Transition from bottles to bowls

[muffinandmunchbunny]

Hello!

I am planning on using bowls instead of bottles, but I’m worried that they won’t drink enough. They already know how to use bowls, but are more used to bottles. How can I transit from bottles to bowls with them still drinking?

Thanku Xx

[sarahthegemini]

When I first tried to introduce bowls neither bunny was interested. Weirdly tho, I offered them both bowls after their spay and neuter and they preferred them! I kept both a bottle and a bowl in their enclosures for a couple of weeks and in my case it became clear they favoured the bowl and rarely used the bottle so I eventually removed the bottles.

I’d offer both a bowl and a bottle for a while and see if they develop a strong preference

[Bam]

It’s as a rule not a problem to transit from bottles to bowls. They sort of know instinctively how to drink from an open bowl, whereas some buns must be taught to drink from a bottle. As a rule rabbits tend to drink more from a bowl than from a bottle.

[tobyluv]

I have adopted several rabbits from shelters that only had bottles there, but they took to a bowl right away.

[Wick & Fable]

My vet recommended (and after observations, I agree) that both bottle and bowl should be offered. Since bottles require more work for rabbits, a lot won’t consume as much water as they would if they had a water bowl. You could downgrade the size of your bowl and add the bottle as a supplement.

As a learning moment, follow your rabbit when they go to their usual watering hole. When they realize their bowl isn’t there, use your finger (clean), to hit the bottle ball a few times and put your finger to their mouth, so they realize “Oh, water is coming out.”. Wick would try to bite and pull at the metal straw while licking, but after a while he realized he only needs to lick.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[Tay]

When I got rid of Charlie’s cage I didn’t have anywhere in her room to hang a bottle, so I just put a bowl next to her food dish. It took her an hour or so to figure it out but she drinks sooo much more water now out of the bowl – just swap them out, they’ll probably just figure it out. and you can tell if they’re drinking by if the water level goes down so it’s pretty easy to be sure they’re drinking!

[Azerane]

I’m confused, in the first sentence you said you are changing to bottles, in the last sentence you say you are changing to bowls.

Changing to bowls is easy, just add a bowl underneath the bottle (make sure they can still reach the bottle over the bowl). Because they’re going to the same location for water, it should just happen naturally that they start to use the bowl instead, once you see them both doing it regularly you can just remove the bottles

[muffinandmunchbunny]

Posted By Azerane on 4/12/2017 6:33 PM
I’m confused, in the first sentence you said you are changing to bottles, in the last sentence you say you are changing to bowls.

Changing to bowls is easy, just add a bowl underneath the bottle (make sure they can still reach the bottle over the bowl). Because they’re going to the same location for water, it should just happen naturally that they start to use the bowl instead, once you see them both doing it regularly you can just remove the bottles

Oops I meant bottles to bowls!

[Wick & Fable]

If it’s transitioning from bottles to bowls, it shouldn’t be an issue. Your rabbits will pick it up quickly, though if they’re like Wick, it took him a while to figure out how to drink without dunking the entire lower half of his head in the bowl, haha. He now does an angeled-side approach.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

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