Questions about using a water bottle

[Tyne]

I have a green cheek conure that LOVES to put food in his water dish. Seeds, fruit, veggies . . . it's all game for him. I have to change the water more than a few times per day in order to keep it clean. He needs the water dish for taking baths, but I was thinking that I could get a water bottle just to make sure he has clean water for drinking. Thing is, my conure doesn't tend to try new things. I suspect that he'd simply ignore a water bottle. How should I go about introducing it to him so that he knows what it's for and actually uses it? Also, what is the best type or brand of water bottle to get for a small parrot like a GCC? Thanks!

[LovelySydney]

Is he bonded to you? Neko knows how to use a water bottle but I haven't used it since he came home. Then again, he doesn't make a mess in his water or else I would!!

If your little one is bonded to you and trusts you outside of the cage then I would introduce the water bottle then. When its just you two having one on one time try and show him what the water bottle is and that water comes out of it. I think over time he will understand that he can get water from it, it just takes some patience and understanding. Good luck!

[hollyhawkz]

Conures love to do that! We use a few things..... It's the only way to assure fresh water and fun time!

Bath dish, covered water and watter bottle.

[becca623]

The instruction I was given when I switched my birds to water bottles were to attach the bottle directly above the water bowl. That way when he goes to get a drink from the bowl, he will bump the nozzle causing water to come out. Usually they get curious and start playing with it. I didn't have any trouble switching my birds over to the bottle. I have switched some very shy birds who didn't like anything new or different. You want to leave the bowl in there (if you plan to remove it) until you are sure that the little guy is drinking from the bottle so he doesn't become dehydrated.

[hollyhawkz]

Even so there are far too many stories of the balls getting stuck and birds dying over a day because of dehydration. Always make sure they have more than one type of water supply source.

[becca623]

I walk around checking to make sure the little balls don't get stuck. One day when I was making the rounds I got to Echo's cage, as I checked it he came over to watch and said "Is it broke?". I'd never heard him say that before! Such an amazing little guy.

[Chicklette]

My conure will throw food in his water constantly. He takes a peace of food sits over by the water dish and drops it in. Im always changing his water dish. Chiquita my IRN dunks everything in it, including her toys and her head on a few occasions, lol. So Im thinking of using a water bottle as well but was wondering if it was worth the money because I didn't know if they would use it or not or if they would leak.

I have six chinchillas and every single water bottle I got them leaked. Trust me I have wasted so much money on water bottles. Now they only use water bowls. I can never ever find one that does not leak. So Im wondering if it’s the same thing for bird water bottles.