Water bottles for rabbits: clean, fresh water every day

A rabbit must always have access to fresh, clean drinking water. That is especially true for rabbits that, as they should, eat hay all day long and also get dry pellets. A water bottle on the side of the hutch keeps the water free of hay, droppings and bedding. The water stays clean for longer and the floor stays dry.

In this category you will find drinking bottles in glass and in plastic in various sizes, a bottle holder, coolers for warm days and a cleaning brush. A good water bottle is part of the basics we use for our own rabbits: unlimited Zooply hay, a suitable portion of Zooply Rabbit Food and always fresh water.

At a glance

• ✓ Refresh the water daily and clean the bottle thoroughly at least once a week.
• ✓ Check every day that the ball in the spout moves freely and that water comes out.
• ✓ Choose a roomy bottle for rabbits; the small 75 and 150 ml bottles are meant for hamsters and mice.
• ✓ Many rabbits also like to drink from a heavy water bowl; you can offer both.
• ✓ With outdoor rabbits, keep an extra eye out for frost in winter and warm water in summer.

What will you find in the Water Bottles category?

Glass water bottle with bracket

The glass water bottle from Trixie holds 500 ml and hangs from the mesh or bars with a bracket. Glass absorbs odours and residue less quickly than plastic, which makes it pleasantly easy to keep clean. A floating indicator in the bottle shows at a glance how full it still is. Glass is heavier, though, and can break if it falls. So hang this bottle up securely.

Classic plastic water bottles

The Classic drinking bottles are made of transparent plastic, so you can easily see the water level. They are light, unbreakable and easy to fill. For rabbits, the 600 ml and 320 ml sizes are the most relevant. The 600 ml suits a pair or small group, the 320 ml a single rabbit or a second bottle. The 75 ml and 150 ml bottles are also in this category, but they are made for hamsters, mice and other small rodents. They are too small for a rabbit.

Bark wood bottle holder

The Trixie bottle holder is made of natural bark wood and measures ø 18 × 30 cm. It gives the drinking bottle a sturdy place in the enclosure. Rabbits love to chew, so check the holder regularly and replace it if pieces have been gnawed off.

Coolers for the drinking bottle

The Beeztees Drinking Bottle Cooler (18 × 8.5 × 8.5 cm) is a sleeve filled with cooling gel. First put it in the freezer for a few hours, then slide it around the drinking bottle. That way the water stays cooler on warm days. According to the product information, this cooler fits around 600 ml drinking bottles, such as the 600 ml Classic. There is also a smaller Beeztees Drinking Bottle Cooler of 16 × 7.5 × 7.5 cm in this category.

Cleaning brush for water bottles

With the Savic cleaning brush you can reach right down to the bottom of the bottle and into the neck. That is where residue builds up fastest.

Water bottle or water bowl: which suits your rabbit?

A water bottle is hygienic: no dirt gets in and the water cannot be knocked over. A bowl gives a rabbit a more natural drinking posture, with the head down, and some rabbits clearly drink more from it. A bowl does get dirty more quickly with hay and bedding, though, and needs refreshing more often. Choose a heavy ceramic or stoneware bowl so your rabbit cannot push it over.

You do not have to choose: many rabbit owners offer both. Your rabbit can then decide for itself, and you always have a backup if the bottle gets blocked.

How do you hang a water bottle correctly?

Hang the bottle so your rabbit can reach the spout in a relaxed posture, without stretching up far or crouching down. The spout should sit roughly just above chin height when your rabbit is sitting normally. If the spout hangs too low, it touches the bedding and starts to leak.

Choose a spot out of full sun. In the sun the water warms up and algae grow faster in the bottle. Do not hang the bottle above the litter tray or the hay rack, so no water drips into the hay or the litter. Fix the bracket firmly. Preferably hang the bottle on the outside of the bars with only the spout poking in; that way your rabbit cannot chew the bottle itself and you can refill it easily.

Check daily and clean weekly

Refresh the water every day, even if the bottle is still half full. When refilling, press the ball in the spout briefly with your finger: a drop should come out. If nothing comes out, the ball is stuck or there is an air bubble. If a little stream comes out instead, the spout is leaking. In either case, sort it out straight away or offer a bowl temporarily.

