why does my pigeon refuse to bathe?

[GrilledGusto]

So..

It's been about 2 weeks since I got Potato, my feathery pigeon friend. She Is starting to calm down infront of me. She will now fly around my room, land near me, relaxes around me (preening and such). She still freaks out if i try to pick her up, won't take treats, etc. But it's a working relationship at the moment. I'm hoping she improves over time

Aaannnyhooo, I've been told that pigeons ( and other birds for that matter ), like to bathe. Well she must be the exception to the rule. she won't bathe in offered pans (even IN her cage) and gets angry and grunts at me, running away, when i try to mist her with a little water bottle i have.

Is there something wrong??

[Lovebirds]

MOST pigeons do love to bath. I've got one that might or might not take a bath on any given day. I don't know why, but that's the way she is.
I've also got a cockteil that will walk around in the water, but in 6 years, he's NEVER taken an actual bath............just keep offering it and don't spray her with the mist for now. Just put some bath water out a couple times a week and let her decide what she wants to do.

[spirit wings]

WHAT!!!...yes that is unusual.....is the water in a kitty litter type pan?...did you swish your hand in it to show her?...perhapes you need to leave it out for her longer and just stand away for awhile...once she does bath it's hard to keep them out of it....

[Lovebirds]

I just went back and read where this bird came from. It's possible that she's never seen a bath pan before.

[GrilledGusto]

sometimes she stands in her water dish (small, about 3 1/2 inches in diametre, about 2 inchs deep) but I think that's out of boredom when I don't have her outside the cage.

but i've tried getting her to bathe many times, and like i said, have misted her lightly, but she hates it.


perhaps she's just weird. lol

[Victor]

I would like to encourage you to take your pigeon and bathe her yourself. Gently hold her with her wings closed, and gently slash water on her except her head. Swish the water a bit with your free hand to show her. She just needs a lesson on bathing. I have done this with a few of my pigeons and it works like a charm. Happy bathing!

[Jay3]

Victor's right. This often works. I had one Rescue though, a banded bird from someones loft. But I don't think he had ever had a bath offered to him. He would sit right on the edge of the pan, as if he wanted to go in, but never would. Another one, a rescue, also from another loft, wouldn't bath, until he mated up with Gully, who loves the water. He followed her in, and now loves it. Yours will get to love it eventually.

[RodSD]

Several possibilites:
1.) the bird is sick
2.) too busy incubating --wrong time to bathe
3.) scared of the bath pan--too deep or can't perch
4.) don't like the water after tasting
5.) maybe it is a cat

My birds are crazy with bathing. They fight for it. My baby birds even tried trying to bath in my waterer. Make a splashing sound with your hand on the bath water. Your bird might be just scared. Some birds wont get in until one bird goes in and they all follow. But, no, you are too big to fit on the pan!
6.) etc....

[Jay3]

Originally Posted by RodSD

Several possibilites:
1.) the bird is sick
2.) too busy incubating --wrong time to bathe
3.) scared of the bath pan--too deep or can't perch
4.) don't like the water after tasting
5.) maybe it is a cat

My birds are crazy with bathing. They fight for it. My baby birds even tried trying to bath in my waterer. Make a splashing sound with your hand on the bath water. Your bird might be just scared. Some birds wont get in until one bird goes in and they all follow. But, no, you are too big to fit on the pan!
6.) etc....

This is funny. I think you have to have a sense of humor with any animal, and pigeons are certainly no exception!

[tuxedobaby]

maybe try a shallow pan or one of those shallow tupperware bowls

[GrilledGusto]

I appreciate all the great advice! Thanks everyone!

I went shopping for her today and picked up a table top stand/activity centre and I'm converting the top shelf of my book shelf into a little haven for her

she picked the spot, not me which is good.

I bought her a water fountain with flowing and free falling water, since she really likes one of my fishtanks (she sits on the cover for it and sucks from the water coming from the filter. (it's a natural filter, so there are not chemicals, and I keep it very very clean)

Anyhow, I am setting up her little area tonight! I'm considering screwing a few perches onto the wall as well.


perhaps I'll take a few pictures!

[RodSD]

Thanks Jay3!

[Jay3]

Yes, get pictures. We always like to see pictures.

[Garye]

That is unusual - a pigeon that does not like to bathe. Maggie loves a bath - she's a feral I found that couldn't fly so I brought her home to live with me. The first time I put out a pan with water in it, she just jumped right in. Grunted at me when I tried to take her out. She enjoyed it that much.

I did find out that since she couldn't fly, she liked to have an easy way to get in and out of a pan of water. I created some steps that allowed her to go in and out very easily. Maybe you could try that. Maybe your bird is afraid of getting stuck in the bathtub and won't venture in. Also, leave the bird alone (or at least not let it know you're around) and they'll think they're safely alone and then venture into the tub. Maggie does not like to take a bath if she knows I'm too close by but if she can't see me, she'll jump in. She's very cautious.

[TerriB]

Be patient. A wet pigeon is very vulnerable, so it may take a while till she feels relaxed enough. Keep offering her bath water several times a week. Put it someplace she is comfortable with (in her normal living area), leave it out for at least an hour, and give her some privacy. Too bad you don't have a second pigeon - bathing is contageous!

When Walter (our first pigeon) first joined us, it was several months before he took a bath. (I rinsed him off at least once a week until he took over.) When he finally figured it out, he bathed for over an hour!!! Now that he's living with other pigeons, he occasionally bathes, but MUCH prefers to shower in the rain....usually late on a cold afternoon....so I bring him in for a quick blow dry so he is warm and dry for the night.