Will the buns figure out new waterer?

[Miss M]

I just received all my cages, J feeders, and such from Bass. I ordered some of their "2 LITER BOTTLE CONVERSION KITs" for waterers, because all the bottles I've had before have had a really hard time keeping water in them (very drippy), and I was hoping to move away from crocks. This is what the ad says:

"This kit allows you to use a 2 liter bottle with the new no-drip valve. Revolutionary spring action valve replaces ordinary ball tube for leak free operation. Kit includes tube and cap assembly, special bottle bracket, and spring.
No. BP-2L - $ 3.95"

Does anyone have experience with these things? The little rod inside the tube seems a little difficult to push, but will they eventually figure it out? I mean... before they dehydrate?

I had to quickly separate the buns today, when I caught one of the boys trying to be a boy :mrgreen: . I was hoping to wait until we had the rabbitry built, but no such luck! We had to set up a cage really quickly, and I put one of these valves on a bottle and put it out there. Shaygetz and I are just worried that they won't catch on.

 

[ladysown]

some will, some won't. in the meantime put a crock in twice a day for an hour or so. That will help prevent dehydration and the rest of the day they will hopefully figure out the bottles.

 

[Brody]

I would do exactly as Lady says ...
make sure they have water in case they aren't figuring it out but give them time to figure it out

 

[trinityoaks]

Does anyone have experience with these things? The little rod inside the tube seems a little difficult to push, but will they eventually figure it out?

Mine didn't. I'm sorry I got them. I went back to the ball valve.

With the water bottles from TSC (which still have the ball valve), I don't get any dripping. With the old 2-liter-bottle conversion kits (ball valve), I found that all I had to do was add 2-3 rubber washers from Home Depot to the inside of the cap, and that stopped leaking with those.

 

[Miss M]

Thank you all; sorry it took me so long to get back!

I noticed the water level dropping on the bottle I put in for the boys, but put a heavy Pyrex bowl of water out there for them (out of crocks!). I just put a bottle out on the girls' cage today, and they've been worrying it all day. At least a couple of them have definitely figured it out, but I did put water in the crock as well. I haven't put a bottle up for Thumper yet.

Hopefully everybody will figure it out, but the idea of putting the crocks out there for a while to be safe is great.

Thank you for the tip on the TSC bottles, trinityoaks... I will definitely remember that if these just don't work out. You have serious, long heat like we do, so if they work for you, they should work for me.

All the cages are assembled, and today we put new lattice over the porch. So tomorrow we start on the rabbitry. We have gutter material we salvaged from having the gutters replaced, and there's a guy on our local Freecycle who's got some corrugated roofing and lumber for us. Hopefully it's enough corrugated material for both the roof and the waste chutes under the cages.

Pearl's not going to know what to do with herself with all the babies out of her cage! LOL

 

[MaggieJ]

Sounds like things are rolling right along for you, Miss M! Hope you are happy in your new home.

 

[Miss M]

Thank you, Maggie, we're doing well! Still have boxes to unpack... mainly because we have to clear out stuff that's already here in order to unpack. We don' mind; we have a home, and we are so very grateful for that!

Turned out that as soon as we left, after the treatment Shaygetz received at his job, things radically changed there. The property he was maintenance supervisor over was foreclosed on and has a new owner now, and is under a property management company now (which Shaygetz had no desire to work under again). Amazing.

Anyway, the bottles do seem to be working out, I think... it's quite popular in the girls' cage now, and was actually drained before the water bowl last night. The boys are doing alright with it, I believe, though they prefer the bowl. I haven't given one to Thumper yet.

I thought I would like the springs that hold the bottle to the cage. I don't. They are too tight for a 2-liter bottle, and smush the bottle into a triangle or other shapes, which will eventually cause the bottle to fail. Removing a clip so you can refill the bottle is almost impossible, as is refastening the clip when you are done. I'll be having Shaygetz bend some wire holders for me.

They came with no instructions, so I didn't know whether the cupped screen was supposed to be installed up or down or if it mattered. A vacuum seemed to be created in the bottle, causing the sides to be sucked in and less water to be dispensed when the little rod was pushed. So I finally punched a small hole in the bottom (top) of the bottles to let in air. This has solved this problem.

For now I will continue with them cautiously, supplementing with crocks when the situation calls for it, in the hopes that once they're all in their new rabbitry, I can slowly wean them from crocks.

Unfortunately, Shaygetz hurt his back the first day at his new job, which has brought the harsh reality that he just can't do that kind of work anymore. So I guess he's back to job-hunting Monday, and the rabbitry will have to wait until his back is better. I hope he heals up soon!

 

[irishmick]

Miss M,
Did your rabbits ever figure out these 2 liter conversions? I just bought some also and mine haven't, but in their defense I haven't withheld the crocks.
Thanks,
Ryan