I've had my first parakeet for over a year and just got a second from an animal rescue. I've let them out to play and aside from an occasional peck here and there they seem to be getting along. I've been reading a lot on this website and think I'm doing this all wrong. My parakeet will not bathe and I haven't seen the new one do it either. I've tried to give them fruits and veggies and they aren't interested. The bird I adopted looks robust, mine in comparison looks fraile. How do I get the stinkers to bathe and eat good food and is there a veggie that no parakeet can resist??? THANKS GUYS!!

keets generally are NOT fruit eaters and most wont eat fruit...they wont take baths either till they are good and ready and get use to them...dont try to MAKE them do anything they are not up to..use a med. size shallow bowl of room temp. water put in some lettuce leaves and hope for the best.

Veggies mine likes beet leaf and broccoli florettes and snow peas..baby spinach

I can't offer you any advice on how to get them to bathe on their own, but I would say don't worry too much on it. For the longest time I had to bathe my four by spraying them, as presenting them with bowls and plates and everything I could think of to put water in and make it fun wouldn't work. But then one day, one of them decided to get into their water dish, it wasn't very big, but he lowered his butt into it and tried to wade around. So I bought a bigger water dish and now three of the four do it all the time. I still have one that won't bother, so I still mist her with water every few days or so.
As for veggies and fruits, it takes time. I present them with new fruits and veggies in the morning before I fill their dishes, sometimes they will try it out, other times not at all. But I try to give each new veggie or fruit a few days of trying before I rule it out. I don't know which veggies or fruits you have tried, but I've had a lot of luck with summer squash - which they just love to pieces. And with kiwi fruit and strawberries. Mine do not like any firm veggies at all, whereas I think it was kksuns whose bird doesn't like squishy foods. They all have their own preferences, so just be patient in trying new ones. I don't know of any that all birds love.
Good luck.

I agree with everybody.
Some birds dont love to bathe as much as others do. Took my little Peepers a year before he took his first bath. Others would jump right in and look like a natural. Depends on the bird. I would try giving him a piece of wet lettuce and see what he does.

My birds love lettuce, broccoli and strawberries. Apples are a good starter fruit. Summer time is here where i live and fresh veggies and fruits are plentyful, so every week i try to add something new. Melon ( water melon and canalope) is very popular to the taste buds of my birds. Yes, its hard to find their favorite but they will appriacate it after

If you keep your home on the cool side, I'd imagine that would deter them from jumping into the water. If they're warm, they'll welcome the relief of a bath. I know Chippy will bathe quicker when he's on the warm side.

He likes kale, which I like to use because it's a tougher lettuce and won't wilt so quickly. Broccoli florets are usually a favorite starter veggie. Just keep them fresh and even in water so they stay crisper.

I think they will try new things when they feel a bonding with you and a trust to try thing you offer.

Adding on to what JeanneM said, if the cage is light enough, bring them outside in it. Where i live its summer and my birds live taking a "field trip" outside in their cage. Not only do they get fresh air, but a bath from a spray bottle ( chemical free). they go crazy with it.

Make sure the lock on the cage is secure so no little birds get sneaky enough to unlatch it.

[size:11pt][b]Hello Foxy, I have two budgies, a male (Dango Chan) & a female (Popo Chan). :) My girl frequently takes baths in either the water dish in her cage or up on top of her cage where I always have a plate with a depth of about 1.5 cm of water. :) My boy on the other hand was the stinky one for quite some time & never bathed. :sick: The trick I learned with him is that he’ll jump in the “bath” on top of the cage if I put my fingers in the water & softly splash them about. :D The first time it happened, I thought it was a fluke, but since, he has frequently bathed once I put my fingers in the water. :blush: Now and again, I also “mist” my babies with a spray bottle. The important thing is to spray the water in an upward direction & let the water fall “like rain” on to the birds (rather that spraying at the birds directly). [/b][/size] :) [img]http://i336.photobucket.com/albums/n337/Guregoreo/P6190089.jpg[/img]

Hi Foxy,
You are not doing anything wrong! LOL Some like to bathe, and others just...don't.
It took my Ziggy a little over a year to decide to take a REAL bath. Before that he enjoyed taking baths on nice wet romaine or green leaf lettuce clipped to the side of the cage. That is how Levi started out too.
I have to put a piece of lettuce in their "tub" even now, or they won't go for it. Also try out different bowls/dishes.
Like Tanaka said...splash the water with your fingers, even flick a little bit at your bird-I know that that is how Ziggy finally took the plunge! Oooh and ahhh and say how niiice it is. LOL

Tanaka..it's nice to see you here! Dango Chan is a BOY!!??? I could have sworn you had 2 girls.

[size:11pt][b]Hi Kksuns! Yeah, Dango Chan is definitely a boy. . . Remember my old “Casanova” thread? [/b][/size] :blush: [url=http://www.wineintro.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/331445/Re_DANGO_CHAN_Casanova_or_litt#Post331445]http://www.wineintro.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/331445/Re_DANGO_CHAN_Casanova_or_litt#Post331445[/url] [size:11pt]([b]By the way, he’s still up to no good, but now through everyone’s suggestions, it is limited to his toys!) :crazy: Thank you! Yes, it is nice to post again. :) I’ve been keeping tabs on the forum from time to time, but life has just gotten really busy. :o My old schedule did a total flip-flop & now I’m working some crazy-long hours plus I’ve got a new monster train-commute to work. I’ve been the living dead these days! Braaaainnnns. . . Braaaaaiiiiinnnnnsssss. . .[/b][/size] :eek:

I LOVEEEEEEEEEEE THE BATH PIC...and i know all about a stink pooh bird..in fact im trying now to teach Cappy to say STINKY POOOOH...giggle but now at least he takes his ****shower in the kitchen sink with the spray on lite sitting in my hands as i cup them for him...he really got into that but wont do a bath in a dish..he did once or twice initially but he much prefers his shower now