Bathing & water drinking

[Debby]

Tiki is new to me as I have only had him for a couple of weeks. He is adapting well and greets me often with a stretch of his legs and wings. He eats from my hand and enjoys tummy tickles as well. Tiki, however, won't bathe and seems afraid with the birdie bath tub and oddly enough, I have never seem Tiki drink from his dish!! He eagerly sips water droplets from my finger though. Any advice or words of wisdom?

[Amy]

Hmm. Maybe he is drinking but when your not looking. Id take the bath out and wait until he is a bit older or maybe try putting his fave greens in the water. And carry on letting him drink from your fingers but gradully stop. If he still isn't drinking then contact a Vet.

[Bea]

Budgies like to worry their owners by playing the 'drink in secret' game. :p They really don't drink all that much water and they get a lot of moisture from fresh veggies and fruit. :)

[Amy]

My old budgie Bobby use to worry me by drinking when I was out but not at all when I was around so I use to get really worried cause I never saw him drink except when I pretended to go out and peeped around the door and saw him drink!

[Dave]

That's so funny how there are budgies who pretend not to drink. I guess mine aren't smart enough for that, they drink when we're around. They don't use their bath though. All they do is drink from it. The only one who used to use it was Budgie. She loved baths.

[Debby]

Thank you everyone! Today I am trying to coax Tiki into the tub with some celery! He is checking it out but hasn't mustered enough courage to actually get in or nibble his newly fave treat! SOO cute!

[Amy]

Ha ha It won't be long before he's eating that celery and enjoying his first bath!

[Budgiekin]

Celery is a great idea! I'll have to try that sometime.

I remember when I first got Skyla, I wanted to train her to drink out of the cup attached to the front of her cage (yes, it is one of those "hooded" cups; to keep the poopies out).

To train her, I would actually slide the water cup out of the holder and put the cup in front of her as I jiggled it just a bit so she could see that there was water in it. Then I would wait a few minutes before having her watch me put the water cup back in its place in the cage. Gradually, when I would offer her the water, she would start nibbling the sides of the cup; as she did that, I would tilt the cup and get her tongue wet. Then she learned that she could drink out of it. Now she drinks no problem out of her hooded water cup!

I also would sometimes float a piece of lettuce in the cup and leave it attached to the cage. That way, she could see that there was something in the cup which would sometimes entice her to check it out.

[Dave]

Celery is a great idea! I'll have to try that sometime.

I remember when I first got Skyla, I wanted to train her to drink out of the cup attached to the front of her cage (yes, it is one of those "hooded" cups; to keep the poopies out).

To train her, I would actually slide the water cup out of the holder and put the cup in front of her as I jiggled it just a bit so she could see that there was water in it. Then I would wait a few minutes before having her watch me put the water cup back in its place in the cage. Gradually, when I would offer her the water, she would start nibbling the sides of the cup; as she did that, I would tilt the cup and get her tongue wet. Then she learned that she could drink out of it. Now she drinks no problem out of her hooded water cup!

I also would sometimes float a piece of lettuce in the cup and leave it attached to the cage. That way, she could see that there was something in the cup which would sometimes entice her to check it out.
I used that technique with Budgie. Every night when I changed their water I would put the water container up to her chest, and she would take a drink. Before long, she would run to the front of the cage when I brought the water back. She learned that's when she could get a drink.

[Bea]

Just thought i'd point out that those hooded cups can actually be really dangerous for water. Sometimes budgies can accidentally get stuck in them and drown. :( Blinkie has one of those tubey water holders with a little beak sized dish which pokes through the cage bars, i've found that really good.

[Dave]

Just thought i'd point out that those hooded cups can actually be really dangerous for water. Sometimes budgies can accidentally get stuck in them and drown. :( Blinkie has one of those tubey water holders with a little beak sized dish which pokes through the cage bars, i've found that really good.
I never thought about that. Now I realize how dangerous those can be with water. Our parrotlet has one of them with seed in it. He's pretty fat too. He hasn't gotten stuck yet though. :laughing:

[miss_missy]

,, you have had your bird for a couple of weeks..... does the bird still bite like crazy...... my bird freaks out.. and still bites alot.... how did you do it....

[Budgiekin]

I wouldn't go as far as saying that hooded cups for water are dangerous; in the over six years that I have had budgies, none of them has ever even remotely been stuck in one. Maybe there is a particular kind of hooded feeder that is dangerous, but I wouldn't generalize.

I would be more concerned about budgies drowning in a kitchen sink with water in it or an open toilet bowl when they are out playing. I'd be interested in hearing people's experiences with hooded water feeders (but of course, that would probably be more suited for another thread).

[Dave]

I wouldn't go as far as saying that hooded cups for water are dangerous; in the over six years that I have had budgies, none of them has ever even remotely been stuck in one. Maybe there is a particular kind of hooded feeder that is dangerous, but I wouldn't generalize.

I would be more concerned about budgies drowning in a kitchen sink with water in it or an open toilet bowl when they are out playing. I'd be interested in hearing people's experiences with hooded water feeders (but of course, that would probably be more suited for another thread).
Maybe you could start a thread and see what other people have to say.

[Amy]

Just thought i'd point out that those hooded cups can actually be really dangerous for water. Sometimes budgies can accidentally get stuck in them and drown. :( Blinkie has one of those tubey water holders with a little beak sized dish which pokes through the cage bars, i've found that really good.

Billy and Lily have got that type of drinker to! (Ours is white and clear.)

[Amy]

Bobby once got in his hooded food cup! It was so funny to watch! He was still eating, all squished up!

As for training to drink, all of my budgies have learnt naturally to drink.

And as for safety I agree with both of you, It depends what type of budgie you have, If you have one like Bobby, who loves getting in new places then it is a hazard.

But if you have a timid budgie who just has a quick drink and thats it, then it isn't really.

[Budgie_Birthday]

Don't ever come to me for budgie help until I have had Pickle for at least a year. But from the sounds of it, I think Bea is right. Sorry gotta go to dinner. Bye for now!

P.S. Stop all the fighting! :argue:

[Budgiekin]

Nobody is fighting. We're just having a debate; very different concept! :p

[Amy]

Yes, no physical action except typing!