Macaw Bathing Tips & Tricks

It's fun to let your little feathered child get all clean and pretty. But there are a few things that can make the experience a bit more fun and safe for both of you. Here are a few tips to help you and your feathered child bathe safely.

Photo credit to the The Oasis Sanctuary.
Click their name to learn more about this great rescue!

Keep The Water Luke Warm: Make sure your water isn't too hot or too cold. If it's too hot, obviously it could burn your macaw's skin. But it could also ruin their feathers by removing the oil that keeps them healthy and shiny. It should be slightly warmer than room temperature. Test it with your elbow to make sure it's not too hot. Your hands typically have a higher tolerance to heat and might not give an accurate reading.

Let Them Get Accustomed To It On Their Own: Don't force your bird to hop right in. Each macaw is different. Some will take to bathing right away. Other's will be more timid and really have to 'test the water' before bathing. It isn't necessary that your bird bathes if they don't want to. Be patient and tune into them. If they're playing in their water dish- they'll probably be more open to a bath at that time. If they're not in the mood- don't force it. Let them jump in at their own pace.

Inspire Them With Toys: Put some fun stuff in the water. Things like ping pong balls and plastic mirrors can inspire your macaw's curiosity and make them want to hop right in. Even hanging a sprig of millet spray above the water will give them an incentive to get a little wet.

Keep It Shallow: Never have your water more than three or four inches high. Keep it shallow! You want it to be easy for your bird to move around and you want to prevent them from getting stuck or worse- drowning.

Make Bath Time Fun: Play with your bird and let them know that splashing around is a way to have fun. Splash around with your hand. Once your macaw is in the bath drip some water over their head and let them 'get showered'. Scratch the back of their head while they're playing and talk cheerfully to them so they relate bathing to getting attention. It will make it a more positive and rewarding activity for both of you.

Dry Them Off Completely: It is really important that you dry your bird completely once they've bathed. leaving them soaking wet can cause them to get chilled- which sometimes leads to them getting ill. Take a towel and dry them off as best you can. Keep them in a warm part of your home until they've completely dried off. Never put them back in their cage soaking wet. Towel them before making them go back to perching (it will speed up the drying process).

 

How To Give A Macaw A Bath

In the wild macaws tend to enjoy water. Whether it be a puddle or the rain, water enlightens their soul. And most domesticated parrots follow suit. Bathing is a good habit that parrots should be able to enjoy two or three times a month. There are a variety of ways to wet your feathered child down. Here are a few ideas to experiment with- find the one your macaw seems to enjoy most and make it a ritual! Always use luke-warm water. NEVER use cold or hot water. The water should be room temperature or a little warmer. Test the water with your elbow, not your hands- because your hands usually have a higher tolerance to temperature changes.

Photo credit to the The Oasis Sanctuary.
Click their name to learn more about this great rescue!

Dripping Faucet: This works well in a kitchen sink. Put a towel down so it isn't slick and then put your faucet on a very low 'dripping' setting. Leave the drain unplugged so the water doesn't build up. And set your macaw near the dripping area. It may take them a while to figure it out but if you play with your hands in the water they'll sometimes join you (and quickly discover how fun it is to splash around).

Shower: Many pet stores and online bird supplies shops sell perches that suction cup to windows and shower walls. These lovely little perches also work well for attaching to the side of a shower. Put the perch in an area that receives light splashes of water (but not right in the center of the downpour). Put your shower head on a very low setting at first and slowly let your bird get used to it. Don't put them under the drops right away. Just let them get accustomed to the water at their own pace. You can even let your macaw sit on the floor of the bathtub and move in and out of the water as they please, but some prefer to be on a perch 'up high'. If you put them on the bottom of the tub make sure there are towels lining it so it isn't too slick for them.

Bath Tub Play: Line the bottom of your bathtub with a few towels so it isn't too slick. All bathtubs are slanted, which allows the water to drain. The half near the drain is deeper than the outer half. Fill the area near the drain with an inch or two of water, and leave the opposite end (or a part of it) dry- so your macaw can jump in the water and then jump back out if they please. Set your feathered child in the bottom of the tub (it helps if you are also near the tub, on your knees) and then 'play' in the water with your hands. Let them cautiously check out the water and usually they'll warm up really fast and realize that puddle play is quite entertaining.

Spray Bottle: A way many birds prefer to bathe is with a spray bottle. This convenient bathing ritual can be done in a shower, in their cage, on a play gym, or even on a towel on the floor. Fill a spray bottle with luke warm water and then lightly mist your bird. Most birds will immediately stretch out their wings, fluff their feathers, and enjoy the rain. If your bird is running away from the mist- don't continue to mist them. Instead spray the mist over a different part of the cage and let them come in and out as they please. Don't mist directly at your macaw, rather mist slightly above them and let the drops lightly fall down.

In Cage Bath: Set up a bird bath in your macaw's cage. Use a 12 x 9 glass cake pan and fill it with water. Set it in the bottom of your macaw's cage and let them splash around until they are finished flinging droplets everywhere. This is the best way to get a water shy bird to enjoy a bath, simply because they get to do it on their own. It may take a few tries for your bird to get curious enough to jump in, but be patient. Bathing isn't an act that needs to be forced on your bird, let them try at their own pace.

Remember to Dry Up! Before you put your bird back in it's cage make sure it's dry. Pat down their feathers with a towel (even bath tissue works really well for absorbing water). Keep them in a warmer part of the house and away from windows or drafty spaces until they are 100% dry- to avoid them getting chilled and possibly falling ill.