Couple Questions

[JessicaK]

Hi, I have a couple questions this evening...

I'd like to try switching from a water bowl to a water bottle. When I had ferrets, we would put a small dab of yogurt on the tip of a new water bottle so that they could quickly find it and figure out how to use it. Should I do anything like that to teach them to drink from a water bottle?

Question two: Whidbey is SUPER shy. He runs and hides in his house if you so much as look at the bunny cage. It makes me feel kind of bad is there anything else I can do to make him less scared? Gunston has warmed up fairly well, he'll come over and smell my hand or take a treat from me. He also lets me pet him on the head or back. He just doesn't like being held.

Thanks :bunnydance:

 

[jamesedwardwaller]

JessicaK wrote:

Hi, I have a couple questions this evening...

I'd like to try switching from a water bowl to a water bottle. When I had ferrets, we would put a small dab of yogurt on the tip of a new water bottle so that they could quickly find it and figure out how to use it. Should I do anything like that to teach them to drink from a water bottle?

Question two: Whidbey is SUPER shy. He runs and hides in his house if you so much as look at the bunny cage. It makes me feel kind of bad is there anything else I can do to make him less scared? Gunston has warmed up fairly well, he'll come over and smell my hand or take a treat from me. He also lets me pet him on the head or back. He just doesn't like being held.

Thanks :bunnydance:

the natural way for a rabbit to drink is downward-thus-a bowl/crock--though i employ both bowl and bottle to increase chances of getting a drink,,--dairy products and rabbits do-not go together--no yogurt,,--some of my rabbits prefer not to be held,,while a few insist--and can be a pest about it,,--remember they know they are prey animals and we are the predator,s--urge caution and patients when trying to train,--sincerely james waller:big wink::biggrin:

 

[Elliot]

Perhaps talk soothingly when approaching or looking at the cage might help. Let him always know what you are doing.Sit nearby and read out loud.

 

[LakeCondo]

If you really MUST switch to a water bottle, you could use a little ripe banana on it.

Being near the rabbit but not looking at him can help. Sit near the house & watch tv, read, etc & he might relax more,

 

[JessicaK]

With the water dish in their cage I was finding a swamp in the cage every morning... So, they now have a water bottle in the cage.
When I'm not at work, they are in their cage + xpen. There is a water bowl in the xpen.


As for Whidbey, tonight, I was sitting in the xpen next to their evening's salad. Gunston would come over and grab a leaf of lettuce and take it back over to where Whidbey was hiding...


:bunnydance:

 

[LakeCondo]

I guess it depends how boisterous the rabbits are, but most don't overturn a heavy crock water bowl.

It sounds like Gunston is being the go-between with you & Whidbey.