Babies and Crocks

[Desert Rose Rabbits]

Any recommendations for what to do with babies and water crocks? I've officially had to convert over since the metal parts on all the bottles are freezing solid and I'm concerned about the babies getting wet/soaked from either playing or falling into the crocks and then, I dunno, turning into bunnicicles. Am I just being paranoid?

 

[skysthelimit]

You know. I have not had any problem. I gave up the bottles last summer and have not lost a kit to the crock yet. I think mainly because it's frozen, then they do their best to drink up all I put in there, and then it's frozen again.

 

[ottersatin]

I find that too often kits will climb into the water crocks
possibly in an effort to warm themselves. In the end you
find them frozen to death. Not all but certainly more
than we'd like to see! There is no other choice, so I try
to not give too much in the hopes that they will drink it all
be climbing into it. This is the main reason that I do not
care for Water Bowls!
Ottersatin. ldtimer:

 

[MaggieJ]

I put a few rocks in the water crocks when there are young kits in cold weather. This keeps them from falling in (although they can still get wet feet) and they can drink easily from between the rocks. I've never lost a kit in that particular way, but I certainly understand your concern.

 

[bunnygardener]

this is my first winter in NC and I had to go to crocks when we had some cold nights. I had 4 week old kits that jumped in the crock. I fished them out while I was having heart failure. Dried them off and gave them a long narrow plastic container they could jump in as easily. They are remarkably dumb as little ones

 

[Ramjet]

I use crocks and other than one doe who likes to soak her sore feet , they stay out of the water ... The food bowl on the other hand they sit in on a regular basis.

 

[Desert Rose Rabbits]

I put a few rocks in the water crocks when there are young kits in cold weather. This keeps them from falling in (although they can still get wet feet) and they can drink easily from between the rocks. I've never lost a kit in that particular way, but I certainly understand your concern.

This is an excellent idea! Hubby has been helping me water everyone, and so far (knock on wood), no one has fallen in. We did get some crocks from the dollar store that are small... just big enough for an adult to get their head all the way to the bottom if they so desired. They're also pretty thick, so I've been soaking them in hot water before I take them out and then filling them with warm water. It seems to be helping, but I'm finding myself out there every couple of hours changing out water.

 

[Homer]

I've never had any problems with them getting in the water either but can see the potential problem. Mine have always lined up around the bowl as soon as I set it down.

The food bowl is another story though...

 

[Ramjet]

The food bowl is another story though...

Yep , that could have been taken at my house .... creates a bit of wasted food , I'm tempted to go to the cage mounted feeders because of this.

 

[Homer]

Yep , that could have been taken at my house .... creates a bit of wasted food , I'm tempted to go to the cage mounted feeders because of this.

The good thing is it only last about a week with Flemish Giants, then they're too big to get in the bowl.

 

[skysthelimit]

They sit in the cage mounted feeders as well. Buns that do that don't get free fed anymore. Twice a day now, morning and night when thy others are feed, watching how much they consume in the sitting, to know how much to put in to avoid waste. The worst was sitting in the hay feeders. That stuff was too expensive for that.

 

[Homer]

The worst was sitting in the hay feeders. That stuff was too expensive for that.

:yeahthat:

 

[PSFAngoras]

I use J feeders and the metal crocks with the rings that attach to the cage. The J feeders never get sit in or dug out, only wasted food is when the kits start to wean and they drop pellets as they're eating. The water bowls are high enough that the little kits have to stand on their back feet to reach them, so by the time they're large enough to hop in and sit in those they can easily get back out. Most only like to sit in hem if they go dry, I've only had one kit so far that liked to take a bath in momma's bowl.