PIgeon newbie question--water bottles

[bantyshanty]

I got a pair of pouters yesterday at a swap meet. I have them in a rabbit "habitat" cage with a platform and no wire and will get a loft built. I have all my chickens trained to drink out of hamster & rabbit water bottles. Can I train the pigeons, who are adolescents, to do this, or do they have to drink out of a floor waterer? (Yuck!!)
I know they suck up water (much like rabbits...) instead of throwing the head back. Has anyone tried water bottles?

 

[Tippler]

I have never heard of this and like you mentioned don't think it would work as Pigeons use their beak as a straw.

Here is what we use and is most popular by fanciers

You can also make these yourself by cutting into a gallon milk jug or something similar.
Of course then you are limited to the amount of water that can be added which isn't really a problem with 2 birds and would be a good thing as it will force you to change the water more often. However we all started with just a bird or two =]

Foys Pigeon supply is in PA so shipping should not be a problem.
Make sure you go with the 1 gallon if you order (I have both), the 1 gallon is constructed better as the plastic is a little thicker.

Something else you can do which is cheap is to use a standard chicken waterer and cut a piece of plywood with a diameter a few inches bigger than the base of the waterer. Then cut a hole with a jigsaw into the center so it will sit down half way or so on the waterer to prevent poop.
We have used these in the past.

 

[bantyshanty]

Tippler, thanks for the tip. I'll look at what Foys Pigeon Supply has. Also, I'd never have thought to do that with the chicken waterers. Ohhhh........ I'll try it, thanks

Update: I just looked up the address of Foys Supplies --Yahoo!-- it's a 45 minute drive for me. I'll have to go & talk to them in person. I've read about Jerry Gagne in a pigeon book, prior to having a pair. How nice to know Foy's is local!

 

[Tippler]

I don't know if they have a store front or a just a warehouse so you may want to call first.
I have done many orders with them as their prices are cheaper then other Pigeon supply houses. However I now order from a Pigeon store in Cali as shipping is a ton less.

You can also just build a small shelf in the corner of your loft above the chicken waterers. You want to build it slanted to they will not sit on it, however if built large enough it wont really matter.

 

[bantyshanty]

Thanks for the tip, I'll call first. I looked at their website, and there is a storefront, and a separate warehouse with offices. I believe you can pick up your order. I'll look at other stores for comparison as well. I'm glad for the advice. Again, thanks.

 

[Narragansett]

Pigeons can be trained to drink out of water bottles. I've been doing it for years, and with my Diamond Doves as well. It's so much cleaner than with open dishes, or even those waterers which are pictured.

Foys is a great place to do business with. Jerry Gagne is a a very nice guy.

 

[Mary Of Exeter]

I use these three:
http://www.foyspigeonsupplies.com/catalog/400-407.html
http://www.foyspigeonsupplies.com/catalog/385.html
http://www.foyspigeonsupplies.com/catalog/314-311.html (I use the green plastic bowls)



I would recommend these as well. I would like to get some for my individual cages. You screw the little things onto a soda bottle and viola!
http://www.foyspigeonsupplies.com/catalog/333.html

 

[bantyshanty]

Oh, more replies! Thanks, Narranganset & Mary, I'll try the water bottles again & try the little drinker spout. I've got a covered porcelain drinker that screws to a cage wall made for sugar gliders & ferrets as a feeder. So far it's working well, I think...

 

[mochicken]

My pigeons are trained to drink from two different sources, their water bowl which they also bathe in and the "water bottle drinkers" that make a trough like plastic thing that clips on the bottom of a pop bottle for water, I use them for my baby chickens and quail also.

I REALLY like the pop bottle waterers because the lil stinkers cant dirty their water up and its accessible from outside the cage so its very easy to get them clean water.

 

[hookedonpigeons]

Quote:
I use this bottle drinkers too,and they work great!The crazy little birds can't crap in them

.
I get them from Siegel Pigeon supply in La. for like a $1.25.

Thanks,
Logan