A really, really dumb question, I'm sure... (tube waterers)

[Lisa]

I'm sure this will strike many of you as a dumb question but I find myself wondering this and never really know the answer.

I use tube waterers in each of my bird cages. I always end up installing mine where it sits on the edge of a perch so the bird can land next to it and drink from it. However, a few of the cages the setup is such that it'd be much more convenient to just have it freestanding attached to the side of the cage (no perch nearby). Can the birds drink from it if they are actually standing on it? I would think they could but I've never witnessed any of mine doing this, which concerns me so that's where the whole question of whether they actually can comes up. Would it be too awkward for them to balance and sip at the same time?

If you have tube waterers, do you always use a perch or do you have some that are freestanding?

[cindy]

I use these little plastic perches like these....coopers sellls them on his site. They twist onto the bars and work well with a drinker next to it.

http://www.nwcanaryandfinchsupplies.com ... p?catID=15

Or I use pedi perches like the ones my bird is perched on, you can see the drinker to the right of the picture

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[G8love4finches]

Like Cindy, I use a pedi-perch next to the waterer....They get a manicure every time they drink!.....They will just hang on to the side of the cage to drink as well

[Lisa]

Ok, so I'm not crazy lol.

I always set it up by a perch but half the time I'm thinking it's probably not necessary. At least I know now others are doing the same and will continue doing it the way I am now (with perch).

Thank you!

[debbie276]

If you have patients you could set up one or two without perches and watch to see if they are used, that would answer your question if it's possible. I just wouldn't leave it like that till I actually saw a bird drink from it, after all you wouldn't want any to dehydrate because they couldn't get their water.
Along the same lines, many people put perches in front of nest boxes but the birds really don't need them.
Good luck

[cindy]

Lisa, what kind of cage are you using the tubes in?

One other option is to wiggle the drinker through the bars at the bottom of the cage so the bottom of the drinker rests on the floor. In some of my cages I had to do this, the drinker is near the food dishes. Just make sure perches ar not over the the area.

[birdclaws]

While the topic is on tube waterers...
Does anyone have success using these on cages made with the plastic wire mesh?
I feel a little bit limited in what I can hang on the plastic... right now I have a water dish that is screwed into the wood frame - but I find myself changing the water multiple times a day.

[Lisa]

Lisa, what kind of cage are you using the tubes in?

Cindy, they're just standard 30x18x18 breeding cages but sometimes I get the cage decorated with plants, etc. and then remember the tube as an afterthought and have to readjust everything to get a free perch. I also use perches by the millet/treats clips. I usually put the drinking perch to the right of the bathwater so it's like one stop shopping, food, bath, drinking water right in a row.

[ac12]

I have my tubes next to perches, and also at floor level where they walk on the cage floor to drink.

I don't use plastic mesh, but I use 1/2" square wire mesh.
I cut one segment so I have a hole 1/2" wide by 1" tall, then I use a plier to widen the hole enough to slide the trough of the water tube in. I wire the clip to the wire mesh.

[Jeff McKee]

You can easily make small perches to suit your job.

Stick - willow or apple, about 4" long
Screw about 1" long
2 washers

Place one washer on each side of the cage (inside & outside). You may need to drill a small hole in the perch to prevent it from splitting.

I've been building perches out of bamboo for my new aviary. No drilling necessary. I don't like the bamboo though (other than it was free). It seems slippery and too small, but is easy to work with. I'll be replacing with apple/willow later. 50 regular perches and 25 small perches. It is time consuming.