Quote:
>> Maybe I'm too overprotective, but we don't leave our bird for more
>> than about ten hours. She's gotten used to me being home with her and
>> while one day seems to be nothing to me, it may be an eternity for a
>> bird whose lifestyle is dependant on me and my husband.
>> So, since you have a few Parakeets, I'd say maybe two days at the most
>> because after that the water will certainly be festering bacteria. I
>> would also say you should leave them in a cage for their protection.
>> That's what I would do if I were to leave her. However, we rarely do.
> in terms of water, what kind of container do you use for them?
> we give our guinea pigs water with big bottles with a ball valve that
> keeps the water tube closed. they just stick their tongue in the end,
> the ball moves and water comes out.
> can keets be trained to use such a container? that would solve a lot
> of the problems of getting their water supply dirty and you could set
> up more than enough supply for a 2 days..
> Craig
Allegedly, this is doable. I personally haven't done it, but there's an
easier alternative. Get one of those tube drinkers, and set it next to a
comfy perch. The plastic ones from PetSmart are easy to use, easy to clean.
From what I remember, you have to leave the original dishes in the cage for
awhile, while the birds explore and figure out how to use the drinker.
Since I can't see, what I did was hang a small Christmas decoration bell
above the drinker, to attract their attention. Plus, I could hear when they
were over there messing with it. After a few days, the area around it was
wet - water, not poops- so I figured they were using it.
The tricky part is the cage design. You have to be able to squeeze the
trough part through the bars, because the tube part's on the outside. You
could put the whole mechanism inside, but with keets or other hookbills,
they'd no doubt get curious and take it apart.
P.s. I've seen canaries pull stuff apart too ...