Do you use water bottle or dish?

[Rue]

I'd say that water bottles are likely more hygienic if cleaned properly...

But I think the birds prefer bowls...whether it's to dunk food in or dip a toe in...or as my Amazon tries on occaision...a full body dunk...

I use bowls.

[CheekyandMalolo]

I use a dish, my dishes have canopies over them though, so no accidental poos in the water, or bathing in it, and neither of them are dunkers. What kind of fun is dunking a seed??
I clean the dish daily, but there's never anything in it, crystal clear, I only make sure I wash it out just so there's no bacteria lurking in it.
I think the canopies are the trick, cause they also don't throw their food everywhere!

[Michael]

As far as I know, only the little wire cages with plastic bowls have covers for the dishes like that.

[ptuga72]

Jake's old cage had the dishes with the lids, but that certainly didn't stop him from dunking and bathing in his water! The only reason I kept them on was so he wouldn't throw the whole dish on the floor (which he did frequently). His new, bigger, cage has steel cups that lock so no canopies needed!

Michael: yes only cockatiel/budgie cages with guillotine style doors have those kind of dishes.

[CheekyandMalolo]

As far as I know, only the little wire cages with plastic bowls have covers for the dishes like that.

It's quite large actually, I'd measure it for you, if it would help you sleep at night, but I'm at my parents at the moment.
It's probably about 80cms high, and about 60cms square, I wouldn't recommend it if they weren't going to be out regularly, but mine spend about half the day with the option of being in or out. They stay in for the mornings because otherwise they don't eat their fruit and vegies.
Thankyou for implying that I'm keeping my 2 active Cockatiel locked in a tiny cage.


And no, Ptuga, it doesn't have guillotine doors, it has doors that open from the side. Just maybe, what you have in your area is different from what I have. Shock Horror!!

[Rrrma]

I can't vote as I use both, but it depends on the bird. My girls all have bottles because they will dirty their water immediately if I don't. I'm gone all day and can't stand the idea of them drinking pooped in or spit in water. My boy(amazon) doesn't do that though. The only thing that ever gets in his was is stray feathers or dust.

I sanatize them every time I give them water and I tend to smell things to make sure they are clean lol!

[ptuga72]

Thankyou for implying that I'm keeping my 2 active Cockatiel locked in a tiny cage.

I don't think Michael was implying that you have improper cage. He probably should have stated it differently, but I think he was talking about the actual gauge of the wire. In general cages meant for tiels, budgies, even gcc's have a smaller gauge than ones intended for larger beaked parrots, and in general, these cages have the option for canopies on the dishes. I have seen absolutely enormous cages for tiels and budgies, but with a smaller gauge wire. These cages would be inappropriate for a bird with a larger beak as they could easily bend or break the wire. I wish that there were stainless steel cups (the kind you attach to the cage) that you could put canopies on, my fosters keep eliminating in their dishes

[Michael]

Thank you

[CheekyandMalolo]

Yes, it has a smaller gauge wire than the cage at home that the Red Wing and the Princess Parrot are in(meanwhile that cage is big enough for me to get in when it's time to clean it ), but my little ladies would have no hope of trying to bend the wire, or damage it in anyway.