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[Curious Diode]

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[Wolf]

I think that when speaking of this that a personal preference may have followed an evolutionary need. In other words, I think that there was an evolutionary need to do this and that this may still affect some birds enough that it appears to manifest as a personal preference now. Bids require water the same as all of the rest of us, but they really do not drink very much water, as they primarily drink in the mornings and then again in the evenings and in the wild this takes place usually about the same time that they forage for foods. So instead of drinking enough water they actually get most of the moisture that they require from the foods that they eat. This is one of the reasons that they dunk some of their foods, in their water, to get some moisture into it. This is one of the reasons that some foods that we expect them to eat, such as pellets and even possibly the dry seed mixes that we give them can cause a mild, but chronic state of dehydration in our birds, especially if they do not drink enough water to counter the drying effect of these foods.

[marie83]

Because the food we feed is too dry apparently but given the chance all mine except the budgie and 'tiels would dunk no matter what the food it.

A big cage with food & water dispenser (not a bottle) at opposite ends has stopped the behaviour with mine. If I leave the dispenser too close they will try.

[JessiMuse]

I'm not sure myself. My pionus does it all the time.

The cockatiels on the other hand, aren't a species known for it, but one of my tiels, Lucy, decided to drop a pellet in my tea as we ate breakfast together. Then she walked away, and never bothered my tea again (when otherwise she would usually drink it). Guess she thought it was good for me?

[Wolf]

Maybe she wanted you to taste the pellets and know first hand what it is like having to eat them. Who knows?!

[JessiMuse]

One time when I finished eating cereal, she dropped it in the bowl, and then jumped into the milk after it. Luckily, only her feet got wet, so her feathers didn't get sticky. Thought to leave it at that, since she can always just dip her feet in the water bowl (because drinking water is obviously meant for bathing).

The next day, she had her first bath, when she decided the water in a coffee cup (decided she'd like to have it to drink out of herself, since she tries to drink my tea) was meant to bathe in. So I got her something bigger, and she had a fun time giving the table a bath in the process.

[Pajarita]

You know, you can have tea with her. I always share my afternoon tea with Zoey, only I have Earl or Lady Grey and she usually has linden and/or chamomile.

[JessiMuse]

I could probably try it. I do have quite a few herbal teas. Might have to get straight up chamomile or something, because while some of the teas I have had chamomile in it, I don't know if they would be ok. One is honey chamomile and vanilla, and the other is a "tension tamer" tea with all this weird stuff in it. Other than that, I don't think I have anything with chamomile.

I'm pretty sure linden is in the sleepy time tea, though I don't think I'd want to give that to her. I'll have to look next time I'm in the store, but chances are they would both want to try whatever I have, for the sake of having the same thing.