FAQ: Bowls & Feeders for birds

It is a shallow dish or tray of fine dry sand in which quail, chickens and other dust-bathing birds clean their feathers. The sand needs changing regularly so droppings and moisture do not build up in it.

It is a holder in which the bowl locks in place with a twist or a latch, so the parrot cannot pull it out and drop it. Some holders of this kind let you remove and refill the bowl from outside the cage.

You do not have to put your hand in the cage, so the bird is disturbed less and a territorial parrot gets no chance to bite. Such bowls are also handy when someone other than the owner looks after the bird every day.

It is usually play or boredom, and sometimes the bowl simply sits loosely in the holder. A firmer, bolt-on or locking holder and more toys and activities in the cage help.

It can if gaps are left between the holder, the bowl and the bars where the bird could put a leg, wing or head. Choose a holder that fits the bowl size and check regularly that nothing has come loose.

The bowl should let the parrot put its beak and head in comfortably, but not be so large that it can climb inside. Manufacturers often state what size of bird a dish is meant for, so that is worth taking into account.

This often happens when the bowl is too big or fixed in a spot that is comfortable to perch on. A smaller dish, a hooded dish or moving the perch so the bird eats from the side rather than from above helps.

A large parrot can chip the glaze or the rim, especially if it throws or bangs the bowl. Replace a chipped bowl, as sharp edges can cause injury and bacteria collect in cracks.

Fruit and vegetables can go in a separate dish, be clipped to the bars or threaded onto a skewer. They are worth removing after a few hours so no spoiling food is left in the cage.

It is a stainless metal rod onto which pieces of fruit or vegetables are threaded, and it hangs in the cage. The bird has to pick them off itself, so eating also becomes an activity.

Fresh food is usually left in the bird's dish for a few hours, and for even less time in a warm room. Throw away leftovers and wash the dish so bacteria and mould do not develop.

Greens can be clipped to the bars with a special clip, put in a holder or placed in a separate dish. It matters that they do not touch the cage floor and are replaced once they wilt.

Yes, sprouted seeds are better given in a separate dish because they are moist and spoil quickly. Throw away any not eaten the same day, and wash and dry the dish daily.

Soft or egg food goes in a separate small dish that is easy to reach from a perch. This food spoils quickly, so it is replaced several times a day and the dish washed each time.

Dominant birds often guard food and water. Fitting more feeders and drinkers in different parts of the cage helps, so that one bird cannot block them all at once.

Watch whether each bird reaches the feeder and drinker, and look out for weight loss, fluffed-up feathers or lethargy. If any bird looks thin or weak, contact a vet.

A larger aviary is worth fitting with several drinkers and feeders in different places and at different heights, so all the birds can reach them easily. This matters especially when there are many birds or several species.

Put feeders and drinkers under cover so the seed stays dry, and not under perches so droppings do not fall in. In an outdoor aviary they should be protected from wild birds and rodents.

The risks are cracked or sharp-edged dishes, gaps in holders where a bird can get trapped, toxic coatings and small parts the bird could chew off and swallow. The dishes are worth inspecting regularly.

Replace a dish when it is cracked, chewed, warped or can no longer be cleaned properly. Plastic dishes usually wear out faster than stainless steel or ceramic ones.