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Post by Marcie on Apr 18, 2005 13:55:43 GMT -7
Hi Jane and forum members,
I am beginning to notice a certain amount of feather dust around the cage. I read about bathing the parrots to lessen the dust. I would like to know is how does one go about doing this. What I mean is that I have read about misting, showering and all the other brilliant ideas about how to go about doing this but how do I actually get my grey to accept one of these practices? I tried misting, showering, showering with it and giving it a bath bowl but it freaks out at all these methods. I avoid the head and just try wetting his wings and belly to tail. It gets very upset and I try not to force it and stop when it shows any distress at all because I don't want make it fear water. I have tried giving it a treat, when it calms down enough after every mist from the bottle but the disaproval and reaction remains the same. Should I continue this practice and hope it accepts with time? And if I continue would it develope a behavoral problem? So where do I go from here? Any help is much appreciated. Thank you.
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Post by mannie on Apr 18, 2005 14:26:07 GMT -7
It has taking me sometime to get Jack to start taking baths again. I put him on the shower rod while I take my shower then cool the water down get him down and he has a ball. I make it look like i am having fun just like with new foods and toys.
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Post by Jane on Apr 18, 2005 16:08:48 GMT -7
Firstly, spraying does help to lessen the dust but not to a great extent. You will always have dust around the cage, African Greys and Cockatoos are the worst offenders in this respect! Some greys are very resistant to being sprayed. Monty likes it much more than Mitzi does. Try getting a very small sprayer, the sort used for air plants. These are very small and fit in the palm of your hand. Try a little bit every morning as part of the getting up routine.
Jane
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Dana
Weaned Todd
Joined: February 2005
Posts: 33
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Post by Dana on Apr 18, 2005 17:21:01 GMT -7
I started with Oakley by just sticking him in the shower with me on his shower perch. Letting him watch me in the water, he freaked out the first few times but I would pick him up and just keep telling him it's okay. Just kept it up, slowly he got used to being in there and then I introduced the sprayer. After awhile he was used to the routine. Now he goes under the shower water with me and he Loves it! I would like to think it keeps his feather dust down but I can't really say that it does Dana
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Post by mannie on Apr 18, 2005 17:48:52 GMT -7
I have heard that the misters that you can get at the bird store work. I think they are called tropical mist. Not sure. I know it something along those lines.
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Post by Africanewbie on Apr 24, 2005 20:14:07 GMT -7
A couple of days ago, I gave my AG his first bath with a spray bottle. He freaked out and jumped off my hand and landed into the bath tub. Luckily I was expecting the worse and had knelt so that his fall was only inches. Because I didn't want him to develope a fear of water and the spray bottle, I waited until this morning to try again. Although he was not too enthusiastic about it, he took it without any complaints. He even assisted by spreading his wings and I was able to spray his under-wings. And he had the last laugh too, as I reached for his towel and turned to face him again, he flapped his wings, shook his body and wagged his tail, giving me my morning facial rinse. Touche'.....LOL.
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Post by Africanewbie on May 18, 2005 17:06:05 GMT -7
Hi Jane, When I bought Trinie home his eyes were grey and haven't changed a bit. He is supposedly nine months old. At what age does his eyes change to yellow? Also, I have noticed he has very little or next no dust but he does have dander, most of it comes from preening when he finds and removes them with his beak. Is it because he is young that he is not producing excessive dust? Not that I am complaining, I will be happy if he stays this way but I am just curious and concern for his health.
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Post by Jane on May 19, 2005 2:29:17 GMT -7
The eyes gradually lighten and change to pale yellow by about the age of 2. The young Greys don't have much dust because the dust producing feathers haven't developed. It will come!
Jane
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