How often should a healthy budgie drink water? Does it depend on the weather? Apologies if this is a really silly question...

I dont really take notice and I dont watch my birds 24/7 to determine how often. Once or twice a day I reckon.

they can gov with out water for a week

Not a silly question. You may never see your budgie drink, but they do. Just remember to always provide fresh, clean drinking water.

 

Shannon.. be careful about making such statements. People may think this can mean you can with hold water from them VERY DANGEROUS!!! They need daily fresh water. The do however get water/liquids from veggies and fruit etc... and this is why when you medicate via water you should with hold veggies etc... so they drink their medicine.

Edited May 17, 200916 yr by maesie

I know they don't drink much compared to other birds. My Princess Parrots are always at the water dish. Same with my finches.

Maisie stated it very well, as your bird becomes more comfortable in his setting you may see him drink more often you may not, honestly I never see Merlin drink but I know he does.

I have been told by a vet that a bird can go upto 6 weeks drinking water... HOWEVER this is in the wild and they will get liquids from other sources such as grasses etc... in the summer months when it is hot they need water on a daily base. You have to remember the 6 week rule is based off the winter months in the outback. Bird owners have to give their bird water on a daily base as we have things like air conditioners and heaters which will make the bird drink more. I did not see Harley drink for about 5 years now I see him drink on a daily base, maybe because he is older, maybe because he no longer cares if I see him drink. It's an insticnt they have, when a bird drinks in the wild they are at great risk of being caught (they have to fly down to water holes and expose themselves to nasties that will try and eat them) so they don't like drinking with someone watching them.

Just just wanted to add

 

Just cause a bird CAN go for long periods of time does not mean it SHOULD go. We have access to clean fresh water unlike the more hardy bush budiges.

Its not a silly question at all and I asked the same question a while back after realising that I have never seen our budgies drink. From the answers in my thread, you know they trust you when they start drinking in front of you as that's when they're most vulnerable. I'm happy to report both of ours have drunk in font of me now.

I remove the water in the aviary each night, and in morning when i replace it, they are all sitting around waiting to drink. I think they drink a lot more than we realise, and i have noticed that some budgies are thirstier than others too - even in the cold months. They need fresh clean water EVERY DAY

Budgies are whats called non-obligate drinkers - they are not "obligated" to drink each day like other birds such as pigeons etc. Thats not to say they will not drink daily if given the chance it's just that they have adapted to life in a hot dry arid country so they CAN go without water for reasonable periods if needed.

 

This also means that sometimes, if you have medicated water and they don't like it, they can go without for a substantial time and some may miss out on the medication and only drink again when clean water is provided. That's what makes water medicating budgies a bit tricky sometimes. That's partly the reason why doxy treatments last for 45 days. The assumption is that by then even the most stubborn non drinkers will have had to consume some of the medication

I've had Peanut for a few months now & haven't seen him drink yet- but i know he must, he's obviously healthy & he certainly isnt getting any liquid from vegies, he won't touch them yet!! (i'll keep trying though!)

i have read in book budgies drink quite frequently but in little ammounts. it is a massive trust thing to let a 'pretetor' see you drink as budgies think this is an oppertuniaty to strike. and if budgies dint drink they wouldnt live!