Leaking water bottles

[Bassetluv]

I have never been able to purchase a waterbottle that didn't leak. This latest one I got also leaks (quite a bittoo...within half an hour it was almost half empty).

Anyway, I was sitting there this morning wondering if there was someway to fix it, and an idea came to mind. I took the top off the bottleand cut two single squares from a 'J-cloth', then put the layers acrossthe opening. I put the top back on and placed the water bottle back onthe cage, and so far it seems to be working. No more dripping, yet whenI touch the ball at the bottom of the tube, water does come out.

Has anyone else tried something like this? I think that enough watercomes through for Raph, but I also have a water dish for him just incase. (Would like the water bottle to work though, since his earsinevitably wind up soaking wet in his water dish.) The water bottleidea looks like it's working, but if it doesn't I will have to resortto a dish that is attached to the side of the cage to keep his ears outof it...LOL

~Di

 

[dootsmom]

Darn!!!! LOL!!! Thanks forthe tip about the J-cloth! I have found that if my bottlestip too much, they will leak. Keeping them perfectlyhorizontal will usually stop most leakage.

 

ok One time for this Dummy , what is J Cloth ?

 

[rabbitluvr04]

Its ok Gypsy, I don't know what it is either.

~.:*Kisses*:.~

 

[tmdegenstien]

Just an ordinary cleaning cloth, thin, used for doing the dishes............I wonder if it would also filter the water a little?

 

[bluebird]

The top opening ones leak less.I also purchasedones that have a spring inside at petsmart the bottle is blue they dontleak.bluebird

 

[tmdegenstien]

Ya the blue bottles with the springs dont leakmuch, but none of my rabbits have liked them very much. I don't thinkthey get enough water and get frustrated with it. Could be rabbitpersonal preference, who knows. They throw a fit and bang it againstthe bars everytime :shock:

 

[Bassetluv]

ooops....maybe J-cloths are a Canadian product.(Thanks for the pic, tmdegenstien). A J-cloth is made of soft fibersand, looking at it closely, it resembles a mesh. I had purchased awater bottle that was leaking quite a bit, no matter what angle I triedit at. So I tried the J-cloth in an effort to stem the flow, and itseems to work...but I am discovering that Raph doesn't like drinkingfrom it. He prefers a water dish. So now I'm on the look-out for a dishthat mounts on the side of the cage (to keep his loppy-long ears outtathe water). It's actually funny to watch him....he will go to take adrink and sometimes one of his ears will drape the bowl completely, andhe's left searching for it ('hey, where'd the water go????').

The top opening ones leak less.I also purchased ones that have aspring inside at petsmart the bottle is blue they dontleak.bluebird

I'm actually heading out to PetSmart today so will take a look...thanksBluebird! However, since my problem now is that Raph shows no interestin drinking from a waterbottle, is there some way to train him? I waswondering if I can tempt him into using the water bottle by puttingsomething sweet on the end of it (just to get him to start licking it).

 

[JimD]

Bassetluv wrote:

However, since my problem now is that Raph shows no interestin drinking from a waterbottle, is there some way to train him? I waswondering if I can tempt him into using the water bottle by puttingsomething sweet on the end of it (just to get him to start licking it).

You can try putting a few drops of vanilla extract in the water and it may prompt him to drink.

 

[dootsmom]

Jim....do you put the Vanilla in all the waterbottles? I only put it in the bottles that areoutside. When I brought the Buns in, for the winter, Istopped using it and they wouldn't drink their water without it!!

 

[ariel]

I wanted to reply to this when Tina posted earlier about bottles, Ihave had a similar problem as well, no matter what bottle I would buysure enough the dreaded "drip, drip" would happen.

I got a lixit one about a week ago and have found it great so far. yesit drips for the first 20-30 seconds after putting it in place in thehutch but after that all is well here with it.

I also put vanilla in Bindys bottle, and I have to admit she prefersthe taste of the water that way, anyway I thought I'd pop a reply hereabout how I have found this one to be for me and so far has workedbetter than any oter one I have bought.

