upatsix.com - Your Source For Pet Bird Information

Hi,

I bought a new canary just over a week ago. He is about 9 months old. I cannot get him to take a bath. I have tried a black hook-on to the cage door opening bath, a yellow hook-on bath, an ashtray with water on the cage floor and he keeps trying to bathe in his water feeder, which is one of the tall ones with the small plastic bit on the bottom, not even a dish.

Has anyone got any ideas how I can get this mucky wee man into a bath?

Thanks for any advice in advance..

Try a clay saucer..........the type made for flower pots. If you can get one that is 6" in the cage, I'd buy that size.
Leave it in the cage 24/7 and also take away his other water dish. That way he'll have to drink from the saucer and it should lead to him bathing in it.

Most small birds like having a good foot grip in areas they're bathing and clay has a 'perfect' texture.

Have you tried misting him with a spray bottle or an air pump mister? Spraying the water above him to fall like rain?

Thanks for the ideas. I will try both and see how it goes!

Thanks again.

my canaries & finches love to play in the bath, but most of my other birds prefer misting (yeah, you did just say that Monica.....). Would love to see the little one!

There's a picture of the wee man here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/57264448@N00/546764895/
He's called Iggy and had a bath in a clay saucer yesterday. Result, clean yellow bird!!
Also a picture of my old pal Louie who passed away earlier this year.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/57264448@N00/546764915/

Sounds like he learned tp bathe that way wherever it was you bought him from....I suggest that first thing in the morning rmove his drinking water and place his bathing dish with fresh clean water...that might do the trick. Once he's done take out the bath and replace his drinking water.

He just has to get used to a new system.