When it comes to sippy bottles…

[MimzMum]

Does anyone here use these besides me? And what do you do when they begin to chronically leak? I’m thinking it’s the little washer on the inside and I wonder if I can get similar washers from a hardware store to replace them, or would these have some chemical on them that may be toxic to bunnies? (I guess I could boil them, like I did with the babies’ bottles.) I mean, if they work for humans (on tap water faucets and such) shouldn’t they be safe?

I don’t want to have to buy whole new bottles to replace the ones the washers have gone sour on, and the buns won’t drink from crocks.

Ideas?

[Beka27]

You could try getting a replacement washer probably. My bottle has only leaked twice, and both times it was due to “human error”. I had the cap screwed on at a slight angle, and when I hung it up, all the water just dripped out. After the first time, I repositioned the water bottle so it was hanging inside the pen over the litterbox, rather than outside with just the tip sticking thru. The second time it leaked, all the water went right into the litterbox. I noticed it later and had to dump the whole litterbox and refill, but at least it wasn’t all over the floor! You should replace the water bottle yearly, has it been that long, maybe you’re just getting very bad washers?

[KatnipCrzy]

These are not cheap- but I like this bottle

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=6067+10382+14626&pcatid=14626

I bought this bottle for Cotton over a year ago when the her first ball bearing water bottle failed after a few weeks.   It does not leak since there are no washers or ball bearings.  The water is dispensed when the bunny moves a little lever with their tongue.  Both Penny and Schroeder have used it with no problems at all and there was no training/transition time.

Penny came with a water bottle- so I did not bother to replace it and Schroeder needed one the day I adopted him so I bought a regular one from the pet store- but if I ever need to replace them I hope I have time to order one of these kind.  And I wish Drs Foster and Smith had the next size up too.

But anyway since I am determined to bond Cotton and Schroeder- hopefully I will just have to buy one larger bottle for them to share and Cotton can get the smaller one I already have.

[MimzMum]

I saw those the last time I made an order with them, but I wasn’t sure how good they were. Hm. Might be time to change over to the different type. Thanks for the information on it! ^_^

Yeah, these bottles I have are a bit old. I’ll see if I can find the washers first, and if not, it’s time to get a few new ones, or something else. *sigh*

Thank you everyone!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

We use bottles at the shelter-I buy them second hand from a bigger shelter so they are generally ‘on their way out’ when we get them. If they leak we just throw out the nipple though. I get them for one dollar each used so we don’t mind too much when they don’t work. i wonder if you can buy just replacement nipples? The bottles last longer themselves…

[Beka27]

that looks like an interesting bottle Katnip. How easy is that to clean?

[skibunny8503]

Oh wow, I think I might have to order one of those!  I was just going to post something about the bottles because mine keeps leaking and we have a little zip lock container underneath it to catch the water when it drips….then he starts drinking it from there but sometimes there’s hay or pellets that get in the container.  So yeah, I will definatley order that today!  Thanks Katnip!

[KatnipCrzy]

They are very easy to clean- the top flips up to fill it- and the whole lid (snapware type) screws off also.  The only thing to remember is that you can not tilt the bottle when carrying it after refilling- the top of the bottle allows air/ (or water if upside down) to pass in order for the bottle to work properly.  So if it was filled and placed upside down on the lid- the water would slowly drain out.  But it is never an issue on the cage.  It must have something to do with the pressure of air/water as the rabbit drinks.  Most of the time unless I am cleaning it- I bring a plastic cup downstairs to fill it- it is that easy to refill even pouring from a large plastic “to go” Pepsi/Coke cup.

If I was using it for more than 1 bunny I would get the next larger size- it is sold on different websites.

 

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