Bird water bottle

[Sandra]

Anyone uses a bird water bottle for their finches?

I been looking at them and I wondered if those would be better.

Any comment on those?

Here's link of what I am talking about:
bird water feeder

[Sally]

I used some water bottles at one time, not the Oasis one, mine is called a Water Buddy, can't remember who made them but they are not made any longer. I used them when I had a lot fewer cages. The one thing to watch out for is to make sure every single bird becomes comfortable with it and uses it. I almost lost a Gouldian, because I thought all the birds were drinking from it, but he wasn't. When I realized he was in trouble, he was severely dehydrated.

One thing about a water bottle, there is no way for them to get food or droppings or anything else into their water supply, so it stays nice and clean.

[nelloyello11]

I use water bottles for all of my finches. I use both these ones (Oasis) and the Lixit bird Bottles (http://www.lixit.com/node/729). I like both of them, but for different reasons.
Oasis:
- doesn't leak as much, but is harder to clean (narrower opening into the nozzle from inside the bottle, plus 3 balls, makes it impossible to get a brush through the entire thing).
- the green color is supposed to make it harder for bacteria to grow, and make medications and vitamins last longer (if my memory serves me correctly)
- ONCE, I found a seed hull inside the bottle, but I only change out the water once or twice a week, and I have never had problems with smell or filminess inside.

Lixit:
-tends to leak a little more, but if you make sure the O-ring is in correctly, and you screw the top on really tight, this is minimized. I also found that water closer to room temp leaks less.
- NEVER have had anything inside (seeds, etc)
-easier to clean, because it has a wide mouth, and the nozzle is less obstructed so you can get the entire thing with a small brush.

For cleaning, I use a regular bottle brush for the bottle part. I have found two things that work really well for cleaning out the nozzle- a brush for cleaning frosting bag tips (Wilton brand, can be found at most places that sell Wilton cake products); A filter brush, for cleaning fish tank filters (can't remember the brand, but I found it online).

It does take some time to transition them over from whatever waterer you are currently using. I started by placing the water bottle near the old water dish. These two brands have a bright red ball that supposed attracts the finches attention. Since it hangs on the outside of the cage, I sort of camouflaged it behind some leaves to make it a little less intimidating. Once one bird gets the hang of it, it doesn't take long until the rest follow suit, but it's very important, as Sally said, that you KNOW that ALL of them know how to use it before you remove the other waterer for good. I did take out the old waterers at night, and left them out for the first hour or so after lights on, once I saw one bird using it. I put it back in, after a while, just in case there was one that was not quite comfortable with it yet.
Some of mine took longer than others, but pretty much everyone was switched over in a week and a half or so.
They have their pros and cons, but I am very glad I switched them all over. Less mess, no bathing in it, I can change it less often, but it still stays clean!
One word of caution, I have heard the balls can stick (never had it happen), so I check daily to ensure that I can see the red ball in each nozzle, so no one goes with out water.
Sorry this was lengthy, but I hope it helps in your decision!

[DanteD716]

I used to use small animal water bottles, never had leaking issues, but I would squirt it when put in so the birds no where the water comes from, and I caught every bird and put their beaks up to it to get water. They all learned..
I since switched back to regular cups. But I am probaly gonna get new bottles because wet newspaper is discusting, and a water bottle lasts longer because it doesnt not get poop and seed in it! Plus I can leave for longer lengths of time. I had a zebra who would push the tip open for water, but instead of drinking he let it run all down his head!

[finchandlovebird]

DanteD716 ... That's really funny. Your bird taking a shower

[DanteD716]

Dolly, I never even thougt of why he was doing it! I guess you are right!

[nelloyello11]

Sandra, if you are still thinking about using these, I just got some on sale at www.thatpetplace.com. They had been out of stock for quite awhile and I got a notification that they were back in stock last week.
The 8 oz is only $4.92 plus shipping!
http://www.thatpetplace.com/bird-water-bottles