OK such a dumb question....

[perchie.girl]

But I have to ask it.

I have been spending time with my young guineas in their coop. They are just now getting a pinkish blush to their cheeks.

I was watching them drink... To a one they each shoved their whole face in the water above their nostrils and I could see them swallowing. Several swallows. Then they would raise their head swallow the last bit in their beak and shake out the water from their nose holes.

Scratching the head here .....
I thought Birds could not swallow water this way.
I thought it was dip tip and swallow....
Am I wrong am I seeing something other than drinking?

Gawd I am beginning to be a Guinea nerd....

 

[PeepsCA]

I've seen my Guineas dip most of their face into a freshly filled waterer and guzzle many times (mmmmmm sooooo goooood!!!!), and then they stand up tall and tip their heads back and swallow it all down (I'm assuming to get it down to the dry food in their crop?), but I've never noticed them shaking out the extra before, lol.

Maybe they can suck up water into their sinuses and it helps cool them down?

Hopefully someone else has the answer to this, cuz I don't... Funny question, not a dumb one tho!

 

[perchie.girl]

They just looked like they were taking such a long yummy drink.... Yet I have been told and observed birds only drinking like drink tip and swallow. I tried to find out if there are certain breeds of birds that drink by gulping or sipping Doing the Yahoo string search thing.... many different combinations and the closest one was Wikipedia mentioning that the ONLY bird that drinks by swallowing while they drink are Doves and Pigeons. I do know Wikipedia is not necessarily an accurate source on occasion.

I am going to get some video if I can.

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

SOO funny you posted this Deb! So I was out watering my broiler pen today (where the keets are) and they were all REALLY thirsty, and anyways I was watering them and I was kneling down by the dish when there was a keet in front of me and he was drinking and he lifted his head and the WHOLE head was wet! I was laughing like a crazy woman, I thought maybe one of the chickens pushed his head down into the water, but nope... they were all dipping their whole heads into the water! It was SO funny! Maybe they are cooling themselves off?

Mine are just starting to lose their head feathers.

 

[PeepsCA]

Lmao, bully chickens pickin' on keets and shovin' their face in the water! Silly mental picture goin' on here, THANKS!

:lol

All my Guineas, adults and keets absolutely LOVE nice cool fresh water, even when their waterers have been full the whole time, as soon as I refill with fresh cool water, they all have to come have a big guzzle session. Silly birds, their entertainment value is half their worth lol

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
Yeh Yeah Mine were doing that.... Did he take several swallows before he pulled his head up? Thats the part about this post I am curious about. Partially the reason I ask is there are so many people that use those nipple waterers. For a number of reasons I dont care for them. Partially because I used to work in a pet shop and watched all those hamsters and micies maul over their water as if they were starving for a "real" drink. Sort of what if you were living in your house and the ONLY way you could get a drink of water was from a water fountain and you had to hold your head just so before it would work. Especially while it is so hot.... we are used to it here but there are lots of places who haven't seen this kind of heat ever.

Any hoo, Love my Keets love my water setup at the house, now that its working. I will be doing a step by step in the feeding and watering section pretty soon. I have to take one apart first though.

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
LOL... I had a bully do that to me in grade school.... (wow a flashback)

Every time I go up I dump out the waterers and swish them out with a (designated for this purpose) toilet scrubber. When I am done they all fill up on their own... Love it.

 

[Countrypunk92]

You know.. My large lemon blue cochin does this.. I went out and watered the chickens and he comes up and dips his whole beak it and then raise up and drink. Then he shakes his head.. and his wattles slapping around gives a halarious sound. I fell down laughing so darn hard.

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
LOL... Like clapping hands..... OK I want to know what a Lemon Blue looks like do you have any pictures?

 

[terrilhb]

Guinea's are the funniest and I swear sometimes the dumbest birds I have ever seen. But I so love them very much. It is beyond me how mine fly into the small goat pen and than can not get out. I mean literally don't know how to get out. I have to chase them out the gate everyday. I love them but sometimes I tell you they try my patience. I think they are so beautiful. But my family and friends tell me that they have the face only a mother can love. They have lost their feathers around their necks. I will try to get some pics. Good luck with yours your going to need it.

They sure require alot more patience than any other animal I have ever had. Oh and CONGRATULATIONS on your 10 keets.