From: klf@druwa.ATT.COM (FranklinKL)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds
Subject: Re: New water "cup" for bird cage
Keywords: dunking food
Date: 22 Dec 92 16:11:51 GMT
Distribution: rec

In Message: <1992Dec21.143927.9536@iscsvax.uni.edu>
minehart@iscsvax.uni.edu writes:

>A few weeks ago I visited a pet store in another city and saw a water dispenser
>for birds (actually they came in two sizes) like the ones I used to use for our
>gerbils.  It hadn't occurred to me that I could use one for Oscar -- perhaps
>because I hadn't seen one in the bird supply section of any pet stores before
>that.  
>
>Anyway, I went ahead and bought one and it's great.  No more dropping food (or
>worse) in his water cup.  He's naturally pretty curious and eager to try new
>things, so I wasn't surprised to see him drinking from it very soon after I
>installed it.  But the directions tell about how birds will be attracted by the
>red ball and when they touch it, the water drop comes to their beak -- or
>whatever it said.  I'm sold on it.  I can't recall how much it cost, but I'm
>sure it's more expensive than the normal ones you can buy
>for gerbils, etc.  On the other hand, it has a "fixture" that enables it to
>hook onto the cage that is pretty slick, so I think it's worth the couple of
>dollars extra.  And it should last quite a long time before having to be
>replaced.
>
>
You don't say what kind of bird Oscar is but if it is in the parrot
family, it probably likes to soak or dunk its food in the water dish
to soften and moisten it.  It's inherent in the way they eat.
Ny White-fronted amazon is a dunker.  She will dip dry food in her
water dish and then munch away contentedly.  On the other hand,
my yellow-headed amazon is a soaker.  She will drop the food in the
water dish and leave it until it gets well soaked before eating it.

In addition, both birds occasionally like to "bathe" in their water dishes.
They will stick their heads in the water and splash it around with their
wings.  They are apt to do this if I am lax in adhering to their bath
schedule.

There is no question that the dunking/soaking messes up the water and
causes me to have to change it more often and yes, the "bathing"
makes a mess, but I'd rather have it that way than to restrict their
natural instincts simply for my own convenience.

As for the "or worse" that the bird may drop in the open water dish:
Both my cages are Animal Environments, on which the cups do not
protrude into the cage, thereby eliminating that problem.  Prior to
these cages I had Prevue-Hendryx cages with the cups sticking into the cage.
My White-front was always defecating in her water dish.  I solved the problem
by buying a roof-shaped plexiglass shield to mount above the dish.
I saw it advertised in Bird Talk.  It mounted above the dish but
still gave her the ability to get normal access to the dish.

One more thing to consider.  If you are viewing the new water container
as better because you don't have to change the water as often, you are
doing the bird a disservice.  Water gets stale and can begin to taste
unpleasant after sitting for a long time.  Birds like, and need, clean,
fresh water.  Even if the water in the new "dish" does not become
contaminated, it should still be changed at least 1 or 2 times a day.

--
Ken Franklin 	They say there's a heaven for people who wait
AMA     	And some say it's better but I say it ain't
GWRRA           I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints
DoD #0126       The sinners are lots more fun, Y'know only the good die young
Newsgroups: rec.pets.birds