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The African grey parrot has genetically developed for millions of years in some of the most humid and lush forests on Earth. When one considers the annual rainfall measurements in the countries these birds inhabit, one may begin to understand their biological need for water, moisture, and the frequent shower. To illustrate this I will ask you to compare rainfall calculations in some of the areas where the grey parrot has developed to those in which we now keep them as captive-bred companions. Rainfall West Coast of Africa:

 

Equator to 10° North
Recorded variation:	100" per annum 1" in 5 minutes/ 4" in 1 hour 20" per day rare but occasionally double
Rainy season:	May - October

Country of origin average annual rainfall:

 

Liberia: 100" - 5"	Sierra Leone 80" - 105"	Congo river basin: 100"
Cameroon: 163"	400" on the west side of the Cameroon Mountains

U.S Average annual rainfall:

 

New York: 42"

Chicago: 35"

New Orleans: 57"

Los Angeles: 14"

Now you may possibly see what we have been overlooking in dealing with these animals. Frequent showers and an increase in the amount of moisture makes an African grey feel better in our environment.

Simply because your grey was captive bred does not eliminate 35 million years of genetic evolution in environments such as those mentioned above. The need for frequent showering of these birds is essential and fundamental for their care and well-being. The lack of, or infrequent showering may be the probable cause of feather plucking in these birds, followed only by psychological problems due to weaning trauma, environmental changes, and the lack of understanding of the species. Using the process of elimination I would first begin a frequent showering regime to see if the lack of showering is the reason behind the feather-plucking problem.

"My grey hates showers" is what I commonly hear from many grey companion people. Having developed Showerbird and studying the bathing behavior of psittacines for nearly half a decade, I have learned one of the most important aspects of bird bathing behavior and that is that they all do it differently. Essentially no two birds bathe the same way. This is not too unlike their human counterparts, some people brush their teeth before they shower, others afterward. It's a personal thing. Some companions of greys tell me that their grey loves the shower and is exuberant during the process, others say that their grey will have nothing at all to do with bathing and even seem to fear it. I have to tell you a secret...greys bathe differently from nearly every other parrot I have encountered. To those that flap and play I must say BRAVO! For those that don't I will explain what I've observed. The wild grey will simply sit on a branch and let the water fall on him, shaking his head to relieve himself of the accumulated water, horizontal in posture to get the back wet, then under the canopy of the trees when he's had enough. And that, as they say, is that. No big deal. Even if your grey friend is from captive-bred parents he will still carry with him this genetically programmed method of bathing. It is the human caretaker that expects more than the grey is emotionally equipped to give. We want exuberance, we want to see this grey get into the shower like an amazon or a macaw. If your grey is not the "flapping" type it is not likely that this will happen. Therefore we find that our expectations lead to disappointment and we conclude that the grey hates the shower. This is not usually the case and should be reexamined by the careful and concerned grey keeper.

Fear is another matter entirely in the grey showering process. If a grey is frightened of bathing, great care and instruction with an intense amount of emotional support should be given these sensitive little birds to encourage them to bathe properly. If your grey leaps screaming from the perch to avoid getting wet and acts as if you are scalding him with hot oil every time you attempt to bathe him, you will have to rethink your methods and gently coax and instruct your grey to bathe. When asked about Showerbird I always suggest that the bird be placed on a T-stand in the tub or shower area because of the water output/volume. Some grey people say that they can not even get their bird to go into the bathroom of their homes out of fear of this area. Perhaps it is just unfamiliar territory? Gentle coaxing is the order of the day in this case and this is what I suggest you do to teach your bird that the area is safe and that nothing there will "eat" him or her. You must become the "parent bird" and give this bird the reassurance that the area is okay to be in.

Step one: Let's go see the pretty birdie in the mirror.

Greys love the mirror and you can watch the face patch "blush" as they look at themselves. A great way to initiate taking a shy bird into the bathroom area is to distract it from your ultimate intention of bathing it. Greys seem to have a great sense of "self" or self recognition and will enjoy their own reflection as long as you make a big deal about it. Tell your grey how pretty he is and kisses for the bird lets him know that this can be a pleasant place to be in. Follow this routine for several days before continuing on to the next step.

Step two: Singing in the area.

After several days of "pretty birdie in the mirror" you are ready to move on to the next step which will involve some acrobatics on your part. Take the grey into the bathroom and do the pretty birdie mirror thing as if this is a natural part of entering this area. After several minutes step into the tub/shower area with the bird. Be alert to any signs of apprehension and go back to the mirror if this occurs. Frightening a grey is not easily repairable and is best avoided. Giving the bird a secure environment is the key element here. If the grey is comfortable being with you in the tub area start singing or whistling a favorite tune. Tell him how pretty he is and speak in a gentle, calming voice. Follow this routine for several days and do not omit step one. Like dancing; one, two, one, two...

Step three: oh, oh, something new.

