Water Bottles Vs. Open Source

Here is a question!

What is better for your bird? I have heard water bottles can stop up and cause a bird to become dehydrate, but that seems like that would be caused by neglect from not cleaning and inspecting rather than it just happening.

With open source water they can get water without having to use the water bottle. My only issue is that it becomes nasty fast! With my bird mixing his food in it and just a slim coating for some reason.

So my question would be! If a water bottle is prone to failing than why not have more than one and solve that issue? If I bought three water bottles and just used them for his water, wouldn't that be a safe way of keeping my bird hydrated? Three failing all at once would be almost impossible so he would always have a source for clean water that is not dirty from food.

I change the water twice a day sometimes with his bowls. It's not an issue but sometimes I am not home for a while and I don't want that water in his cage all day like that.

My set up is two open water bowls and one water bottle! I would like to move to just water bottles! So what would be the issue and is that a bad idea to have three water bottles for his enjoyment?

I'm not a fan of water bottles...I've used them in the past when I used to breed a lot....food particales still gets in the bottle but not half as bad but its not that simple to keep clean. I like to be able to scrub every single crevice to know it's clean. That's just me....

I have a lixit water bottle for Rio. I give her fresh water every other day. No more poop in her water dish. But she does have other water sources through out my home. If I were going a way for a couple of days I would add a bowl of water along with her bottled water. Just to be on the safe side. Rio took to her new bottle in about 5 min.

Rocky andSmokey drink out of a Lixit water bottle , I clean their bottles every day and make sure they work properly as for Opey he won't drink out of a water bottle I have tried a few times with him but that's a no go , Shamrock will be water bottle trained or at least I will try to get him on a water bottle

I prefer stainless steal water bowl over anything else. a open water source is how birds naturally drink.

But then, Rosie and Kenji don't dunk food so it doesn't get all that dirty LOL one or two changes a day is all they need. I can imagine why someone would want a water bottle if a bowl had to be changed 10+ times a day.

waterbottles are next to impossible to completely sanitize and the nozzle can harbour potential bacteria. i'm not a fan of them, i like stainless or glass water bowls, never plastic.

Copperarabian said:

I prefer stainless steal water bowl over anything else. a open water source is how birds naturally drink.

But then, Rosie and Kenji don't dunk food so it doesn't get all that dirty LOL one or two changes a day is all they need. I can imagine why someone would want a water bottle if a bowl had to be changed 10+ times a day.

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Well if she didn't poop in it, I wouldn't have a problem keeping my stainless bowl for her. Gross

Mine use water bottles for the same reason you are considering using them. No matter how many times a day I changed the water it was ALWAYS nasty! I keep 2 going at all times and I check several times a day to see if they are working and if the water level is going down. I would recommend changing the water and cleaning the water bottle well everyday!

Washing food & water bottles every two days is really the outside limit before washing & sterilizing.....there is always the argument that birds in the wild don't drink from sterilized water bowls, but then birds hatching & living in the wild, hatch with antibodies and/or receive them from their parents and the bacteria they live with is not deadly to their system.....bacteria we introduce to them does not come with benefit of any natural antibodies.....

It's the same with we humans.....we are warned when we travel outside the U.S. "don't drink the water" - why, because our bodies are not used to the local bacteria & don't have any antibodies to keep you from spending too much time in the loo.....

In the U.S. and Canada, we have the benefit of treated water from a municipal water system, that will normally help keep water safe for the second day, but you don't have that benefit with either bottled water or well water.....

I need to see a video of a parrot using a water bottle. I've only seen pet rodents use one, lol. That sounds interesting. I prefer my stainless steel bowls because I like to scrub them clean more easily, but "I totally hear you". Sunny gets his water dish slimy a couple of times a day from dipping his food in it. Trixie is only a bit cleaner. I can see why you prefer the bottles.

I bring home my GCC in 2 weeks, and plan to switch him/her to a water bottle. My concern is not the cleanliness because I work mostly from home and can change it a lot, but my upcoming and numerous moves. My husband is in the army, so we will be moving a lot, and the next move is to Hawaii. During the trip, I want my birds to be able to actually access water that hasn't spilled all over them. Since we will be moving a lot, this will be a continual concern. My plan is to switch them over, and then offer both either together or switching them out. I just want to make sure they recognize the bottle as water and are comfortable using it. I would not have thought of the bacteria being worse in a water bottle that is routinely cleaned than in a dish that gets pooped in. Hm. I will have to think on it more.

Silversage it makes perfect sense why you would want them to use a water bottle if you will be moving maybe even flying. I use water bowls but I disinfect them with Mango cleaner/disinfectant. I'm one of the rare ones that use a plastic crock that locks otherwise she would fling it around. She is very clean with her water though.

My alexandrines have a large stainless steel water bowl + water bottle. The drink from both. They also love to bath in their large water bowl

Crumbs has a stainless steel water bowl as it's easy to clean and he makes a lot of mess

For sanitizing, the bottles, what could I use that wouldnt harm the birds? Like, I keep hearing about grapefuit extract, could washing/soaking/running that through get it clean?

SilverSage said:

For sanitizing, the bottles, what could I use that wouldnt harm the birds? Like, I keep hearing about grapefuit extract, could washing/soaking/running that through get it clean?

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You're right to question the efficacy of this purported miracle disinfectant & broad spectrum wonder antibiotic. GSE is not the wonder product that many think it is.....if it was, the couple of little manufacturers that produce it would be major companies rather than the little peddlers they are.....

Whenever someone claims its worth, just ask for the study data or independent verification of the manufacturer's/seller's claims...I'll wager they cannot provide anything more than more lip service.

Here is some more info for you:

Actually, hot soapy water, followed by a bleach rinse, then a good plain water rinse & air drying will sanitize against routine bacteria.....and.....bleach become inert rather quickly, leaving no residue to cause any difficulties for your feathered friends.....

Good luck.....


Those who have small birds and don't change their bird's water every day, should read up on biofilm bacteria.....while it can grow on anything, small birds seem to be more susceptible & can even leave some vets scratching their heads over sudden death of a bird.....

I use a water bottle because she would poo poo in her bowl even if there werent any perches around! So that was the end of that and she drinks good and I check it morning, noon, and night. I feel the bottle is healthier.

SilverSage said:

For sanitizing, the bottles, what could I use that wouldnt harm the birds? Like, I keep hearing about grapefuit extract, could washing/soaking/running that through get it clean?

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You can use plain ol lemons for sanitizing. I've used lemons to sanitized my hands.