Total rethink required here.

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 2:02 pm

Sorry to hear you are having problems with the water bottles. As you can see, I have the perches placed so the birds don't have to reach upward to get to the water. I can see where that might pose a drowning hazard, although I have never heard of a bird drowning while using a Lixit bottle. I don't have the bottle hanging directly above the perch, but slightly off to the side.

I can't stess enough how important it is to check your bottles daily, maybe even twice a day, to make certain they are working properly. I once had one of the balls become stuck, preventing the water from flowing. But fortunately my birds had access to a second water bottle.

Stevador · Post by **Stevador** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 9:57 pm

Hello all,

I have been reading your emails regarding the water bottles I thought I would chime in and add a few thoughts, I have been raising birds for a decade (finches, australian grass keets, etc.) I use water bottles only. I have never have had a problem. I find them safe and sanitary. I use the bottles with the ball that are mainly used for small pets. What I do with my breeders is provide both a small dish of water and a bottle. I find that when the chicks are completely fledged they are use to both the bottle and a dish, this way they are trained on both and like I previously mentioned, I have had great sucess with this process.

Steve

kenny · Post by **kenny** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 8:21 am

when you are trying anything new with your birds ,be it water bottles or seed hoppers you must leave the original in place until you find out whether they are using the new one as they can starve or die of thirst without even knowing how to use the new device even if it is right in front of them

ken

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 8:31 am

I lucked out as the majority of my birds were already used to the water bottles when I purchased them. I had no idea the two canary hens knew what the bottles were for until I moved one of them into the aviary and saw her use the bottle within minutes. And yes, it is wise to keep the old method around until you are certain all the birds know how to drink from the bottles.

I would like to get my budgies to use the LIXITs also. That may prove to be a challenge though!

Post by **Hilary** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 2:26 pm

I've found, too, that some birds never get it. I have a pair of OCs and a pair of cbs in a cage together, and none of them will use the seed hopper even though it's been there for months. I've tried taking out their regular seed cup for a couple of hours, and they proved to be more stubborn than me.....

Hilary

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 2:42 pm

That is unusual Hilary.

When I began using the hoppers I kept their regular seed cups in also, but only filled them once a day. Once my birds discovered the hoppers offered a nearly endless supply of seed they were more than happy to make the switch. If I recall it took them about a week, then I removed the seed cups completely.

Post by **Hilary** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 3:23 pm

All of my other birds love the hoppers. *I* love the hoppers! I have about 20 of them. That's why it's so frustrating that the birds in this one cage won't use it - I feel much more comfortable leaving the others for a weekend because I know that seed won't be an issue. Little buggers....

Hilary

albert · Post by **albert** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 7:45 pm

Do your guys have any choice on what particular kind of hopper? I have Lix-it for water and looking for good hoppers for seed.

Thanks

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 7:59 pm

IMO, the best hoppers on the market are these...

http://www.justbirdstuff.com/product.ph ... bestseller

albert · Post by **albert** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 9:18 pm

Thanks

Post by **Hilary** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 12:26 am

Those are what I use. The societies like to sleep on or in them, and all but those four birds "get it". Seed lasts about a week, though you have to empty the hoppers every couple of days.

Hilary

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 6:42 am

Yeah, my strawberries and societies sleep in mine also. The berry pair frequently attempt to incubate an egg in them. (I really need to get that pair set up in a breeding cage ASAP. Unfortunately I don't have the room in this house for anymore birds.)

And yes, I also have to empty out the seed hulls at least once during the week. Wonder why they haven't redesigned them to make the catch tray slightly larger? Otherwise they are the best thing since sliced bread!!

Beep · Post by **Beep** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 7:36 pm

LOL, This is a classic case of thread hijacking and why it's bad. There's so much good info here on the water bottles and hoppers. But no one new will ever see it because it got tagged onto the thread I had started. If there's anyone in admin reading this, it really needs to be split off into it's own thread from the point where Robinteo came into the discussion, and turned it into a feeder/waterer only thread.

robinteo · Post by **robinteo** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 11:17 am

Hi tammie
thanks for posting the photo, sorry I failed to reply soon. The Lixit bottles worked well with single ball instead of two. The finches are housed together with my canaries. Once they see the canaries going for it, they followed as well. I was away for about 6 days and the water supply was good for them.

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Thu Dec 21, 2006 1:51 pm

Glad they worked out for you Robinteo.