water- dish, bottle, silo, water buddy....

[Sue]

Hi-
I've used water dishes for my birds over the years. I have read recently (not new articles, just new to me) that it is best to use a bottle so that the water is always fresh and clean, and this can also help prevent giardia and bacterial infections.

My cockatiel is not the sharpest knife in the drawer :blush: and afraid of new things. I would like him to of course be healthy and also not dehydrated.

A water silo is cheap, looks like a micro water dish; a bottle works much different. I've seen posts about Water Buddies but cannot figure out how they work based on the company's website.

Any comments on what has worked for you and tactics for successful conversion would be most appreciated.

Sue

[sweetrsue]

I think what you are referring to is the type of waterer that fits mostly outside the cage but a small semi circular dish part extends into the cage. To be frank I find these to be a real pain. the birds can still poop in them and they can be difficult to remove from the cage to put fresh water in without spilling the whole reservoir. Also some folks think that since there is still water in it that they don't have to change it as often. Even water in a bottle can grow bacteria. They still require removing every day to put fresh water in so don't see any kind of advantage to them at all.

[Plukie]

No, that's not what she means Sue........a water buddy is:- http://www.woodlandbird.com/text/WBuddy.html I was seriously thinking about one of those for my two because I'm constantly changing their bowl of water. I've got a feeling that somebody on here has one of these........YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE.....OWN UP!!! :p

[sweetrsue]

She also mentioned a water silo which I think differs from a water buddy. I have a silo feeder and that works fine. but the kind for water that are that kind of design do not.

[JaspersMomma]

I have a water silo and my bird has not touched it. Plus I put it near a perch so he cold drink and he still stands over it and his feathers get in the water that is in the bowl. It was cheap so I'm not too disappointed, but my bird isn't too fond of new things either, an is smart to an extent which is why I opted for the silo rather than a water buddy. I'm going to move it to where is older water dish was and see if it will make a difference. It's good to try new things...

[Sue]

yes- to be clear:
1/ I do have a water dish
2/ I have also put in a water silo (tall tube outside the cage with a little beak-sized dish inside the cage). I put it near his water dish but have not yet seen him use it
3/ I am also trying a water bottle in my parrotlet's cage (she is a little braver and more curious than the 'tiel). I have read that that is the best way to go for health (always clean, no poop or feathers or food in the water). I've bought 1 for the 'tiel but have not yet rearranged his cage to accomodate it. So far none of these is very expensive
4/ The water buddy (link above) has been mentioned in passing in this group and I've also seen one reference to it on an internet comment spot. I just have not seen these in the store and the company's drawing still doesn't make a lot of sense to me how it works.... So if anyone has one out there, please let me know :smart:

So that is my question. I read about clean water and that many cockatiels going to the vet have giardia; one way to prevent that is to keep the water super clean to break that parasite's transmission cycle.

Happy Tuesday
Sue

[Jiggers Mommy]

Well I just ordered one for the heck of it... he he he