The water bottle we use is glass and came with the "Bunny Starter Kit" we purchased from the HS but it leaks! It's making me nuts .

 

 

Please let me know what you guys use for water bottles. I've seen some that have like a metal piece in them instead of the normal ball, maybe those work better...

 

I have a mouse and she has a bottle with a tiny hole that just drips a bit when you touch it, and it's amazing, but I can't find a rabbit size one..

Why don't you try a water bowl...they are much easier to maintain and it's a more natural way for your rabbit to drink water.

Many of us here use bowls instead of bottles - it's a more natural method of drinking so bunnies tend to drink more from bowls which is good for digestion. Plus, I find bowls much easier to clean thoroughly.

I use a water bowl a heavy crock one you can purchase a pet supplie store. You might have to change it during the day if it becomes dirty. I hardly ever half to do that except when sunshine decides to throw her toys in her water bowl!

I too use a heavy water bowls for my buns. However, I do have a foster bunny that manages (I don't know how she does it because I never see her do it) turn her living space into a swimming pool! I had to resort to using a water bottle for her. No more clean-up on aisle 7!

Posted By Bunnies4ever on 02/03/2012 01:02 PM
I too use a heavy water bowls for my buns. However, I do have a foster bunny that manages (I don't know how she does it because I never see her do it) turn her living space into a swimming pool! I had to resort to using a water bottle for her. No more clean-up on aisle 7!

That made me laugh. .
 

Not to be redundant, but I also suggest trying out a nice heavy ceramic crock.  They're cheaper than a bottle (I found mine at the dollar store!), easy to clean, can't really break, and as long as you get one that's too heavy to tip, it's tidier as well.

I'll do need to get a heavier crock for her. I think she sees water bowls as the enemy and tries to destroy them! She's too funny!

Bunnies4ever, you can get the locked crocks as well, so she can't tip them - they screw onto the cage bars, usually sold in the bird aisle!

My buns both use bowls, the bottles were frustrating to them, since they drink a lot in one sitting and the drop at a time bottles were too slow. I'd wake up at 5am to "tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap" for 5 minutes straight of Powder trying to get enough water to satisfy him out of the bottle and was like "ok, bowl it is" lol but the metal piece type bottles are supposed to be good for bottles.

I used a dish for my mouse for a while and she turned it into her potty and I was just afraid of that. Thanks for the suggestions! I'll for sure try a dish then!

That's a great idea! Thanks Stickerbunny!

Posted By Elrohwen on 02/03/2012 12:46 PM
Many of us here use bowls instead of bottles - it's a more natural method of drinking so bunnies tend to drink more from bowls which is good for digestion. Plus, I find bowls much easier to clean thoroughly.

 

Yes, but, there is a different thought now... if ur rabbit sheds, use a bottle!!Hair can be collected like a film, on the water in a BOWL.

It can cause illness.

I use large ceramic plant pots (bought about 8 in different colours) from Ikea for my rabbits' water bowls. Cheaper than the pet store, and less likely to catch fur (because of its shape).

Still, change water and the "bowl" often.

I also use crocks. I don't worry about fur because there is enough space for mine to roam and they rarely get fur or other debris in the water dish. However, if due to confinement and/or you have a problem with your bunny getting a bunch of gunk in then there are the ones that have a sort of half cover on it (curves up like a dome). You can also have the water bottle OVER crock so that if it does leak, at least it only goes into the water dish. I have always struggled with water bottles leaking. I don't know why.

Posted By Pandorachik on 02/03/2012 07:01 PM

Posted By Elrohwen on 02/03/2012 12:46 PM
Many of us here use bowls instead of bottles - it's a more natural method of drinking so bunnies tend to drink more from bowls which is good for digestion. Plus, I find bowls much easier to clean thoroughly.

 

Yes, but, there is a different thought now... if ur rabbit sheds, use a bottle!!Hair can be collected like a film, on the water in a BOWL.

It can cause illness.

 

Just wash the bowl out whenever you fill it. I fill and wash mine at least twice a day, so fur doesn't have a chance to collect. it doesn't take long

Agree with Monkey, Powder sheds and fur gets everywhere - but I wash out their bowls and it isn't a problem with the water.

My rabbits get fresh water twice a day with the bowl, dump, clean, rewater. They don't drink much water at all anyway, but it's there and fresh if they want it.

Hmm I feel a little out of the loop as my bunny uses a large size water bottle from Petco with a metal piece small enough for a bunny, but she drinks lots of it & has no issues, she took to it immediately when she was very young. For me its a bit cleaner (and holds lots more water) as she just loved to knock her water bowl over as soon as I put it down. So for me and my bunny the large size "small animal" water bottle from Petco works great.

It does leak a bit when I attach it but not enough to mess up her space or be really noticeable at all. Good luck though!

when I first got started I put both in bottle next to the bowl and mine didn't touch the bottle just the bowl of water. But it got knocked over too often so I got one of the cat waterers and placed it in a corner with the resevore away from the corner. It works great, holds about 3 or 4 days of water, easy to clean.

Thanks guys - I guess he likes both. He uses both his dish and bottle now. I found best way is just to sit the dish under the bottle and that way if it leaks it just refills the dish. But I do put fresh water in it everyday and he's not a big shedder so I don't really have to worry about that.