water bottles

SquashNut · #1 06/13/07, 01:04 PM

i have 1 water bottle left from having pets before and I keep offering it to each rabbit cage to see if any one will use it.
None of my newly purchased rabbits like it. Can you teach them to use the dumb thing. I am really glad i didn't spend money on them. Instead I went to the thrift store and bought corell baking dishes for water and small bread pans for food.
To keep the bread pans from spilling we are drilling 2 holes in the side and putting eye bolts in them. the eye bolts go through the side of the cage and a stick is put through the eyes. No spilled food this way.

ricky · #2 06/13/07, 01:52 PM

LOL I feel for you. Yes you can teach them to use the bottle. i just went through it with a bunch of new rabbits this week. put the bottle in the cage full of fresh water. leave it for the day and next day check it. if the bottle is not used take it down and play with the thirsty bunnys. Squirt some watter at their mouths and let them mess with the business end of the bottle and as soon as th bunny figures out there is a good fresh drink in there your problems solved. i have 5 8 week olds in one big cage right now none would drink from the bottle i tought one and they all followed.

SquashNut · #3 06/13/07, 02:24 PM

Thanks, I'll try that.

BalloonMountain · #4 06/13/07, 04:27 PM

You can also remove the rubber washer that is in between the bottle and the screw on neck of the water bottle which will cause the bottle to leak slowly until all the water has leaked out. They should learn that water comes from that shortly and then make sure you reinstall the rubber washer so the bottle doesn't leak anymore. I have also heard of people putting a little piece of toothpick in the end of the water bottle to keep the little ball from seating and this will also cause a slow leak for them to learn on. Ricky is right as well, once one learns what to do they will all follow. Good Luck.

Meg Z · #5 06/14/07, 11:39 AM

I have found that my rabbits like the ball-tip bottles, but won't use the pin-tip (There's probably another name for these) unless they absolutely have to. I no longer have the pin-tips. (With those, a pin has to be pushed to one side; I imagine it can make a tongue sore!)

If yours is a ball-tip, the suggestions everyone has offered on making it drip are all great.

Meg