PIGEON WATER SUPPLY.

S (1958) built a cheap water rig for lab pigeons. He took a 1-pint mason jar, poked a 6-mm metal tube through the lid, and bent the tube down like a straw. Hang the jar above the cage and the bird can sip by peck-pumping the tube tip.

No data were collected; the paper is a one-page hardware note.

The rig worked. Birds learned to drink within a day if a tiny cup was taped under the tube tip at first. After that, the cup can come off and the jar keeps the floor dry.

No counts, no graphs—just a working blueprint.

Fernandez et al. (2025) show that pigeon use in behavior labs has dropped since the 1990s. Their review still lists the 1958 bottle as a key historical tool, so the design stays relevant even as birds become less common.

Friedling et al. (1979) studied schedule-induced drinking. They needed steady water access to measure how extra food deliveries made pigeons drink more. The 1958 jar setup gives exactly that reliable supply.

Rosenfeld et al. (1970) measured peck force. Their birds had to peck hard for food; the jar ensures they never quit from thirst. The two papers fit like puzzle pieces—one fixes hardware, the other records behavior.

Walker (1968) trained pigeons to peck the midpoint of a line. Again, the birds had to work long sessions. The 1958 bottle keeps them hydrated without daily dish cleaning.

If you run pigeons in basic operant work, this rig saves time and bedding. It costs under five dollars, never spills, and needs no electricity. Tape a thimble under the tube on day one and your birds will teach themselves to drink.