We are all well aware that owls are fantastic hunters who are perfectly crafted to kill their prey but we don’t tend to focus much on how these owls stay hydrated and it is probably unlikely that you have seen an owl drink.
So, what do owls drink?
Owls primarily drink water but this happens rarely as most of their hydration is derived from their food. Therefore it is unlikely that they will have to gather further liquid. That being said, if they are bathing or dehydrated they might decide to have a few sips.
An owl will gather around a gram of water per gram of fat from their meals so its no surprise really that its very rare to see an owl having a drink. If subjected to harsh weather conditions or extreme heat then an owl may need more water than usual to keep cool and stay hydrated and any owl kept in captivity should have water offered to them just in case they ever fancy a drink.
Sadly, if an owl doesn’t manage to eat for a few days they will become dehydrated and it will be important to administer fluids as soon as possible to avoid organ failure and death. It is more important to get fluid into the owl then food because fluid can be easier to administer. It is unlikely that you’ll be able to just put a bowl of water in front of an owl and expect them to drink it, so the below steps explain the best way to give the owl fluids:
How to rehydrate a dehydrated owl:
- Wrap the owl in a safe way so you can securely keep hold of the owl. This can be done in a blanket or towel. Lay the towel on a flat surface and lay the owl at one end with their body straight, especially their legs. Make sure to wrap the owl tight enough to keep the owl secure but never too tight that the owls breathing will be constricted. The owl should resemble an ice cream cone once it has been wrapped up.
- Gather some slightly warm water with some glucose or a small amount of sugar. Use 1.5 teaspoon of sugar to 1 cup of water or the recommended amount of oral rehydration salts.
- A small paint brush can be used to get fluid into the owl easily. Dab the brush into the prepared fluid and gently hold the owls upper beak while you dab the brush into the owls mouth. This is the best way to administer fluid with no risk to the owl. Just ensure you wait for the owl to swallow each dab before you give any more so the owl stays comfortable.
- It may take a good 15-20 minutes to administer a decent amount of liquid this way but it’s the safest way to do it with little stress to the owl.
- A 1 mil syringe can also be used if you want a slightly faster option but just make sure to not push the syringe too quickly.
- About 5 to 10 mils of liquid is preferred per day so sessions of about 3mil at a time is best.
- Any larger syringe will need to be administered by a professional animal handler so I would keep it simple and stress free for all involved if this is being done by an amateur and stick to a paint brush or a 1 mil syringe.
Therefore, its unlikely you will see an owl drinking water because generally they dont need to but if ever you do come across a dehydrated owl then the above steps will help to hydrate the owl back to health and this is when fluid is important for owls!
