Water: Water

[Emmy-Dan]

My four girls don't seem to drink much. I have noticed this before. They seem fine and full of energy. They eat well...plenty of hay, pellets and veg twice a day. Now the weather is getting hotter I am growing more concered about their drinking habits. It hasn't improved. I change the bottles three times a day. Also I have put frosen bottles in and damp towels to help with the heat. Has anyone any advise with regards to them drinking?

[PrayerWarrior]

Changing the water three times a day is good, but not necessary. Once a day minimum, twice if it gets empty or you'd like. But by all means, change it as often as you want. Though some piggies won't drink when the water is cold.

Do you have A/C or fans? With either of those and frozen water bottles with towels around them, they shouldn't be hot. Some pigs just don't drink as much as others. I have two pigs that share one 16oz bottle, and they don't even drink half. And then one by himself with an 8oz bottle, and he drinks it all if not close to all.

If the veggies are wet, they get water from that, as well. So as long as you have fans and something cool like frozen bottles or tiles, I wouldn't worry.

[Haley0489]

I have one water bottle [not sure of the ounces, it's just your typical bottle]; but my three pigs can go an entire week without it needing to be filled. I have another same sized bottle that I refresh daily just to give them fresh water, but they don't even empty it half an inch in an entire day. Veggies are mostly 100% water so they're getting a lot of their hydration from that.

[twopigsmom]

My two girls share a 16 oz. bottle and it usually doesn't drop more than 1/2 to 1 inch a day.

[cavygirl13]

Woah my four girls drink 3-4 bottles a water a day!

[sammy_kaye]

My two 2, month boys, drink so little I don't even notice the level in their bottles go down unless I leave it for a few days (just to check they are drinking). Although it is winter here so it is cool. I also leave my veges wet so they get extra water from them.

[Maisiepaisie]

I would try adding a different brand of bottle. I have several different types and there are some the pigs don't like. Maybe they're hard to drink from, I don't know. If you give your pigs 2 bottle types you can easily see which they prefer.

[Sammy and Peanut]

Well, how much of the veggies do you give? There's moisture in the veggies, and the more they eat them, the less they drink. The water may be too hot or too cold also.

[sammy_kaye]

I just put a stainless birdbowl under my water bottle. This catches drips and gives the piggies somewhere else to drink from. They seem to be drinking a bit more than the used to. Because it is attached to the side of the cage they don't get much bedding or hay in it.

[auburnmare5]

You say you give veggies twice a day? The veggies provide water, especially if you soak them or wash them just before you give them.