Should I Have My Rabbit Use a Water Bowl or Water Bottle?
Written by The Rabbit Hole Hay Team
A lot goes into caring for a rabbit. There may even be things that you as an owner, or prospective owner, may not know you have to consider! Most know that you have to consider what kind of cage to buy, where to place their food bowl, how often to change their litter, and what type of toys to buy them.
But what about their water source?
Until you venture into the world of rabbits and do a little research you probably wouldn't have even realized just how many choices you have. Who would have thought there are so many opinions on using water bowls or bottles for your rabbit? Then once you chose a water source, there seem to be a million different options with varying reviews to purchase from.
This blog will help you wade through all the varying opinions on what water source is best for your rabbit and then give you some helpful links to either source to purchase from!
Just like water is important to our health, it's just as important to a rabbit's health. If your rabbit is not able to drink, they won't eat which lead to a multitude of health problems and can end in death in some cases. Most rabbit owners can't keep watch over their rabbit 24/7 so you'll need to be certain that your processes of getting them fresh water is something you can count on.
In the research we've done, we have found that the source by which you give your rabbit water doesn't really matter a whole lot. As long as they are receiving the water and reacting to the source in a positive way all is good! To help you decided which one to get, read below to find out the pros and cons of using a bowl or bottle to source your rabbit's water.
Water Bowl
A rabbit's water bowl is commonly referred to as a "crock" and can be made of ceramic, metal, or plastic.
Pros: Rabbits in the wild will find their water source from the ground, so a crock is a natural way for them to drink water. They are very simple to fill, easy to clean, and if they break are fairly inexpensive to replace.
Note: If you keep your rabbits outside in the winter, crocks are the best option to use as they won't break when the water freezes. You can also bring the crock in to thaw.
Cons: A rabbit's water bowl is commonly referred to as a "crock" and can be made of ceramic, metal, or plastic. Rabbits in the wild will find their water source from the ground, so a crock is a natural way for them to drink water. They are very simple to fill, easy to clean, and if they break are fairly inexpensive to replace.
While a crock is the most natural way for a rabbit to drink water, the water can evaporate more quickly in a crock than in a bottle. It can become contaminated with bedding, hay, or urine. During the summer time, if the water is left out for long periods of time it can collect bugs or begin to grow algae. Lastly, it's extremely common for a rabbit to tip over and play with their water bowl (especially if they aren't secured to the cage).
Even with a few disadvantages, using a water bowl (crock) is a great way to give your rabbit the fresh water they need. Just make sure that you are more than willing to:
- Purchased a crock that clips to the cage.
- Change the water in the crock twice a day.
- Clean the crock on a regular basis.
Tip: If you don't have a crock that clips to their cage, try placing it in an elevated spot away from their hay or bedding.
Water Bottle
Pros: Some rabbit owners choose not to have to check their rabbit's water bowl multiple times a day to see if it's been contaminated so they choose to use a water bottle instead. Using a water bottle holds three main benefits.
- It can direct water straight into their mouth and down their throat with as little water waste as possible.
- It holds the temperature of the water better, while a water bowl will usually change with the temperature of the room.
- Lastly, the water in a bottle won't evaporate leaving it to maintain the required water volume for your rabbit.
Cons: While it may easier on the owner side to use a water bottle there are several reason people choose not to. Depending on the bottle you purchase it can:
- Leak and require you to clean their cage more often.
- Make a loud and somewhat obnoxious noise when used.
- Requires a rabbit to tilt their head up to get access to the spout.
- Hard to clean, leaving it easier for bacteria and algae to develop in the water.
Even with the list of the disadvantages above, using a water bottle is a good way to give your rabbit the fresh water that they need. Click here to shop the best bottles that help cancel out the problems listed in the con section!
Each rabbit has its own personality, behavior traits, likes and dislikes. It just takes a little testing out of products to get the correct one. With whichever option you choose, you always want to make sure your rabbit has access to their water because water is vital to their health.
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