I have never seen Ernie drink from his water bowl, yet he seems healthy and happy. How much do they drink? He gets fresh vegies a couple of times a week, could that provide enough fluid?

In the wild birds are very vulnerable while drinking, they can't see predators, etc so they are very wary about doing it when they are being watched, some will once they become used to you but even the friendliest ones may not drink in front of you. Rest assured he will be drinking, he's just making sure no one's going to eat him while he does :question:

Edited December 18, 200816 yr by melbournebudgies

I've only ever seen Len do it... Lip still doesn't trust me enough I guess :question:

Ah that explains it. I'm going to have to spy on him now!! :question:

Don't forget budgies live in the desert they actually need very minimal water and can go days without it (not that our budgies should) but this helps explain it too along with being vulnerable. If you want to encourage water drinking fill it up fresh and clean and splash your fingers in it, Merlin is so tempted he runs to get a bath or drink some water.

Harley drinks in front of me but after 8 years I would hope that he does! Blue and flame drink in front of me but again they where pet types inside for a year. Some of the breeders will drink when I put new water in but the general avairy ones I don't see drink.

Yeah now I think of it I have never seen any of the avairy birds even at the water let alone drinking it, but the birds in the breeding cabinets are a little different, the ones with babies seem to drink quite a bit even infront of me and there's other I've seen drinking just generally, but not the avairy birds.