How much do budgies drink?

[HarryC]

I've had my budgie, Harry, for 5 days now. I am home all day and see him 95% of the time and I have never seen him at the water dish. I can't tell if water level is down. I change it daily. I assume he's drinking something or he'd probably be dead by now.

 

[Squeekmouse]

I had the same worry about my GCC at first. I even asked my CAV. He said not to worry my little guy will drink when he's thirsty. He's so small I never can see a change in the water level.

I have found that my GCC doesn't like drinking from the dish and prefers a water bottle type thing. So we got him this which I see him drink from frequently. JW Water Silo

 

[noodles123]

I still get anxious over this with my Umbrella Cockatoo and I have had her for a long time (I see her drink one-two times weekly). To appease my own anxiety, I give lots of watery fruit/veg (shoot for more veg than fruit because of sugar content)...
I don't give much citrus (small "cutie" wedge 1-2 times each week and my bird is big) and I avoid veggies high in oxalic acid (for instance, spinach may be given, but not daily and 1-2 leaves at a time for mine)...
If you can get your bird to try fruit/veg (safe types) then at least you know they are consuming fluids, but I do think some birds are sneaky drinkers.
Keep changing the water etc.
FYI---If a vet or someone ever tells you to mix meds with water, do not do it for this very reason.
Also, my "Too" drinks a lot when I give her a glass pie plate filled with water (which she splashes in)..obviously not the most sanitary, but bathing is another opportunity.


If you do one of those closed bottles, please know that not all birds know how to use them, so if your bird is drinking, you might confuse him/her with a different bottle. You could present both and see if you see a difference, but I wouldn't assume that your bird understands.
Finally, was the bird drinking tap water from the same area before or something else?
Birds can get weird about the flavors of different waters..
My bird loves the crappy water at my parents' house but she isn't too fond of purified water (which I give her daily). She didn't even visit my parents for a long time, so this preference is very odd...and I know it isn't the best water for her (lake -type water...rural area).

 

[Kiwibird]

You will never notice a difference in the amount of water in a birds dish (unless of course they decide to take a bath in it!). Birds should be getting the majority of their moisture intake from diet in the form of fresh fruits and veggies. They do occasionally drink, but it's not large amounts and instinctually speaking the 'watering hole' is never a safe place for prey animals so a new bird who is thirsty will likely wait until you're gone.I've had my bird for 10 years and he still looks around anxiously when drinking (no similar reaction when eating though).

Also, please be sure you are cleaning out the dish and offering fresh water daily regardless of if you notice your bird drinking or not

 

[Teddscau]

I think I read in a dietary study that budgies drink 4ml a day. However, I definitely don't believe that! Maybe if you're feeding a diet with only 2% moisture, then they might drink that much, but your typical budgie doesn't typically (in my experience) drink that much. When I have to syringe water a budgie by hand due to illness, I aim for 1–1.5ml a day. With budgies, you probably won't actually witness them drink until they've been with you for at least a couple of months. They'll sure as heck eat, sleep, and preen in front of you, but you aren't going to see them drink for quite a while. After that, you'll see them drink on a fairly regular basis (once or twice a day).

 

[Inger]

I have never seen Bumble (parrotlet) drink from her water bowl. I’ve had her over a year and a half. But she get lots of fresh veggies and fruit and about once a week, maybe twice, she’ll say “drink” while I’m doing her dishes (she always sits on my shoulder and supervises) and then I’ll hold her down by the faucet and she’ll take a good long drink and usually a bath.

I mentioned it at her first visit to the CAV after I got her, and she said Bumble wasn’t dehydrated so she must be sneaking water in somewhere.

Like you, I assume she is getting enough water or she’d be dead.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[HarryC]

Thanks for your replies. I did some research and found that budgies can go days and even weeks without water in case there is a drought down under. He still gets clean water daily though.

 

[GaleriaGila]

Welcome to our Community!

Since you're new, I'll offer you this 'keet primer from one of our 'keet whisperers! Thanks, reebsie!

http://www.parrotforums.com/budgies-parakeets/72068-taming-bonding-budgerigars-tips-beginners.html

 

[EllenD]

I'll just second everything that everyone else has already said...Unless you sit and watch your Budgie every second of the day for 24-hours straight, you probably won't see him take a drink of water, and you'll NEVER see a difference in the water-level in his bowl unless you don't change his water every day and it evaporates (don't do that, you need to wash out his water bowl and give him fresh water at least once a day, twice is better to help prevent microbial infections, and definitely as many times as you need to if it gets soiled with food, poop, pieces of toys he's chewed, etc.)...

There isn't a species of parrot from a Parrotlet to the largest Macaw that drinks enough water for us to be able to notice, unless you're home with him all day long and watching him all day long. They take a couple of swigs and that's it. So don't worry, your bird is drinking all the water his body needs. If he ever doesn't you'll notice because he'll be sick, his droppings will be extremely sticky and stick to his vent/feathers on his butt, which is the first sign of dehydration...

 

[clark_conure]

I've also answered this question before. Birds are excellent in retaining thier own moisture. Their strength to weight ratio is off the charts and they are the smartest of all species... (find me a dolphin that talks....)

I see my conures drink all the time but thats because i have a little buffet with mini bar right in front of my keyboard....also they like to dunk pellets...and they love water in general. Just make sure you change out the water once or twice a day and clean the dish so there is no algae or bacteria buildup. Trust me if your parrot is thirsty it will drink, just make sure he/she has a clean source.