“PEEP!!!”

If you ever hear Papaya make this shrill, ear-piercing call, you can be certain there is running water nearby.  The girl goes absolutely bonkers for it!  She is my first South American parrot, and while I was prepared for her to love water – as most rain forest birds do – I was not prepared for the obsession.

If there is a faucet running, a shower dripping… heck! even if I am pouring some hot water into a mug from the kettle, the Monster is all over that business.  She just loves taking baths!  She doesn’t mind how fast or slow the water runs, so long as it is ice cold.  It is so funny to me how she will perch on the edge of my cupped hands under a running faucet and periodically check the water temperature on her tongue.  She will not jump in until that tiny internal temperature gauge hits “Sub-Antarctic.”  (Most of the time, I have to add a little hot water to the mix to keep my fingers from falling off and pray she does not notice!)

This being said, if she takes a shower with me, she loves a good steam.  [To all of those incredulous souls out there… yes. I shower with my bird.  Are you really shocked?]  She sits on her shower perch, or clings to the hair at the nape of my neck and pretends she is in a European sauna – the Monster loves a good mist!

Bathing is exceptionally important for parrots, so the fact that Papaya takes five to six baths a day is something for which I am grateful.  It keeps her feathers clean, and her skin healthy.  Additionally, it’s a stimulating activity and form of environmental enrichment! Given how much I hold her, I am ever aware of the oils from my human hands getting on her delicate feathers.  Luckily for us, these bathing rituals make my life easier!  I do not need to take the extra effort to clean her, as she takes care of herself.

Different types of parrots like bathing in different ways.  This can likely be tied to the regions from which they originated, in addition to individual personalities.  For example, Rio, our African lovebird, is perfectly fine with submerging in deep bowls of water – reminiscent of the rivers in Africa.  The Australian cockatiels however are my little chickens; they are terrified of pooled water, and at most will accept an air bath or mist from a spray bottle.  Their timid ways can be tied to the dry Australian landscape… where a bird will take sand baths or baths in shallow puddles as water is scarce.  Finally we have my South American diva, Miss Papaya.  This girl will take a bath in her water dish, a drinking class, any sink (including one filled with dirty dishes), the human shower, from a spray bottle, and I swear, she once tried to take a bath out of a tablespoon – haha!  (We can thank the blistering Sacramento Summer for that last one!)

I encourage everyone to promote good bathing rituals with their parrot.  If they are shy like my cockatiels, a good place to start is hanging wet lettuce leaves along the sides of your bird’s cage.  This is a very natural way for them to encounter water as they may have in the wild.  When approaching for a snack, they may rub themselves on the foliage to clean their feathers.  Slowly, over time, your parrot will learn to overcome their fear of bathing.  Build your way up to misting with a bottle and later to more substantial baths in bowls or in the sink.  Always be sure to pay close attention to your pet’s behaviors to determine if they are comfortable – let your parrot decide the pace at which you progress!

Until next time – splish, splash!