I think they've figured it out!!(drinking from the valve)

[drumma]

I was watching my rabbits out the deck doors last night and was quite surprised to see that one of my does was going to town on the water valve. I had put some water dishes in when I first brought them home and they didn't seem to have any use for the valves, but drank quite happily from the dishes.

I put a little dab of peanut butter on the valve and started to let their water dishes go empty for a while before I would fill it up. I didn't have much hope, I just couldn't seem to get them interested in it. But then just yesterday I caught one using it.

My only concern now is that I want to make sure their getting enough water from it. So I don't want to take the dishes away quite yet. I think I'll just try letting them go dry for a while longer to encourage the use of the valves. My buck doesn't seem to have it figure out yet though. I'm hoping he gets it soon.

 

[MaggieJ]

Sounds like they are making progress. I think your approach is a good one. In the heat of summer it would be more difficult, but with these cold temperatures, no one is going to get dehydrated in a few hours.

 

[drumma]

I noticed that the buck isn't emptying his water dish very much either. So I'm not sure if he's drinking from the valve or not but he's eating a lot. I weight them all again this week and he was 5lbs last week and 5lbs 14oz this week. He put on almost a pound in just under a week. So I start to ration him back a little bit. I noticed when I pet him I can't feel his spine anymore. I read that that means he's too fat.

The 2 does(they're sharing a cage at the moment) only gained 5oz. each which seems a little more reasonable. I'm thinking I may put them in separate cages now, that way I can make sure they're both getting enough and how much each of them are eating. I put them together at first because I thought it might help them be a little more comfortable with their new environment. But they both seem quite fine, I can easily pick both of them up and remove them from the cage and hold them(The buck is not as happy about being picked up)

 

[curlysue]

I dont like too feel a rabbits spine when i pet him.I think if i can feel his spine hes too thin.i limit my feed and the only time i feel a rabbits spine if its sick.