Total body water (TBW) accounts for 65 to 70% of an adult parrot’s body mass.
How long can parrots go without water? A healthy adult parrot can survive for 24 to 72 hours without water but will show signs of dehydration and declining health before it dies.
Small parrots (like budgies and parrotlets) will succumb to dehydration sooner, often within 24 hours.
Despite the criticality of hydration to avian survival, we seldom see birds drink. This is partly because parrots glean water from foods like fruits and vegetables.
However, the moisture in food is insufficient and must be supplemented with fresh drinking water.
Why Parrots Need Water to Survive
When a parrot hatches, its body comprises around 80% water. As the bird ages, this falls to 65-70% because water is replaced by fat and muscle mass.
Parrots lose water throughout the day, which must be replenished. Although birds don’t sweat, they lose water via respiration. Birds poop up to 50 times daily, losing significant water each time.
Regularly drinking water is essential for birds due to the high basal metabolic rates needed to maintain their body temperature. A parrot’s digestive system slows if it fails to drink sufficiently.
The reproductive cycle of parrots also depends on water because it’s essential for healthy eggs.
Amount of Water Parrots Drink in A Day
Parrots must drink approximately 5% of their body weight in water to replace lost fluids.
Parrots feel exposed when drinking, preferring to hydrate when nobody is watching them. This means you must measure the water levels in their bowls and water bottles.
Birds also gain significant fluids through high-water foods, like watermelon and cucumber.
How Long Parrots Go Without Water
A parrot should never be left without water. Birds succumb to dehydration sooner than starvation because they can utilize fat reserves temporarily.
Most parrots can survive for 1-3 days without water, depending on their age, health, species, and temperature in their living space. Larger parrots can survive longer without water than smaller parrots.
This table provides the upper limit of how long pet parrots can survive without water:
| Parrot Species | Survival Time Without Water |
|---|---|
| African grays | Up to 72 hours |
| Amazon parrots | Up to 72 hours |
| Budgies | Up to 24 hours |
| Cockatoos | Up to 48 hours |
| Cockatiels | Up to 24 hours |
| Conures | Up to 48 hours |
| Indian ringnecks | Up to 48 hours |
| Lovebirds | Up to 48 hours |
| Macaws | Up to 72 hours |
| Parrotlets | Up to 24 hours |
| Senegal parrots | Up to 48 hours |
There’s no guaranteed time a parrot will survive if it doesn’t drink water.
Why Parrots Stop Drinking Water
If a parrot declines water, you must determine the reason. Explanations include:
Stale or Contaminated Water
A bird is unlikely to drink from a water source it distrusts or considers contaminated,
If a parrot splashes in water for recreation or preening purposes, it’s unlikely to hydrate from the same source due to feather dust, food debris, and dirt.
Chlorine and other chemicals in tap water may deter a parrot from drinking. If a parrot is fussy about the water it drinks, try different forms of hydration.
Cool Temperatures
As tropical and sub-tropical birds, parrots seldom thrive in cold climates, modifying certain behaviors.
If the temperature in a parrot’s habitat drops below 65 – 70°F, it may show discomfort. To encourage healthy hydration levels, keep the room above 65°F but below 80°F.
Environmental Stressors
Parrots are neophobic. A parrot needs time to adjust to life in a new home.
Consider if something in the cage or surrounding area could be unsettling the parrot. For example, if several birds share a water source, a dominant bird could be ‘gatekeeping’ the bottle.
Reduce stressors, like noise. If a parrot is subjected to a barrage of sounds it doesn’t understand, it’ll grow agitated and anxious, becoming reluctant to hydrate.
Hidden Sickness
Parrots hide illnesses, so a health issue could explain their reluctance to drink. Also, check that the beak isn’t overgrown or misaligned. This can make drinking difficult.
How To Tell If A Parrot Is Dehydrate
If a parrot isn’t drinking, it risks becoming dehydrated. Understanding the warning signs of dehydration may save a bird’s life. Common symptoms include:
- Panting and labored breathing.
- Less urine in waste.
- Fatigue and lethargy.
- Dry mucus around the beak.
- Refusal to eat.
- Sunken eyes.
A method used for testing birds for dehydration is applying pressure to the basilic vein on the elbow of the wing. Use the right wing, as this vein contains more blood than the left.
Press this vein and await a response. If the parrot is hydrated, blood will return to the vein immediately. If it takes more than 2 seconds, it’s likely dehydrated.
Getting A Parrot To Drink Water
Steps can encourage a pet bird to drink more water:
- Change the water regularly,
- Switch from tap to bottled water.
- Wash or replace the drinking vessel.
- Add flavor to the water, like aloe vera or fruit juice.
- Separate hydration stations for each bird.
Also, provide more water-rich fruits and vegetables.
Types of Water Parrots Can Drink
There are 5 options when preparing water for a parrot:
Tap Water (Filtered vs. Unfiltered)
Tap water is the easiest option, but not all parrots will drink tap water. If you live in an area with very hard or soft water, a parrot may refuse to hydrate due to the chemical taste or smell.
Run tap water through a water filter into a jug. This process removes most chemicals and trace particles, possibly convincing a parrot to drink.
Distilled Water
Distillation removes bacteria, leaving water exclusively for hydration with no health benefits.
If you distill water for parrots, follow these steps:
- Pour tap water into a large pot, ideally at least 8 cups.
- Place a smaller pot inside this vessel, allowing it to float.
- Heat the water at 180 – 200°F and leave it to simmer.
- Cover the pot to trap the steam.
This heats the water in a large pot until the point of evaporation, at which point it turns to steam. This steam will return to a liquid state (distilled water) and is captured in the smaller pot.
Bottled Spring Water
Bottled spring water is an alternative to distillation. Only get BPA-free plastic bottles.
Carbonated Water
Carbonated water, often called sparkling water, captures the imagination of parrots due to the bubbles. Many birds enjoy cleaning their beaks in fizzy water.
Parrots don’t release gas like mammals. While a parrot can burp, it may not understand how. The fizziness of sparking water may cause gastrointestinal discomfort.
According to Poultry Science, carbonated water is beneficial if a bird is overheating.
Flavored Water
If a parrot likes sweet flavors, you may want to give it flavored water. This isn’t recommended because many flavored waters are high in sugar and artificial sweeteners like xylitol.
To tempt a parrot to drink, squeeze some fruit juice into its water.
If a parrot stops drinking, it is unlikely to survive for more than 72 hours. The smaller the bird, the shorter the survival period. A parrot that won’t hydrate should be examined by a vet immediately.
