Water Bottles

[Number1Sticky]

I know this is going to seem like a strange question, but are glass water bottles "healthier" for rabbits?

I know with food dishes it's best to stay away from plastic because they can get scratched up and grow bacteria.

So I was just wondering, won't it be the same with water bottles?

 

[BunMommaD]

We use glass because I feel like they are easier to sanitize... I boil everything on the bottle 2x a week... That way it gets super clean without any chemicals or anything smelly... (we used vinegar the first time and rinsed it alot and he still wouldn't drink from it... He smelled the vinegar lol) so we like glass better and it works well for us!

 

[Watermelons]

Well hopefully nothings going inside your bottle that will scratch it
So long as you clean the bottle properly and regularly. Their about the same. I have used plastic for years, and the best part is, I can drop them and it doesn't break.

 

[Nancy McClelland]

We've been using plastic for ten years--they're dummy or "Larry" proof. Everything gets dropped.

 

[LaylaLop]

My rabbits flip water bowls, so I use water bottles.. plastic ones. I broke my glass ones so now I use BPA free plastic ones and clean with dilute bleach water. I need to buy one of those water bottle cleaner brushes though.

 

[ZRabbits]

I stick with heavy bowls. I'm not a fan of water bottles. I know the plastics have come a long way, but they are harder to clean than bowls. And I like my boys to be comfortable while drinking. Not having to bend their heads under a water bottle to drink.

But this is just my opinion.

Larry, thanks for the laugh. "Larry Proof". My husband says, know what you mean. He's not a dropper but a spiller. lol

K

 

[LaylaLop]

I do have a plastic dog-crock that attaches to the inside of the xpen as well. It's there to catch water bottle drips, and I put some water in it for them to drink as well. They drink from both the bottle and the bowl and seem to have no preference. Even heavy ceramic bowls they flip over (or pee in)...

 

[Ape337]

I use those steel bowls that are used for parrots. They attach to the side of the cage and you spin the bowl to lock it in place. They're a bit pricey but the buns can't flip or toss them. I also am able to use a heavy crock bowl for faith outside of her cage, and Humma has a cat fountain.

 

[wendymac]

I use water bottles, plastic ones. I would prefer crocks, but the Frenchies end up getting their ears soaked with them. In the summer it wouldn't matter, but not when it's really cold out.

 

[Number1Sticky]

LaylaLop wrote:

I do have a plastic dog-crock that attaches to the inside of the xpen as well. It's there to catch water bottle drips, and I put some water in it for them to drink as well. They drink from both the bottle and the bowl and seem to have no preference. Even heavy ceramic bowls they flip over (or pee in)...

I use to have one of those for her food but my rabbit still managed to get if off and throw it around her cage.

 

[ZRabbits]

Knock on wood then I've been very lucky that my boys don't flip water bowls or food bowls. Nor have they ever peed in them. I guess I have gentlemen after all.

Wendy, good point. Since I don't have rabbits with hanging ears, I would have never thought of that.

K

 

[Number1Sticky]

Ape337 wrote:

I use those steel bowls that are used for parrots. They attach to the side of the cage and you spin the bowl to lock it in place. They're a bit pricey but the buns can't flip or toss them. I also am able to use a heavy crock bowl for faith outside of her cage, and Humma has a cat fountain.

That's what I use for their food. But they always get it out of the holder and it ends up getting dirty because they throw them in their litter pan. Ugh. But the ones I have only sit in a kinda wire circle. They look more like this one. http://s3.amazonaws.com/tc-photos/11442/product/standard/518897.jpg

 

[Number1Sticky]

ZRabbits wrote:

Knock on wood then I've been very lucky that my boys don't flip water bowls or food bowls.  Nor have they ever peed in them.  I guess I have gentlemen after all.

Wendy, good point.  Since I don't have rabbits with hanging ears, I would have never thought of that.

K

Yeah mine like to pee in food bowls too. I have to clean them out most days.

 

[ZRabbits]

Number1Sticky wrote:

ZRabbits wrote:

Knock on wood then I've been very lucky that my boys don't flip water bowls or food bowls. Nor have they ever peed in them. I guess I have gentlemen after all.

Wendy, good point. Since I don't have rabbits with hanging ears, I would have never thought of that.

K

Yeah mine like to pee in food bowls too. I have to clean them out most days.

I guess my boys missed that part in the Bunny Guidebook on ways to drive your owners crazy by peeing in their water and food bowl. lol. Again I'm truly lucky. They only time I clean bowls is when I change their water and food. Which BTW is every day.

K

 

[Samara]

Thank god for Larry. Now I can stop blaming MYSELF for dropping things all the time. Finally. FINALLY I can have a whipping boy. :bow

I use the attachable crocks for food/water for my 2 ferrets because they flip the dishes constantly. I've found that rabbits like to sit on the bracket part and bend it. :banghead

I prefer heavy ceramic crocks for the buns, or the flip-top, plastic water bottles. I can get in there with a scrubbie and soap as often as I need. They survive the dishwasher too. You know, the hot, soapy one. Er, the loud one. I mean the non-human one! Whew. :halo

:thumbup

 

[1357rabbitlover]

I use water bottles but i keep them high up in their cage/run so my bunnies don't have to bend down to get to their water. When i tried heavy bowls my rabbits just tipped them up or sat in them!

 

[Zoeylionhead]

I only use glass for my bunnies and am slowly switching all my small pets to glass.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=17614

Glass water bottle 26OZ for $1.89. I have ordered over 30 of them and so far only one has leaked.

 

[LaylaLop]

I recently bought two clip-on metal bowls that are in the process of delivery... I figure I'll use one for food and the other under the water bottle.. that way they have the option of the bottle and the bowl (and also in case they tip the bowl they still have water).

My Layla likes to pee in empty food bowls as well. I just took it as her "punishing" me for not always keeping it full!