Bottle vs Bowl..

[~Splottifer~]

Okay I've noticed recently that Splott seems to be at his water bottle a lot but as the water level wasn't going down too rapidly I wasn't too concerned (did check repeatedly to make sure it was still dispensing water freely of course!)

However just to be sure I then put down a bowl of water and he leapt on it as if he'd had no water for days? (Felt Very upset, but I thought he was fine as he was drinking from the bottle and the levels were going down)

Is it possible that getting water from a water bottle is too energy consuming and that the act of getting the water negates the use of actually getting the water :?

Anyway I shall be providing both for him from now on just incase!

I just thought I would raise this issue incase other buns are getting water from a bottle but still being left thirsty, I'm interested what everyone does and if anyone else has experienced this....

[elve]

Mine all have bowls, although Tia seemed to prefer a bottle - they definitely drink more without all that tedious licking - I think it gave Maa a sore tongue as she'd have a drink and then kind of chew at her mouth a bit. And of course more water means less liklihood of them getting stasis :)

[Steph]

Mine have both :D I use the large dog water bowls :lol:

[Sarah86]

I use both incase he tips the bowl over- I'd like a bowl that can be attached to the wire with hooks to avoid tipping- still looking. Some cat carriers come with them, maybe I could make my own, hmmmm

[Fran]

Mine have bowls in their runs during the day and bottles at night.

x

[~Splottifer~]

I use both incase he tips the bowl over- I'd like a bowl that can be attached to the wire with hooks to avoid tipping- still looking. Some cat carriers come with them, maybe I could make my own, hmmmm

Hmm sure I saw some of those somehere, my friend has small ones for her budgie cage that hook onto the bars, and I'm sure I saw some on a website somewhere when I was shopping for dog crates....

ah yes got it!:

http://www.fun4petsuk.com/bolt-bowl-large-p-705.html

they have other sizes too I think, that was just the first I found.

Might have to invest in one of them! :)

[WalnutEarth626]

I use both incase he tips the bowl over- I'd like a bowl that can be attached to the wire with hooks to avoid tipping- still looking. Some cat carriers come with them, maybe I could make my own, hmmmm

In my experience they just pull them off the wire anyway - but this coompany sells them, although they're listed as hook on feed bowls theres nothing to stop you putting water in them.

http://www.avondaleanimalhousing.co.uk/mailorder.html

[Sarah86]

In my experience they just pull them off the wire anyway - but this coompany sells them, although they're listed as hook on feed bowls theres nothing to stop you putting water in them.

http://www.avondaleanimalhousing.co.uk/mailorder.html

I did wonder if he'd do that but was hoping to find a secure one that kind of hooks and locks on if you know what I mean. He has a big plastic trough for his run and he's only tipped that twice when he wanted to be out but I wouldn't let him. :lol:

[Sarah86]

Hmm sure I saw some of those somehere, my friend has small ones for her budgie cage that hook onto the bars, and I'm sure I saw some on a website somewhere when I was shopping for dog crates....

ah yes got it!:

http://www.fun4petsuk.com/bolt-bowl-large-p-705.html

they have other sizes too I think, that was just the first I found.

Might have to invest in one of them! :)

They look good, especially the bolt on ones, I'd like to see him try and get that one off :lol:

[Muppet2]

I started off with a bottle for Muppet - til it started dripping which is just tooooo annoying so I swopped the bottle for a bowl.

It's just a normal plastic cat/pet dish and he's very good - doesnt tip it over unless it's (nearly) empty. Very sensible of him! It's quite small and shallow but I top it up twice a day so that's no bother.

I often think the drinking position for bottles looks uncomfortable - all that neck craning - whereas from a bowl it looks more natural. He seems happy enough anyway :D

[LionheadLuver]

i prefer bottles but if you live in a hard-water area, you have to change the bottle every year or so because limescale blocks the water-hole and prevents them from geting enough water. it happened to my hamster and she would be ages at the bottle biting it and licking, trying to get water and i finally found that limescale was blocking the entrance.

[luvabun]

bowls definitely. Tried just about every bottle on the market and they all dripped despite the promises made that they wouldn't :roll:

[isla]

When I has Nunzeo on his own he had bottles only, then when I got Abbey I noticed (as I watched then constantly due to bonding) that Abbey couldn't or wouldn't drink out of a bottle. It took me over 24 hours to work this out and I felt so very guilty!

We only have bowls now!!

[Becca]

Two of mine prefer bowls but Smokey likes a bowl and a bottle:D

[Sarah86]

Don't you think its really cute when they drink from bowls. :love:

[Rabbers]

i use a bottle as mine will tip anything up. but find that the nozzle gets blocked because of the grime from probiotics that i just can't get out. Plus sometimes i find the wire that holds them on very difficult to fit th ebottle back on with.

So i am very interested in these bolted on water bowls - easier to clean, more natural position and they can't tip it up! I am going to have a nosy int he pet shop on the way home. :D

Anyone got one yet?

[Jocelyn]

I hate having to use bottles for my bunnies but it's become a necessity really as they just seem to love tipping over their water bowls when I'm not there!! So they have bottles whenever I'm not there and in addition have water bowls when I am there as it's so much easier for them to drink out of!

