[DaniMatt]

Does anyone use a water bottle. I noticed my Keynu has started pooping in his water dish. I'm thinking about looking at water bottles. Keynu is 2 1/2 mo old and I have only had him since Saturday. Any advise with this issue will be appreciated.

[Andrea5699]

water bottles are great.. i dont persoanlly use one but if you want to get him used to one be sure to keep his regular dish of clean water available as well to ensure he doesn't get dehydrated if he doesn't start using it right away... issues with water bottles are that birds will sometimes try to stuff some pellets up them and they have their own unique way of getting clogged so they require frequent daily checks to make sure water is flowing freely... personlly even though i have to change Kiwis water several times a day to me it is reassuring knowing it is always there and cannot get plugged up etc...

[ScarlettAngel]

I have used both in the past simultaneously, but since I moved this past year and got a new larger cage, he just has one fairly large water dish (that doubles as a bathtub at times, lol) and i change the water 2-3 times a day.

If you do use a bottle, i would keep the dish also so that the option is there to dip food or whatever he wants. I prefered the glass bottle, but make sure its very secure so they dont knock it to the ground and smash it.

[hbrogan]

I used to use a water bottle with my budgies, and I tried it with my QP, but Petey wouldn't cooperate. He kept sticking food in the tube. So, he gets a bowl and I get to clean it several times a day.

[pam311]

I have both, Cabo uses her bowl to sit in and to poo in at times. Her water bottle is a threat to mankind and she must attack it daily to keep it in its place. She will drink from it once in a while. So I change her poop soup water dish several times a day.

[Lisa Barnes]

I use a water bottle. It took Milo about 1/2 day to get use to it. Vet said it was alot cleaner for them. Less Bactria forms in the water. If not using them to change the water 5-6 times a day. Milo got an infection under his wing and I don't know why.
So I need things to be as clean as possible for him. We do great with them so far. Neither of my birds try to stuff things in the
pipe. I keep a very close eye on them to make sure it's doesn't stuck.

[kaston]

Hello all, we are getting our first bird a beautiul QP (of course!) this Friday, we are so excited/kind of nervous as well as we have never had a feathered pet before. I have been reading this site like crazy the past few weeks, so much I have to try and "look" busy at work, but anyway my question regarding the water supply is...

I see many of you comment that you change their water dish several times a day for cleanliness/safety. I understand completely, but how often is that? We both work out of the home so of course we could change the dish/water in the morning, when we get home from work around 5:30 and then again before bed, but is this enough?

We just want to make sure we are providing the absolute best environment for our newest family member.

[berlie]

I use a water bottle and have no need for a bowl of water. It took him no time flat to get used to it.
Just make sure they use it before you pull the bowl of water out.
The rescue I work at has also changed to bottles. MUCH more sanitary. Especially if you work out of the home and can't change the bowl regularly.

[hbrogan]

Hello all, we are getting our first bird a beautiul QP (of course!) this Friday, we are so excited/kind of nervous as well as we have never had a feathered pet before. I have been reading this site like crazy the past few weeks, so much I have to try and "look" busy at work, but anyway my question regarding the water supply is...

I see many of you comment that you change their water dish several times a day for cleanliness/safety. I understand completely, but how often is that? We both work out of the home so of course we could change the dish/water in the morning, when we get home from work around 5:30 and then again before bed, but is this enough?

We just want to make sure we are providing the absolute best environment for our newest family member.

That's pretty much what I do when I'm working. I change it once in the morning and when I get home from work and then again before bed if necessary. The last change usually isn't needed because when I get home Petey gets to come out and play on his cagetop or his playstand, and doesn't have a chance to mess up the water in his cage. I do think the water bottle is a cleaner solution so long as you don't have a bird that likes to stuff things in the tube.

[Sandi Kiwis Mom]

I use a water bottle for Kiwi. I had no problems converting him. He has been using it for 8 yrs. No problems stuffing things in the tube, just Kiwi likes to try to take a bath with it and has figured out how to drain the bottle

[Lisa Barnes]

I use a water bottle for Kiwi. I had no problems converting him. He has been using it for 8 yrs. No problems stuffing things in the tube, just Kiwi likes to try to take a bath with it and has figured out how to drain the bottle

HaHaaaaaa that's to funny.

[geekasaurus]

oh how funny that they stick stuff in the tube
LOL

[Julies Jungle]

I also use the water bottle for mine and so far, knock on wood, they haven't stuck anything into the tube yet.

[Carrie~Anne]

Yep, all water bottles here. 9 to be exact I've converted every single one of my 13 birds over to the water bottle and have yet to have any problems. Even my Grey, who (as far as I know) never used a water bottle in his 15 years, switched within a day.

You do have to be diligent about changing the water every day. Don't think because the water is clean that it doesn't need to be changed. I know of a few people who have gotten slack with changing the water in the bottle because they think it's fine to leave it (just think, would you drink day old water? yuck!). Also, fill it in the morning, check the spout to make sure it's working (by flicking the silver ball) and then check the spout again around dinner time. This will make sure the spout is working and water is coming out.

In my opinion, water bottles are so much cleaner, but not every bird can use them.

[equineRtist]

My birds won't have it! That's all there is too it. I kept them clean and full for 2 months and they never would even touch it. Back to the water dosh for my three.

[moonchild1970]

I use bowls but I put them up top in the cage above all the perches. So he can perch to drink but that way, there is no poop in them. I change water about 4 times a day and I use hot soapy water each time. so far no problems. Might try a bottle though. Are they dishwasher safe? If so I will buy a couple....

[hbrogan]

I use bowls but I put them up top in the cage above all the perches. So he can perch to drink but that way, there is no poop in them. I change water about 4 times a day and I use hot soapy water each time. so far no problems. Might try a bottle though. Are they dishwasher safe? If so I will buy a couple....

I'm not sure if all of the bottles are dishwasher safe, but the glass ones should be. Just be careful when you're attaching them to the cage. I managed to smash one a few days after buying it because it wasn't hooked in properly.

Pooping in the dish is not the problem in my house. Petey apparently fancies himself a chef and insists on carrying bits of pellet over and dropping them in the dish. He'll also put in foot toys if there happen to be any in the cage. Not long ago, I bought him one of those "toy box" toys that comes with a bunch of little foot toys included. Every day I'd come home to water that was a different color as he'd put a toy in the dish and the dye in the wood would leach out. There's a reason I haven't restocked that toy box with anything colorful.

[geekasaurus]

they're dishwasher safe as long as you put them on the top rack - furthest from the heating element

i used to put my rats bottles in the dishwasher and they came out fine

[ScarlettAngel]

they're dishwasher safe as long as you put them on the top rack - furthest from the heating element

i used to put my rats bottles in the dishwasher and they came out fine

Ah, another ratty lover!


I also run all of my pets dishes through the dishwasher on the top rack periodically with no problems at all.