Teaching a bun how to use a water bottle…

[Aminah Undone]

Since Bella was terribly neglected by her past human encounter, she has NO clue about water bottle use. I mean, she refuses to even attempt to figure it out. So.. I have a water bowl in her enclosure and I clean it out several times a day.. she puts stuff in it? …so she can have fresh water access.

As you can imagine, this can be all consuming ..with a house full of other animals (I run a rescue) ..and other chores and responsibilities for the humans, etc. I mean, don’t get me wrong.. I love the Bella ..and am making sure I change her water out 3 or 4 times a day, to insure clean and palatable… but I’d really like for her to use a bottle. (I even have a bottle hanging right over her water dish.. hoping that it will become interesting enough to chew or push her nose into, for a sniff.. and the random drop comes out ..tah’dahhh! ..this thing gives water!!!)

Yeah.. lol…. it hasn’t happened that way yet. Any suggestions? (She’s a pro at slurping through a syringe.. still on meds… so I know she can do it!)

[Deleted User]

I had a bun like that. He would have rather died than tried it. Then I discovered his favorite fruit was orange so I rubbed the orange slice on the spout several times a day. After a while he got it and I never needed to bother flavoring the spout again.

[BinkyBunny]

Does she like Bananas? If so, smush a little banana on the nozzle. That will help her figure it out. Be sure to clean it off though later when you do that as any left over banana can get crusty.

Edited: I was in such a hurry that I didn’t  read Petzy’s reply —…..so yeah, obviously…ditto!

[Dextervonbon]

Exactly what I did with Dexter’s water bottle, I just rubbed banana on it

[Aminah Undone]

I tried the banana, yesterday. She likes banana enough, I think. She just doesn’t want me to think *I* trained her to do something… it must be the other way around. Diva!

I’ve yet to see her use the water bottle (I’ve marked the level), but I did see her in her potty box… cuz it has a better vantage point to a shelf she’s not supposed to have access to. Brat!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I have no advice-I’m trying to get Noot and Chuck to use one since Noot drinks alot and Chuck likes to pee in their water! I’m currently changing three bowls twice a day I bought a water bottle but so far no dice. I think I’m going to try the banana trick.

{{Using water bottle vibes}} for both of us!

[luvmybunny]

I love the banana idea! Valen is not fond of water bottles, since I got him. So I use a dish and change it 2x a day. That used to be fine until he recently decided to put his toys and bedding into the water dish! I will have to try the water bottle again

[Sarita]

Make sure too that you have it an appropriate height – not too low. I’m not a water bottle person but I have sometimes seen where the placement of the water bottle makes it too uncomfortable to drink from.

[Aminah Undone]

Day 2: No water bottle use. LOL

I think it’s at the ideal height for her.. she doesn’t have to exert herself at all, actually.. just waddle over there and plant her lips on it. Instead, she maneuvers her head around the spout that is right over the water dish.. and drinks from the dish.

If she were not on baby watch still, I’d remove the dish for an hour or so.. just to give her less options.. but I can’t do that with her in such a possibly delicate situation.. not with good conscience, anyway.

[Aminah Undone]

Day 3: Banana Success!!  ..at least, the level on the water bottle is way down.. so she’s figured out how to get it out of the bottle… I have yet to SEE her with her lips planted on the spout, so I’m not certain she’s drinking it. LOL

One more step in the right direction… I’ll take that! 

[amanda-penny & lola]

I made the mistake of buying the small water bottles & my bunnies like them. I bought two big water bottles and they won’t touch them. I don’t understand it. I’m going to try the banana thing too.

 

edit: Penny drinks out of a bowl and lola uses two small water bottles. lol. 

[Barbie]

Amanda, do you think the the reason they don’t like the large bottles is because the spouts are different sizes and with the big ones they get too much water all at once? Maybe you can switch the spouts? I don’t really know, since I don’t use water bottles – just throwing ideas out there.

[Barbie]

Oh and Aminah, congrats on your success!

[Monkeybun]

Monkey ahs botha bowl and a bottle. She uses the bottle in her cage, and her bowl in her pen Silly thing

[Deleted User]

I do that too: bottle in their condo and bowl in their exercise area.

[Sage Cat]

My local shelter does not recomend water bottles – they can get stuff growing in them.
Kay likes to put toys in her water bowl.
Most of the time, I only have to clean it once a day!

[Author]

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