Water changes for Dunkers

[Bongo]

Bongo loves to dunk everything in his water bowl. Even fresh fruit and things that are already wet and his foot toys end up floating in there too. I know that this is pretty normal, but he sure makes a mess. We change his water at least twice a day, but is that enough? He especially likes to dunk food in fresh clean water that was just changed... . The water looks filthy (and chunky) but shouldn't have a lot of bacteria. Should we be changing it more?

Thanks!

 

[lexx510]

Why not change to a water bottle/fountain instead of a bowl? It'll keep him from dunking and making a mess = )

 

[Ozzy]

Ozzy dunks everything in his water as well (food/toys/himself) and it is impossible to change it every single time he puts something in there. I change it in the morning, when I get home from work and right before bed. There has been the occasional time I've been gone 12 hours and he has just had to deal with having soup in his water bowl. It doesnt worry me though. Im sure you are doing fine

 

[suebee]

aww i'd feel mean if i was to take bong's water dish from him lol as he seems to really like doin what his doin most harmfull bacteria are from high protein foods so i think what your doin is just fine

personally i'd add a second bowl for water so it gives bong more choice of dunking venues

 

[Bongo]

Great suggestions, thanks!

We have tried the water bottle... he stuffs food inside of it... haha

I think Bongo is just a water baby... food is better when it is wet, toys float and are fun to knock around, and a bath a day is just fine too!

 

[suebee]

aww i wonder if them water fountain things would be suitable for inside his cage??

lmao at him stuffin his food into the fountain

thats it i think you need to construct a small puddle pond in his cage

 

[MikeyTN]

My Cockatoo dunks all her food into the water bowl too....The water fouls up rather quickly cause it stinks, then I dump and give her fresh water. I use only filtered water for my babies!!!!!

 

[Gandolf]

Conures love water. We have converted all birds to the water bottle. Much more safe then open bowls. Allow the open bowls for bathing. Eventually they will take a bath. Every time there is an open bowl of water around and Caesar sees it......its swim time

 

[mygirl]

My eclectus dunks all the time everything her toys food and herself! just make sure you change it if you give your bird egg

 

[kitt]

My hahns macaw is a huge dunker and he loves to play in his water bowl. I change his water about three to four times a day but sometimes just twice...depends on the day.
For me, I can't take the water bowl away from him because he has so much fun with it. I think it is his instinct to play it and I love watching him....I'm sure your baby is fine...

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-HBnmfcndc"]YouTube - dusty bailing water jan 2011 001.mov[/ame]

 

[HRH Di]

It's funny how personalities are so different. Neither Jade nor Ruby like to dunk things, but Max dunks his pellets - nothing else. Ruby always has the cleanest water - no floaties except the ocassional CAG feather dandruff. Jade's water doesn't get really dirty, but she's not fastidious about it and there will occassionally be poop in it. Ruby will dunk one thing - ice cubes. She loves them and steals them from my ice water every time.