question about birds taking baths

[Leda]

My little 2 Star finches wont take a bath???? I have tryed all the tricks found on this web site, and nothing is working. I bought an Insight bird bath to hang on the outside of their cage so they would have more room on the inside. They wouldnt use it so I took it off and just put the bottom of the bath on the floor inside the cage. Than I tryed laying mullet, half inside and half out. then I tryed putting some rocks on the bottom of the bath. Hummmmm the bottom of the bath its self is shallow, yellow and has ridges for a good foot hold. Any other suggestions?
Leda

[cindy]

Do they bath in their water cups? Mine do and if I offer them a separate dish of water at the bottom of the cage they still bathe in their water cups, they all do at about the same time every day. I am ordering a few inexpensive bird tubs from ABBA Seed to try, if they won't bathe in those, I can use them for seed or veggie dishes.

[L in Ontario]

Some finches bathe a LOT while others of the same species won't bathe at all. Don't worry about it - you can't force them.

[Pukasand]

My birds all bathe every morning. When one starts, they all join in... it's like a splash-fest. I use frisbees! Easy to clean, right depth, and cheap. I find the ones at Petsmart are a bit smaller and fit thru the cage doors easliy. .. also a bit higher on the sides, to prevent splashing... .NOT! But it was a nice thought. I usually give them the water to bathe, then clean the cages.

[ac12]

Some just will NOT bath.
It might help if there are other birds in the cage that do bath. Then over time it might decide to see do what the other bird does.

[Pukasand]

Some just will NOT bath.
It might help if there are other birds in the cage that do bath. Then over time it might decide to see do what the other bird does.

I find it's so much not wanting to bathe, but more being cautious about the receptacle the water is in. My Canarys will not bathe in the Canary Bath dishes that hook on the side of the cage. Perhaps if you change the dish.

[Domenic]

I have a star and she absolutely LOVES to bathe, more than my owls and zebras. She bathes in the water dish, so maybe you should try putting a bigger bowl right where the water dish is. They might be less intimidated by it this way.

[Leda]

I took the water dish out, when I put the bottom of the bath on the floor. They drink out of it too. Its sorta of big and so it gets dirty fast and I have been cleaning it out several times a day. They never took a bath in their water dish either!!!! LOL I do think they need someone to show them how!!!!
The thing is about them not taking a bath is they get dirty. I panicked the other day because it looked like one of them had some small bald spots on his head. I gave them a spritz bath and it washed away!!! LOL Just dirt!!! They didnt like the spritz bath. Soooo, is it OK to spritz your birds if they wont bathe on their own?

[Littlemissfinch]

i think it would but if it freaks them out dont do it too mutch

[Domenic]

It's fine to give them a spritz every once in a while, especially when their feathers are starting to look a bit dingy. The thing that freaks them out the most about it is a huge pink person shooting them with a loud death ray, so just stand a few feet away when you do it.

[Littlemissfinch]

The thing that freaks them out the most about it is a huge pink person shooting them with a loud death ray,

HAHA yeah its probably somthin like that

[Leda]

Thanks everyone!!!! I still will offer the bird bath in the morning, and spritz them when needed. Silly birds!!!!