food in the water

[Rufio850]

I keep reading these posts about make sure they always have fresh water. But my GCC has food mixed in his water bowl. Given his food is loaded with vitamins and nutrients so if his food is in the water making it murky, isn't that a good thing? Water filled with nutrients?

 

[Mayden]

I keep reading these posts about make sure they always have fresh water. But my GCC has food mixed in his water bowl. Given his food is loaded with vitamins and nutrients so if his food is in the water making it murky, isn't that a good thing? Water filled with nutrients?

Bacteria will thrive in spoiled water. Nutrients are held in cells, so until they're broken down (through digesting, or other 'cell damage') they aren't 'releasing' them into the water.

So you'll be having them drinking bacteria (which may then thrive more in the crop, etc) rather than nutrients. You can ADD nutrients to water, but if they're getting a good all around diet, it's not needed.

If your GCC messes it's water constantly, consider using a water bottle for them to drink out of perhaps.

 

[BillsBirds]

Here's an idea that might give you a little insight. Tomorrow, take your breakfast, or lunch, and put it into a bowl of water. Let it sit for a while. Then eat/drink it. How's it taste? Is it appetizing? Think that's healthy?

 

[Echo]

I find that if I offer 1 water bowl AND 1 bird bath into my Conures cages, they will make soup in one, and will still have the other to drink out of. I change both water sources twice a day when I work, more often when i'm home.

 

[faeryphoebe1]

My Sun Conure gets his water dirtier much more quickly than my Green Cheeked. Sunny likes to dip his seeds in water before eating them, lol (not so with his pellets or fruits & veggies).

We change their water a couple of times a day and use Spring Water.

 

[antoinette]

I had the same problem with Mishka
Perhaps try placing the food bowl the opposite side of the cage.
It solved the problem

 

[Rufio850]

Yea I know GCC's love to dip their food in water to soften it so I don't want to move the water bowl since that is the way he eats. I feel like that is some sort of punishment (I know it's not but it feels like that).

And the comment about leaving my breakfast is misleading. Maybe if I left a bowl of vitamin pills in a bowl of water then eat it later would be more identical. But a bowl of frosted flakes isn't the same thing considering they are different types of food.

Do GCC'S use two water bowls? I tried that but couldn't tell if one was being used.

 

[MonicaMc]

He might.

I have food and water bowls on opposite ends of my conures' cages, although neither seem to be big on dipping food in their water. Recently, my new girl has started putting items from her "foraging" bin into her food dish though! Not entirely sure why! But it is cute!


You can provide two separate water dishes, or a dish and a water bottle and teach your conure to use both.

 

[sofiaee]

Especially when I'm out of town I offer 2 water bowls. 1 near Oliver's pellets so he can dip them and another on the other side of the cage so he can drink clean water.