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Can Bunnies Drink Out of a Bowl? (Read This First!)

Bunnies have our hearts. These little creatures are so adorable; we want to offer them every possible comfort. And drinking out of a bowl, instead of a bottle, seems to comfort them.

Now we will discuss whether bunnies can drink out of a bowl. We will further discuss the reasons behind it and how we can choose the right water bowl for them. So let’s read ahead to learn more about it. 

Can bunnies drink out of a bowl?

Bunnies can drink out of a bowl. In fact, it is ideal for them to drink water out of a bowl, instead of a water bottle. Lapping from a bowl seems to be more natural for bunnies. Bowls will make sure that the water does not get clogged or spilled over when the bunnies are trying to drink.

Water is vital to bunnies. You should make sure that your bunnies have easy access to water all the time. And bowls are the best way to make sure of that.

Bunnies that eat plenty of green grass and leaves will drink less water than those that eat hays. However, both these groups should have access to water nonetheless.

Bowls will allow them the easiest access to water. Drinking water from a bowl is more natural for bunnies. Wild bunnies have drunk out of potholes, water reservoirs, ponds, and such.

So for them, drinking out of a water bottle is somewhat unnatural. They are also likely to spill a lot of water in the process. In addition, there is a possibility that when the rabbits drink out of the bottle in the winter, the spout of the bottle may get clogged.

The water in the bottle may even freeze if the bunnies live outside. To avoid such inconveniences, you should offer your bunnies water in a bowl.

Baby bunnies:

Baby bunnies like to drink out of a bowl. It is very convenient for them and requires much less effort than a water bottle.

When you’re feeding your rabbit from a bottle, it has a risk of being clogged in the spout. The bottle may even cause a lot of water to spill over. But there is no such risk in case of a bowl.

A bowl will not get blocked. Neither will the water get spilled over. The bunny will have a much easier time drinking the water. They will have easy access to water thanks to the water bowl.

Will bunnies drink out of a bowl?

Yes, bunnies will definitely drink out of a bowl. In fact, it proves to be quite convenient for them. Bunnies will be able to drink water straight out of a bowl without spilling any water on themselves.

The water bowls are rather convenient for them. Bunnies, while drinking from a water bottle, spill a lot of water on themselves. The bottle sometimes even gets clogged as a result of the elements of nature. It may even cause the water to freeze.

But such issues seldom occur in case of a water bowl. Water bowls are convenient and easy to drink water from. It becomes a challenge otherwise.

So if given a choice between a water bottle and water bowl, bunnies usually choose a water bowl. They will drink out of a bowl for sure.

2 reasons why bunnies can drink out of a bowl

Here are two of the most prominent reasons why bunnies can drink water out of a bowl.

Natural way of drinking:

Drinking from an open source of water is the natural way for bunnies. Out in the wild, bunnies drink from open sources such as a lake, pond, and such. So a water bowl resembles those open sources and allows them to drink in a natural manner.

In addition, the water bowls are relatively easy to clean and fill up. It is also relatively affordable to replace the water bowls.

In addition, if you’re placing the water source outside during the winter, a water bowl has much less chance of breaking due to the freezing water, whereas a bottle will most likely break when water freezes.

Less risk of spilling water:

When bunnies drink out of a bowl, they have much less chance of spilling any water out of the bowl. When they drink from a bottle, they spill water all over their body. They also spill water outside and lose a lot of it.

But when they drink from a bowl, the risk of spilling water is minimized. But you will have to make sure that you’re changing the water daily. Clean the bowl on a regular basis as well. This will help you maintain a healthy lifestyle for your bunnies.

How do bunnies drink water from a bowl?

Bunnies are the most comfortable drinking water from a bowl, rather than a bottle or a feeder. This is because bunnies drink water from a bowl by maintaining their natural posture. The bowl allows them to drink water in their natural position.

They can lap as much as they want in one go. The water bowls resemble the natural open water sources that bunnies are used to drinking from. It offers comfort for them.

The chance of them spilling any water is also minimized while using water bowls. However, you will have to make sure to clean the water bowls on a regular basis. Bowls catch debris and bedding easily, so you will have to clean it up often. Make sure to change the water on a regular basis as well.

Should I have my bunny/rabbit use a water bowl or water bottle?

There are pros and cons to both water bowls and water bottles for bunnies. Let’s take a look at whether you should have your bunny or rabbit use a water bowl or a water bottle by measuring their pros and cons.

The advantage of using a water bowl is that there is minimal spilling of water, so the bunnies will not waste any water while drinking. Which will not be the case for water bottles. Bunnies spill a lot of water while drinking from water bottles.

On the other hand, the water bowls are a great medium for holding the temperature of the water better. This is not the case for water bottles.

And most importantly, the water bowl resembles the natural open source that rabbits use out in the wild. So they can drink from a water bowl by maintaining their natural posture. So a water bowl is always better than a water bottle for rabbits and bunnies.

How to choose a water bowl for your bunny?

Here’s how you can choose a water bowl for your bunny:

Avoid plastic:

You should, by all means, avoid plastic bowls for your bunny. Plastic bowls are not a healthy choice as they can hold on to bacteria and allow them to contaminate the water rather quickly.

Instead you should choose ceramic or metal bowls for the water bowl. These will make healthy alternatives to plastic.

In addition, plastic bowls catch scratches rather quickly. So you will have to replace the bowl within a short while. On the other hand, ceramic or metal material will serve your bunny for a long time unless they sustain damage through external forces.

Choose a right size:

The bowl for your rabbit should be of an appropriate size. If you’re buying a bowl for a young bunny, make sure that the bowl is not too large for them. Otherwise, they will have a hard time drinking water from the bowl.

Make sure that the bowl that you’re getting for a young bunny is less than 550 ml in size. The typical size of a bowl for your bunny is 550 ml. This will be ideal for an adult rabbit. The ideal diameter would be 5 inches across.

Clean the bowl:

Make sure to get the right cleaning items along with the water bowl because it is essential that you keep the bowl of your rabbit clean. Make sure to change the water daily and wash the bowl before putting new water in it.

Clean the bowl thoroughly, with soap and other cleaning agents, every couple of days. This is crucial in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle for your rabbit.

Final Thoughts

Bunnies can drink out of a bowl. Water bowls, ideally 5 inches in diameter and 550 ml in size, are great for keeping your bunnies hydrated as they are quite comfortable to drink out of. The water bowls resemble the natural open source that rabbits are accustomed to drinking from.