Your furry bunny must always have access to plenty of fresh water. Bunnies who consume a lot of fresh grass and greens drink less. However, rabbits who eat primarily hay generally drink more.
The digestive system can only function effectively if it is well hydrated. To travel smoothly through the system, ingested food must be maintained wet. If it becomes too dry, it will clog the stomach, causing a major issue.
As a result, make sure your rabbit has access to fresh water at all times. However, if you utilize a water bottle to keep your bunny hydrated, you may run into some issues.
When you hang your rabbit’s water bottle on a cage or carrier, it typically doesn’t stop dripping. After a pet drinks, all water bottles will drip.
The bottle may also drip when the temperature where the water bottle is kept changes. Keep the water bottle away from windows where sunshine enters and heats it for optimum effects.
If you want to learn more about your bunny’s drinking requirements and preferences, keep reading!
How Does A Rabbit’s Water Bottle Work?
Pet water bottles have a metal drinking tube and one or more metal ball bearings. Because a vacuum is created in the sealed container, these bearings within the tube are able to keep the water contents.
A film of water remains between the metal ball and the open end of the drinking tube thanks to the metal ball.
Because the exposed ball bearing moves, the seal is broken and the vacuum within the water bottle is released, the moving ball acts as an opening and closing valve.
The pet may access water as it runs down the tube. This happens when your bunny licks or nudges the ball.
The film of water recovers and the valve closes when the pet leaves the water bottle and the ball settles into position at the end of the drinking tube.
As your water bottle establishes a new vacuum seal, this little drop represents the initial release of water. The air space and water volume must equalise in order for a vacuum to occur within the sealed water bottle.
This small discharge of water is a completely typical side effect of the equalisation when the pressure stabilises.
A single droplet at the end of the sipping tube does not indicate that the water bottle is leaking. When the bottle is first filled and installed, tap the ball bearing several times. This will assist create the vacuum seal. This discharges a tiny amount of water and speeds up the vacuum pressure equalisation process.
What Are The Reasons For My Rabbit’s Water Bottle Leaking?
If your water bottle is continually spilling or emptying, it may be an issue for your rabbit and you.
A rubber gasket should be visible within the cap of your bottle. If the gasket is missing or damaged, your furry bunny’s bottle will leak continually.
How Do You Stop A Rabbit Water Bottle From Leaking?
Clean the interior with a bottle brush and water. Fill the bottle halfway with water. If you’re using a plastic bottle, squeeze it while putting the cap on to create a tiny vacuum within.
This will assist prevent leaking. Make sure the lid is securely fastened before turning the bottle upside down and reattaching it to the cage.
Empty the bottle and thoroughly dry it. Then, to patch the little leak, apply water resistant adhesive. It’s really straightforward. Check the rubber washer’s flexibility as well.
How To Avoid Rabbit Water Bottle Leaking?
If your water bottle is constantly dripping or emptying, there are a few measures you may do to fix the problem.
If you look inside the cap of your bottle, you should find a rubber gasket. Your bottle will drip constantly if the gasket is missing or broken. The gasket will have different colours depending on the bottle type.
A blue gasket is used on the wide mouth 32 and 16 oz bottles. A yellow gasket is used on the wide mouth 64 oz bottles. A black gasket is used on the regular neck water bottles.
Using room temperature water, fill the water bottle entirely. A bottle half-filled or completely filled with cold water takes longer to produce a vacuum and drips more.
After you’ve filled the bottle, seal the top. Then tap the ball bearing a few times in the sink and hang it on the cage/crate.
After that, tap it a few more times. Within a few minutes, your water bottle should stop dripping. The dripping will cease faster if the bottle is smaller.
Hold the bottle so that the tube is facing up and squeeze the bottle until a tiny quantity of water is forced out. Flip it over and hang it on the cage. The vacuum will build up in some time.
How Do I Take Care Of Rabbit Water Bottle?
If the water bottle is mounted on a box or carrier and the animal is large, the bottle may shake and spill a few drips as the animal moves around. To capture the drips, some you may place a tiny cup under the tube tip.
Furthermore, in a moving container, most ball bearing bottles will drip. We suggest that you buy a valve bottle for your bunny.
Because your hand provides a small pressure on the bottle and your hand is warm, the bottle will not cease dripping while you hold it. It generally doesn’t stop pouring until it’s hung on a cage.
After a pet drinks, all water bottles will drip. Keep the water bottle away from windows where sunshine enters and heats it.
Why Is The Ball Bearing Of My Water Bottle Leaking?
Stopping leaks in water bottles permanently is a difficult task. It’s also important to consider how to properly handle a water bottle while setting up a rabbit cage.
In any case, there are two possible causes for water escaping from the bottle.
- An error in the bottle
- Displacement of the ball bearing
We are here to help you with your leaking water bottle.
Remove the broken bottle from the metal retaining clip first. To remove the water bottle, pull it straight out.
It would be ideal if you kept a careful eye on the leaks. It will assist you in first comprehending the issue.
Hold the water bottle in the position so that the metal sipping tube is facing upward. Remove the rabbit water bottle’s cover by turning it counter clockwise.
Mix a sufficient amount of dish soap with hot water in a hot, waterproof pot. Shake it till the bubble rises to the top. After then, wait until it is cool enough to touch with your hand.
Then, using a brush, wipe the inside surface of the container with this liquid. Make sure the bottle is clean. Clean the metal tube with a tube cleaner as well.
Pour the soapy liquid into the container and put the top on after washing both separate parts. Then aggressively shake the bottle for a few minutes.
Now look at the bottle. Look for little bubbles on the container’s surface. Wipe the bottle’s outer surface to view it clearly.
A small bubble indicates a bottle leak. You can use a pen to point out the leaks.
Check the rubber washer’s flexibility as well. You’ll find it on the inside of the lid. Replace it with a fresh one if it gets weak or rotting.
Fill the water bottle with water. Replace the bottle in the cage as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Rabbits Need Water Everyday?
Yes, rabbits need water everyday. A normal, healthy, and content rabbit should drink around ten percent of her body weight in water each day.
Can Baby Rabbits Drink Water?
At around three to four weeks of age, baby rabbits may begin drinking water from their mother’s water bottle or bowl.
Should I Cover My Rabbit’s Cage At Night?
The easiest approach to ensure that your rabbit can relax at night is to cover the cage. They’ll find it simpler to relax when there’s nothing else to do except sleep. Just make sure it’s only covered when they’re sleeping and that there’s enough space for air.
Final Words
Nowadays, you may give your rabbit water bottles to drink from. As a backup, keep a water bowl in your bunny’s cage.
There are several advantages to using water bottles. Its contents do not evaporate, and the temperature remains constant. It is an excellent choice for rabbits because they are finicky.
Drop down your queries regarding your bunny in the comment section below! We will answer them soon.