Again, "pretty birdie in the mirror", step into the tub area, but this time there will be a foreign object introduced into the tub area before your arrival...the T-Stand/perch apparatus for the ultimate use in bathing. Have the T-stand in the area before you arrive into the bathroom with your grey. Follow steps one and two as usual and don't rush to place the bird on the stand. Stand there and sing to him as he observes the new object and becomes comfortable with it. After some time you may want to place him on the perch while you remain in the tub area with him. Keep singing. Follow this routine for several more days. "one, two, three, one, two, three..."

Step four: step out

Following the illustrated steps it is time for the grey to remain in the shower area on his own. After spending time on step three, step out. Your grey is now in the shower area under his own power. Respect this. Keep singing to reassure him. Introduce no water at this time and just let him enjoy the area and you. Water can wait. Follow these steps for several more days. You're waltzing at this point. "one, two, three, four..."

Step five: the dreaded water

Approach the shower using the aforementioned four steps. Do not eliminate any of these steps as the grey has now come to realize the routine and expects the safety and enjoyment you have established for him at this point. Now, here comes the tricky part, the introduction of the dreaded water. Go slow and don't attempt to get the grey entirely wet on the first attempt. A little goes a long way here and there is no sense in undoing all that you have already done. A little mist, your singing and telling him how beautiful he is, using the word "shower" in a gentle tone of voice so that he realizes that this endeavor has a name, and going slowly should not send the grey into the next century. After several days of this routine your grey should come to accept his shower without apprehension and fear. If you notice that your grey is not responding well, go back to the drawing board for a few sessions repeating the illustrated steps until he reaches a comfort zone and is ready to move on to the next step. The most detrimental thing you can do is to rush the grey simply because you become impatient with the result. As parrot behaviorist Sally Blanchard always requests, "lower your energy" and see how well a bird will respond to you. It really works well in this case.

The "tutoring method" works well with birds. Canary breeders have been using this method for centuries in teaching their canaries to sing perfectly. They have always simply chosen one of their most outstanding singers and put it in among the novices so that they could learn the perfection of canary song. This works quite well with showering parrots and I have used this technique many times with some of the birds I've worked with. If your grey doesn't get enthusiastic in the shower and you have another species that does, let your grey observe the bird that showers well. Parrots mimic the sounds and behaviors of other animals and birds and learn all that they need to know from observation in their natural environment. This is true in our own homes as well. With a good tutor, such as an amazon, the grey will exhibit amazon showering behavior. Or macaw, pionus, Jardine, starling, whatever it observes and takes to, the grey will imitate it. It is not that they don't have a mind of their own, it is just that perhaps they are so intelligent that they don't want to miss out on anything and will give it a go to see if it suits them. Using a tutor is an excellent method in teaching greys to shower and shower well. This technique is also effective with psittacines of other genera and could be employed in teaching proper bathing to those birds that require the benefit of instruction.

Okay, no tutor available, it's just you and the grey. Don't worry. THINK! A captive bred grey has probably not been socialized to proper bathing habits. It may have never been bathed in its life and now it is up to you to encourage this fundamental aspect of being a grey. A grey loves water; they watch it, play with it, are fascinated by it, and imitate the sound of it. Ice cubes are a grand mystery to the African grey as they hold this cold item in one foot and observe it produce water. Wow, what goes through that little giant brain behind those straw-colored eyes as this occurs? We may never know, but it's an interesting observation when it takes place. To introduce the grey to bathing is an undertaking that we must place upon ourselves. The parent bird is usually responsible for this event, but as our birds are now captive-bred the responsibility lies with us, and we become the "parent bird" responsible for their instruction in the fine art of bathing. Introduce your young greys to bathing as soon as they are able to perch safely without the risk of falling. The young grey will always equate his falling from the perch with being sprayed with water and may forever resist any attempts at bathing. Use caution and technique, always thinking ahead to avoid the dangers and pitfalls . To be safe you should be able to mist the young grey on a flat surface gradually moving to a perching situation at a later date. Visualize a young grey in its natural habitat during a heavy rainfall, the parent bird outside the nest site coaxing the young birds out for their first shower and letting them know that its safe to do so. Two drops of rain on the head and the young birds scramble, screaming, back inside the nest...until the next time when they get bolder and more confident. Soon it's out on the branches with the parents for a full- fledged shower. (no pun intended) Everything introduced slowly is the way of the parrot.

Given the average rainfall in the natural habitat of the African Grey parrot, their love of water and their need for humidity, the statement that "my grey hates the shower" can no longer be accepted as a reason for not frequently showering the grey. You will have to rethink your methods, not expect one thing or another, and take your time in socializing your bird to bath-time. Concentrate your thoughts on being a bird in the wild. Our birds are not far removed from this environment, they are still considered wild (exotic) animals and should be treated as such through respect and a growing knowledge of their needs. Perhaps it is difficult to realize this when you suddenly hear a little voice from the top of the cage speak to you in your own language and asks, "Want Shower?"

 

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