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Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
What water drinking object is best for doves to use, the container or the bottle? I have been using the water container for about 20 years. Two years I added a few water bottles to the cage. Neither of my doves switched to the water bottles. They will not even try it.
What I like about the bottle is it helps keep the water cleaner. But my doves will not try it. |
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Jon Blakeney Special user Australia 657 Posts |
Mine will not drink from a bottle either?
Posted: Jul 23, 2012 7:49pm My birds are still young so maybe they will in time.
'What the eye's see the heart must believe"
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Dave Scribner Assistant Manager Lake Hopatcong, NJ 4849 Posts |
Interesting question but kind of like asking what's the best card trick. Like most dove magic, it's whatever works for you. In my case, I never used a bottle or a container. I had a small dish (actually a seed dish) in each cage. The dish had a cover. These dishes are usually set up in parakeet cages. All of my doves grew up drinking from those dishes.
Mike, when you put the bottles in the cage, did you remove the containers? Doves are creatures of habit and if they are used to the container and it is still in the cage, they will instinctively go to it. If it isn't there, the doves will not dehydrate themselves. They will start using the bottles when they are thirsty.
Where the magic begins
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Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
Doves don't drink with their tongues as some other birds do. They need to "dunk" their beaks to drink. I would avoid the ball type bottle waters completely with doves!
Bob Sanders Magic by Sander |
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Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
No Dave, I did not move the container. I tried to influence the doves to drink from the bottle by pushing the bottle nozzle against their beak.
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Dave Scribner Assistant Manager Lake Hopatcong, NJ 4849 Posts |
Mike, read Bob's response. Doves won't drink from a bottle if it's the ball type. They have to be able to dip their beaks under the water. As I said, even if the bottle type would work, you have to remove what they're used to before they'll change their habits.
Where the magic begins
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Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
Now I see Bob's post. I must have been really tired late last night to miss Bob's post. Thanks everyone.
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Alexo Regular user Long Island, NY 112 Posts |
All I gotta say is that all five of my doves have been using water bottles (ball bearing type, same as used for hamsters) as their only source of water for the past year. Initially I had to stick their beaks into the tubes but they put 2 + 2 together pretty quickly and it's really cute to watch them drink from them. As a result their water's always clean and they're well-hydrated and healthy.
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Dave Scribner Assistant Manager Lake Hopatcong, NJ 4849 Posts |
In order for a dove to drink from a ball type bottle, they have to learn to push the ball up the tube so they can insert their beaks into it, essentially dunking the beak under water. A dove's beak is soft and pushing it into a tube around a metal ball bearing is asking for trouble. Alex, you may have gotten away with this for awhile but sooner or later, they will suffer.
I would much rather have to clean a water dish or container than risk the health of my birds.
Where the magic begins
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Gordon Special user Chicago 692 Posts |
The water container that's basically an upside down jar, which gravity-feeds the dish it is sitting in, works great for doves.
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Dave Scribner Assistant Manager Lake Hopatcong, NJ 4849 Posts |
Absolutely. That's the type of waterer I used when my birds were in an aviary. The bottle held about a gallon of water and feed into the trough as necessary. I just modified it to put a cone shape cover on top so the birds couldn't sit on it and deicate into the water.
Here's a picture of what it basically looks like. They come in a variety of sizes and can fit in a cage. Click here to view attached image.
Where the magic begins
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RJE2 Veteran user 383 Posts |
Dave, That's what I use for my chickens. It's too big for my dove cages, so Pat and I just use ordinary deep bird water container that attaches to the cage wall beside one of their perches.
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Dave Scribner Assistant Manager Lake Hopatcong, NJ 4849 Posts |
RJ, these come in a variety of sizes. The one I posted was used in my aviary when I had 30 or more birds. There is one that is about the size of a soda can which fits nicely in a cage.
Where the magic begins
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RJE2 Veteran user 383 Posts |
Understood.
I have not seen the smaller ones, but am quite happy with the larger one that I use in the chicken coop. However, being chickens, they do manage to get the water dirty pretty quickly and I have to clean out the "bowl" part of the waterer regularly. Is this a problem with the doves as well? |
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Dave Scribner Assistant Manager Lake Hopatcong, NJ 4849 Posts |
I never had the problem. The trough is narrow enough to keep the dirt out but wide enough so they dunck their heads. As I mentioned originally, I put a cone shaped form on top the container so they couldn't sit on it and do their business.
Where the magic begins
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Gordon Special user Chicago 692 Posts |
Affixing a cone on top is a great idea, Dave, thanks for sharing that. It certainly solves a drawback with these otherwise good devices.
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IDOTRIX Elite user Darien,il 467 Posts |
I got a tip from Dimmares videos. I put a bowl large enough for them to fit in with Hot, not warm water. They bathe like little kids in it everyday, and they are extremely clean.
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Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
Another disadvantage I read about using a water bottle is bacteria can build up in the nozzle. There is no way of cleaning it out.
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Dave Scribner Assistant Manager Lake Hopatcong, NJ 4849 Posts |
Mike, it's quite simple to clean the nozzle. Unscrew it from the bottle and use either a Q-tip or roll of paperwork soaked in bleach. Clean from the cap down and the from the nozzle end up. Then soak the entire thing in a bowl of bleach and hot water for a few minutes. Run clean warm water through it pushing the ball up a bit.
Where the magic begins
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Regan Inner circle U.S.A. 5726 Posts |
I love my watering and feeding....uh....jugs. (For lack of a better term) I wish I had a picture or a link, but I don't. It's been a long time since I ordered them and I can't remember the name of the place. Maybe someone can help me out. I have an old catalog somewhere....'somewhere' being the key word.
They feeders are the upside-down type, but the dish at the bottom does not protrude past the bottle, so water remains covered. The doves have to put their heads through a hole to drink or eat. The feeders are rounded on top so the doves are discouraged from sitting up there and messing on the bottles. The water remains clean and the doves are happy! I also use the same type for their seed. It works well and keeps their food clean. It might even hinder seed waste some, but not enough. My doves still pick and sling! These feeders/waterers are also freeze proof. This doesn't mean they will not freeze, but if (or when in my case) they do freeze it will not crack the plastic. Whatever they are made of is tough, and it cleans very easily. I bought extras so when they freeze I have replacements to use while I bring the frozen ones inside to thaw. I have about 4 of each type. I just alternate the water jugs each day during the cold times. The feeders look the same as the waterers, but the tube inside is different, so if you do purchase any of these be aware of that and order the one(s) you need. They come in different sizes too!
Mister Mystery
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