10/13/2026
During the summer months I finally bit the bullet and decided to install a gravity fed automatic rabbit watering system. I have come close to installing one multiple times, but I have always changed my mind because knowing where to start was overwhelming. There are SOOO many product options available, and let’s be honest… No one wants to drop tons of money on things they aren’t sure will function or work well at all.
A huge thanks to Russ Brumbelow for taking the time to share with me the lessons he had learned over his time raising rabbits and the products that he had success with in his rabbitry which allowed to me to develop my own gravity fed water system that works for my rabbitry’s needs.
I always use something for a few months and see how it performs under the daily wear and tear of my rabbits before I give my honest thoughts/opinions over it. Hopefully this helps someone else who had the same questions I did and no idea where to start !
I can honestly say I wish I had done this sooner. I was spending a crazy amount of time each week washing and cleaning out bowls, and during the summer I felt as if I was constantly watering since the rabbits were drinking at a more rapid pace. Having the watering system has made my life so much easier and made watering more efficient.
*A few concerns I had holding me back from installing that I can now answer:
*Rabbits Learning to use the system :
The vast majority of my rabbits had NEVER seen a water bottle or a ni**le, this was a big concern of mine … what if I do all this and they refuse to utilize it… short answer based on my experience rabbits are NOSEY and very SMART. I left the bowls in the cage and installed the system and the rabbits were messing with the ni**les immediately.. as soon as that water hit… they no longer were interested in the bowls once they learned the new shiny thing in the cage produces WATER, I had no issue transitioning them over and pulling the bowls.
*How to tell if they are getting adequate water:
Bowls are easy because you can easily see the amount of water they are consuming, the watering system is a little different. I personally go through each morning and each evening check the tank to make sure it is filled, check the lines making sure each ni**le has adequate water flow and pressure, and there are no leaking ni**les.
I also check the feeders, if a rabbit is not drinking It will not eat. If see a rabbit is not eating it is usually a good indication it is not receiving enough water, so checking that particular line/ni**le is the best place to start.
*How to install the tubing/Will the rabbits chew the tubing ??
Most of the systems I saw, had the lines attached to the tops of the cages, I have my main lines zip tied to the bottom of my cages, and the drinking lines ran upward. I did this so I would not have to raise my tank to where I could not reach it without a ladder. I wanted easy access for refilling and cleaning. My rabbits don’t care about the tubing ran along the bottom of the cage and in 4 months I have not had a single incident of the rabbits chewing on the plastic tubing or the zip ties used to attach it to the cages. which I would consider a success!
*how long do the ni**les last ??
The ni**les I have been using have lasted since I installed the system. I did had to replace a few within a day or so of installation, but I believe the ones I had to replace were simply defective from the manufacturer. so far they have held up well !
Please keep in mind this is my experience and what has worked for me and my rabbitry ! I am still in the process of learning each and every day ! There are quite literally hundreds of ways to run a watering system, and thousands of product combinations to choose from !
I still LOVE and highly recommend the bowls I have used for many years. I do have several rabbits who still drink from Bowls, and several who will likely continue to drink from them just due to the layout of my rabbitry.
I included the links to the supplies I used below In the comments for the watering system as well as the link to the bowls I have used and loved for so many years ❤️ In addition to the items linked below I used zip ties to attach the lines to the cages, and a clear silicone sealant to seal the entry area around the valves! As always I’m happy to answer any questions ! Hopefully this helps someone ❤️
