FAQ: Bowls & Feeders for birds

Covered, hooded or high-sided feeders scatter less seed and husk outside the cage. It also helps not to fix the feeder right at the cage edge and to use a protective seed guard around the cage.

Birds' water is usually changed daily, and more often if it gets dirty with seed or droppings. The drinker itself should be scrubbed regularly with a brush so that no slimy film builds up.

The most common are open dishes, hooded feeders, automatic (hopper) feeders that release seed gradually, and bowls fixed to the bars with a holder. It is worth choosing the type by the bird's size and how much seed it scatters.

An automatic feeder holds a larger supply of seed, and seed drops into the tray only as the bird eats it, so the food stays cleaner. It still needs checking every day, because husks or damp seed can block the opening.

It is not recommended: the feeder can jam, the water can get dirty or spill, and the bird may get frightened or injured. When you go away, it is better to ask someone to check the food, water and the bird itself every day.

Birds shell the seeds and the empty husks stay on top, looking like food. That is why the husks should be blown off or emptied daily, checking that there is still whole seed underneath.

Hanging feeders or ones fixed to the bars stay cleaner because less droppings and litter get into them. Floor dishes suit birds that feed on the ground, such as quail, or older birds that struggle to climb.

Bowls with a ring holder, clips or a bolt that tightens through the bars are used for this. Choose a fitting that matches the bar thickness and spacing, and check that the bird cannot unscrew it with its beak.

It is a feeder with a clear or plastic hood, and the bird puts its head through an opening to eat. It suits canaries, finches and budgies especially well, as they like to flick seeds to the sides.

Yes, separate dishes are worthwhile. Fresh vegetables and fruit spoil quickly, so their dish is washed several times a day, and dry seed should not get damp from water or juice.

With several birds it is worth fitting several feeders and drinkers in different parts of the cage. That way a dominant bird cannot chase the others away from food and water.

Fit the dishes next to perches so the bird can reach them easily, but not under them, so droppings do not fall in. Keep the feeder and drinker apart so seeds and husks do not fall into the water.

Plastic, ceramic, stainless steel and glass are the most common. Plastic is light but scratches and can be chewed, ceramic is heavy and stable, and stainless steel resists chewing and is easy to disinfect.

Plastic dishes usually work for small parakeets as long as the bird does not chew them. Medium and large parrots quickly chew through plastic, so stainless steel or thick ceramic is more often chosen for them.

Stainless steel does not scratch as easily as plastic, does not absorb smells, stands up to parrot beaks and can be washed in hot water or a dishwasher. It matters that the bowl has no paint or coatings the bird could chew off.

Ceramic dishes are heavy, hard to tip over and easy to wash. The glaze must be food-safe and intact: a cracked or chipped ceramic bowl is better replaced, as bacteria collect in cracks and sharp edges can cause injury.

Glass does not scratch, so film builds up more slowly, and it is easy to see when the water is dirty. On the other hand, glass can break, so it suits calmer small birds better than strong-beaked parrots.

They are better avoided: birds like to chew metal, and zinc, lead and paints of unknown composition are toxic to birds. Food-grade stainless steel with no coating is the safer choice.

Fine scratches form in plastic, and limescale and a bacterial film collect in them, so it turns cloudy and is hard to clean. If the drinker can no longer be cleaned until clear, it is worth replacing it with a new one.

Yes, as long as the dish is stable, the right size and made of a food-safe material such as glass or stainless steel. Avoid old ceramics with an unknown glaze and dishes the bird can easily tip over.