** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 10:33 pm

They sell these little bird baths at petstores (the are shaped like little tubs and even have details on them) with mirrors on the bottom. When I give them to my birds the go crazy. They also love looking at the bottom to see themselves. I also mist my zebra cages sometimes (it said online this can help them go into breeding because something about the rainy season) so you could try one of those tubs. Also, I will be making a new bath, thanks for the idea Sherry!

ranchnanny · Post by **ranchnanny** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 11:12 pm

Be sure and send photos of your homemade baths I would love to see them.......Lets see how creative you all can be....

ac12 · Post by **ac12** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 11:43 pm

Very neat idea, and a lot cheaper than a $10 bath.
The jug contains the splashing so the whole place isn't soaked with water. And it also recycles the water, what would have been splashed all over the place, is retained for the next bird to bath in.

summert85 · Post by **summert85** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 12:51 am

agreed, great idea...i may have to give that a try. thanks for sharing.

tt101 · Post by **tt101** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 6:58 pm

that is a very neat idea,i read online that gouldians do not like bathing but i know that some do and some dont. mine deffinately do not like bathing. my societies loved bathing and as soon as the tub hit the cage bottom they were in it having a pool party, it was so much fun watching them and i was a little dissapointed because my gouldians do not like it. i read that you can try misting them and that does work just like a bath but try not to drench them in water and also the first few times they will go insane from the spraying sound of the mist bottle but should calm down. remember that birds are very clean by nature and if they were dirty they would bathe themselves if it is available so if they dont want to then just leave them and they will bathe when they feel they need to

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