[Sarah86]

I hate having to use bottles for my bunnies but it's become a necessity really as they just seem to love tipping over their water bowls when I'm not there!! So they have bottles whenever I'm not there and in addition have water bowls when I am there as it's so much easier for them to drink out of!


Try the bolt on ones, I'm going to order a couple.

[Vix]

I use both as its easier for them to drink from the bowls and they generally prefer it, the bottles are just there in case one day they tipped up the bowl or something lol they dont really drink that much from the bottles at all.

[traceybrowne]

You could use a large parrot feeder that hooks onto the side of the cage thats what i use for one of mine. the rest have water bottles and seem to manage very well. I think its each to thier own really.

I use both incase he tips the bowl over- I'd like a bowl that can be attached to the wire with hooks to avoid tipping- still looking. Some cat carriers come with them, maybe I could make my own, hmmmm

[Bavarian Bunny]

Bottle in the hutch, bowl in the run. The definitely prefer the bowl.

[Vanessa.B]

http://www.fun4petsuk.com/bolt-bowl-large-p-705.html

Really like the idea of the attatched bowls. Mine prefer bowls and it seems easier by far to clean a bowl and bottles ALWAYS leak!

[kath w]

Mine started to drink from bottle until he went ill. Then he refused to drink from bottle only bowl. The bottle dripped anyway. The only problem have to change it a lot cos he manages to get shavings in it.

[~Splottifer~]

right, I'm ordering one of the bolt on ones! what size do you guys think would be best for one bunny? (in fact possibly becoming 2 but I could always buy another one later)

The cat sizes are:

4in wide and 2in deep holds 250ml (1/2pint) (Too small?)

or

5in wide and 2in deep holds 700ml (1pint)

and the dogs ones:

6in wide and 2in deep holds 700ml (1.25pint)


or

8.25in wide and 3in deep holds 1800ml (3 pints) (maybe a bit TOO big?! ;) )

Decisions Decisions!

[FriskyClover]

My lot prefer bowls, they drink more from them I think.

They have a bowl in their palyhouse and one of these:http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/rodents/accessories/feeder_water_bottles/14454 in their run.

I refill the bowl at least 4 times a day, which is no problem because it's quicker then a bottle. The only problem we have is in the winter, the water does tend to freeze at night.

[Muppet2]

It's just a normal plastic cat/pet dish and he's very good - doesnt tip it over unless it's (nearly) empty. Very sensible of him!

Me and my big mouth :rolleyes: Yesterday he tipped the full bowl over! Guess its time to look for something heavier...

[Sooz]

I prefere bottles mainly as with 14 odd rabbits its less time consuming than changing water 3 times a day where it has been soiled in a bowl.

That said Gypsy has a bowl because she drinks so much and she is living in the front room at the moment so we can keep an eye on her, when she had a bottle the noise drove us mad!

[Muppet2]

what size do you guys think would be best for one bunny?

I'd say the half pint one was plenty big enough for one bunny in terms of volume but I'm not convinced about the SHAPE of these bolt-on bowls. I know Muppet prefers a wider/shallower bowl and these look quite narrow/deep. He likes to lap from above rather than stick his head in - guess that's a prey on-the-lookout thing isnt it.

I'm tempted by the Zooplus water dispenser tho.

[Sarah86]

I was going to bolt it as low down as possible so it would almost be on the hutch floor

[FriskyClover]

Muppet2, the Zooplus water thing is very good. It is easy to fill up, I think they sell similar in other pet stores, possibly in the cat section?

[clutterydrawer]

I used a bowl for sorrel once because her bottle was broken and she filled it with straw, ran through it and tipped it over. bad sorrel! when they're indoors they think its clever to drink out of mugs though. :roll:

[Sarah86]

right, I'm ordering one of the bolt on ones! what size do you guys think would be best for one bunny? (in fact possibly becoming 2 but I could always buy another one later)

The cat sizes are:

4in wide and 2in deep holds 250ml (1/2pint) (Too small?)

or

5in wide and 2in deep holds 700ml (1pint)

and the dogs ones:

6in wide and 2in deep holds 700ml (1.25pint)


or

8.25in wide and 3in deep holds 1800ml (3 pints) (maybe a bit TOO big?! ;) )

Decisions Decisions!

I've got my ruler next to me and think 5inches is nearer the size of the average bunny dish, 4 is too small. I'll still use a bottle as well which defeats the point really but better to be safe.

[~Splottifer~]

doh a ruler! why didn't I do that??? 2inches doesnt seem very deep to me? Think I'll go for the 6 inch one :?

[sretosf]

I use bottles, but always have two available to the rabbits.

We lost a hamster a couple of years ago while we were on holiday when the bottle blocked up - the person looking after him didn't notice that he wasn't drinking. :cry:

[Peppeisel]

my rabbits prefer a bowel, as Carrot, he'd sit there for ages just licking and chewing it, sometimes I'd squeeze it to make the water run faster and he'd be sitting there with his little tounge just lapping it up. :lol:
I think it would be inconvenient more than anything.