Clean the bottle thoroughly at least once a week. Rinse it with warm water, brush the inside with the cleaning brush and clean the spout well too. Then rinse thoroughly so no soap or smell is left behind. If you still see green residue or the bottle smells musty, clean it more often and check that it is not hanging in the light or the sun.

Water bottles in the outdoor hutch

In summer rabbits drink more and the water warms up faster. Hang the bottle in the shade, check more often whether it is still full enough and use a cooler around the bottle on warm days.

In winter the water in the bottle, and especially in the spout, can freeze. Your rabbit can then no longer drink, even though the bottle still looks full from the outside. So in frosty weather, check several times a day. A handy approach is to use two bottles: one hangs outside, the other stays indoors, and you swap them a few times a day.

How much does a rabbit drink?

How much a rabbit drinks depends on its weight, the temperature and what it eats. A rabbit that gets lots of fresh greens already gets moisture from them and drinks less from the bottle. A rabbit that mainly eats hay and pellets drinks more.

What matters more is that you know what is normal for your rabbit. When refreshing the water, notice how much has gone from the bottle. If your rabbit suddenly drinks much more or much less, and you also notice that it is eating less, producing fewer droppings, sitting still or grinding its teeth, contact a rabbit-savvy vet straight away.

Two rabbits, enough drinking spots

Rabbits are social animals and should live at least in pairs. That also means there needs to be enough to drink for both of them. With a pair or small group it is wise to have more than one drinking spot, for example a 600 ml bottle and a heavy water bowl, in different places in the enclosure. That way a dominant rabbit cannot block the water and everyone can drink in peace.

Useful combinations

A water bottle is a small part of a well-equipped enclosure. These categories complete the picture:

• Food bowls: for a heavy water bowl next to the bottle, or a sturdy bowl for the pellets.
• Hay: offer unlimited Zooply hay, the foundation of the menu and the reason your rabbit drinks a lot.
• Hay racks: keep the hay dry and clean; do not hang one directly under the water bottle.
• Rabbit food: Zooply Rabbit Food as the daily pellet alongside hay and water.
• Outdoor hutches: a sheltered hutch where you can hang the bottle out of the sun and wind.

Frequently asked questions about water bottles for rabbits

Why is no water coming out of the bottle?

Usually the ball in the spout is stuck because of limescale, dirt or an air bubble. Take the bottle down, clean the spout and fill the bottle completely. Screw it shut tightly and press the ball a few times until a drop comes out. If still nothing comes out, stop using the bottle and put down a water bowl until you have a replacement. Your rabbit must never be left without water.

Is a glass or a plastic water bottle better for a rabbit?

Both work well. Glass absorbs odours and residue less quickly and is easy to clean thoroughly, but it is heavier and can break. Plastic is light and unbreakable, but needs cleaning a little more often and more carefully. For a rabbit that pushes hard against the bars or jumps a lot, or with young children in the house, plastic is often the choice. If you want as little odour and residue as possible, glass is pleasant to use.

How do I teach my rabbit to drink from a water bottle?

Most rabbits get the hang of it quickly. For the first few days, press the ball a few times so a drop hangs from the spout that your rabbit can smell and taste. During that period, also put a water bowl in the enclosure so you know for sure your rabbit is drinking enough. If you see the water level in the bottle going down and the floor underneath staying dry, your rabbit is drinking from it just fine.

What size water bottle do I need for two rabbits?

For two rabbits a 600 ml bottle is a good choice, ideally supplemented with a heavy water bowl as a second drinking spot. On warm days or when you are away from home for a long time, a second bottle can be a lifesaver.

How do I prevent green residue in the water bottle?

Green residue is caused by algae, and these grow mainly in light and warmth. So hang the bottle out of the sun, refresh the water daily and clean the bottle at least weekly with warm water and a bottle brush. Rinse thoroughly.

Does the cooler fit around every drinking bottle?

No. According to the product information, the Beeztees Drinking Bottle Cooler of 18 × 8.5 × 8.5 cm is made for 600 ml drinking bottles, such as the 600 ml Classic. With a smaller or differently shaped bottle it does not fit properly and cools less well.

Buying water bottles at Knaagplaza

At Knaagplaza, the webshop of 't Knaagplein, you will find water bottles and accessories suited to the daily care of rabbits. Combine a good bottle with unlimited Zooply hay and Zooply Rabbit Food, our own premium brand that we use every day for our own rabbits, and your rabbit has a clean, complete foundation every day.