won't drink from their new water bottle

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 8sd replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 7 months ago by angie-la.

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- 09/18/2011 at 9:53 PM
  angie-la
  Participant
  380 posts
  I got the bunnies a bigger water bottle that has a more secure attachment to their cage. well, they refuse to drink from it. I’m worried they won’t drink at all while I’m at work.. I leave a bowl of water out but they like to knock it over when they’re not using it -______- any suggestions on how to wean them on this new bottle?
- 09/18/2011 at 10:05 PM
  lashkay
  Participant
  1548 posts
  I’ve heard people say it works to put a dab of applesauce or banana on the spout – try banana if your buns go for it. For a backup bowl, which is a good idea, you’ll need a ultra-heavy ceramic bowl or crock that they can’t knock over. Or a crock that’s attachable to their pen or cage. DrsFoster&Smith have some good secure ones. Hope this helps!
- 09/19/2011 at 12:04 AM
  Michelle&Lolli
  Participant
  2347 posts
  I have no help for you. lol But I bought Lolli a nice, EXPENSIVE leak proof water bottle and she couldn’t figure out how to use it. WTH?!? She had water all over her face but then she kept looking at me, “Mom! Mom! OMG MOM! I CAN’T GET WATER!!!!” So I had to give her back her bowl. Thankfully I only waited maybe 1/2 hour before changing it back. I didn’t want her to go without water for too long. lol
  
  But I feel your frustration. I now have a perfectly useable water bottle that’s collecting dust. lol I did keep flicking the little lever in the spout to make sure water was coming out. Sigh.
  
  Oh….apparently putting a bit of apple juice in the water will get buns to drink more, but I don’t know if it’ll get them to use it. But it might be worth a try.
- 09/19/2011 at 8:52 AM
  angie-la
  Participant
  380 posts
  LOL michelle that’s exactly what they’re doing! they’re licking it from outside the cage, or licking the actual bottle instead of the spout. I’m sitting here looking at them and going “iT’S THE SAME THING!! IT’S JUST BIGGER” haha. I’m going to get some apple sauce today and see if that helps. I also tested the spout and it definitely works, I’m starting to think they’re just messing with me on purpose =P
- 09/19/2011 at 3:31 PM
  RabbitPam
  Moderator
  11002 posts
  Some bunnies just don’t take to a water bottle. I was concerned since Sammy didn’t get it, so I ended up using two water crocks instead of one so she’d have enough and a spare in case she messed up one. She happily drinks from both crocks daily.
  
  Spockie had mastered the water bottle – and I never found one that didn’t leak all over him. That was several years ago, so I wasn’t a fan of them.
- 09/19/2011 at 5:14 PM
  LBJ10
  Moderator
  16898 posts
  I have one of those expensive leak-proof bottles that has the stick inside the spout instead of the ball. Leopold was just fine using it. Wooly, on the other hand, was extremely confused. So I still have to hang one of those classic bottles with the ball on the other side of the cage. Then, of course, I catch Leopold drinking out of it all the time.
- 09/19/2011 at 7:11 PM
  Cassandra L
  Participant
  28 posts
  I had to buy a bowl like this: http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2752724 It latches on to the side of the cage so it can’t be knocked over (or flipped on purpose). Gus never could get the hang of a bottle.
- 09/20/2011 at 12:56 PM
  GrumpyBun
  Participant
  643 posts
  Nope, Bisto and Oxo never got the whole bottle thing either – have to have a bowl.
- 09/20/2011 at 5:53 PM
  angie-la
  Participant
  380 posts
  it’s so strange because they used to drink from their old bottle all the time. I’ve taken the new one out, and put their old one back.. and now they hardly drink from that one! it’s super hot this week so I’ll be making a trip to petsmart tomorrow to get them that bowl.. -___-
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