 

[Stephanie]

This is the only water bottle our rabbits willuse. We tried getting them a new one, but they turned thier littlenoses up at it. It's never leaked on us. It's actually the water bottlethat came with Chompers when I rescued him.

Abby and Valuran will drink out of a bowl, which we do keep out (not inthe cage cause Valuran is constantly tipping it over...he likes to playwith it). Chompers won't though.

I've seen this brand at Petsmart (the one on Innes) and I *think* Pet Valu. Might be wrong on the Pet Valu though.

 

[ariel]

Stephanie that's a great idea with that water bottle having thewire going across the bottle and the wire going under it aswell, by the looks of it , it'd make it more stable, Bindy has a habitof moving her bottle to a side on an angle.

 

[Stephanie]

That's what came with the water bottle. Abbystill manages to rip it down from time to time. She has an odd way ofdrinking where she grabs the metal tube part and jerks it up so thewhole bottle bangs. Weird bunny....

 

[ariel]

LOL funny little things they do huh. And the thuds and bangs andcrashes always seem to happen whilst us human type people are trying tosleep LOL

 

[Stephanie]

But of course!

Jeez, I just cleaned off the wire part of the cage but you really can't tell can you? LOL

 

[Bassetluv]

Hi Ariel...hey, you found a water bottle with aball that doesn't leak! It seems like most of them have the problem.I've not heard of the Lixit brand...don't know if they sell them hereor not. But it's good to know...I can make note of which brands comerecommended by others so I don't get stuck with another 'leaker'...lol.(And you have a beautiful bunny, btw.)


Stephanie, that is the brand of water bottle I wound up purchasing thelast time I ventured out to PetSmart..."All Living Things". The firstwater bottle I had leaked like a bugger (the one I spoke of in myoriginal post), so I replaced it. The only difference between yours andmine is I bought one with a flip top. And it really does work...nodrips! I also bought a water dish by the same company that mounts onthe side of the cage, and it's ideal. It can mount on any cage, and thedish can be easily removed for cleaning without having to take off thepart that holds it to the wire. I'm really pleased with that company.

Raph, however, still will not drink from a water bottle...I guess youcan lead a bun to a bottle, but you cannot make him drink from it. Iknow, I know...*groan*

Here's a pic of the side-mounting water crock...I really love it! Oh,and a pic of a 'hay rack' I got too (nothing to do with water bottlesand dishes, but this was just so neat). I was at Pier 1 Imports theother day and saw this wire cutlery holder, it was perfect for hay! Ithas two hooks on the back so it can be suspended from the side of thecage...perfect for bunnies...)

 

[Stephanie]

That bowl looks perfect for him. Looks like hisears won't get all wet while he drinks, plus it's mounted so he can'tknock it over.

I've read somewhere that some rabbits won't drink out of bottles, andsome won't drink out of bowls, depending on what they had after theywere weaned. Not sure how true this is, I just remember reading it. Iknow my Chompy won't drink out of a bowl, while the other two willdrink out of both.

Also, nice hay rack! Looks like you can really put a lot in there.

 

[ariel]

HI Basetluv, the brand of water bottle is "lixit" it's made here inAustralia, but in saying that if I can get Woody Pet here then I daresay you should be able to get lixit there if not and you want to try itI would be more than willing to pick you one up and send it to you.

Like I said I have had it just over a week and found it to be great ithas like a big spongey type washer thingy in the lid. When I first fillit , it has a drip but when there is enough of a seal it stops anddoesn't drip when in her hutch.

I've taken a couple of pics to show you, like I said if you can't getone and would like one just PM me and we'll go from there

Our hay rack works the same as yours except it's on the outside ofBindys' hutch and she just eats through the rails of the hutch. Workswell

*edit* to say to Stephanie that yes some buns prefer one drinkingcontainer to another, I guess it's like us , what they feel comfy with Mind you I don't think I'm as fussy or spoilt as much assome bunny I know ahhhh*bindy**humm LOL