Can I take away an unused water bottle?

[h.h.lovecraft]

My pair of girls have two water bottles on the left and right sides of their cage, however the right one is essentially never used. It's always almost as full as I when I first fill it and I think the water difference stems from the fact that it drips a lot. I've only ever seen both piggies use the left one in the past few months too. It seems to be their preferred bottle. They will sniff around at the right one but will always end up at the left one. It's definitely not a problem with the bottle or anything because I switch the left and right one all the time. They are the same type of bottle and they are so close together that an enviromental issue wouldn't make sense as the reason why the go to only one. They used to fight about using the same water bottle when I first got them, which is why I provided two, but they seemed to have sorted it out. One also drinks much more than the other so they aren't really there at the same time often.

The mostly unused dripping water bottle obviously creates a lot of mess and makes the cage smell faster so I was just wondering if it'd be ok to take it out. I wouldn't want to cause territorial behavior by providing only one water bottle, but they have only one in their run and have no problem with that. What do you guys think? Do any of your piggies share one?

 

[Black piggies]

I always have 2 in case I don't shut one properly and it floods out, or a brick falls on my head while I'm out and the piggies get forgotten for a bit. Not sure if those are good enough reasons to have two

 

[VickiA]

If they aren’t drinking from it, I can’t see any reason why you couldn’t remove it. I would just do so and see if there’s any change in behaviour or dominance with one preventing the other from drinking from it.

 

[ThatPurpleB]

I have 2 in just incase one stops working. They rarely use one but I'm a worrier and it makes me feel better. (Also same about the brick on the head @Black piggies )

 

[Free Ranger]

I have more bottles than pigs but they are spread over a large area. Two are rarely used and the other two are shared between 3 even though George is a messy drinker and leaves a lot of blowback and a scummy spout! I only change the water in the unused ones on cage blitz day - they are indoors and not in the sun so I don't see a problem with it.

 

[h.h.lovecraft]

I always have 2 in case I don't shut one properly and it floods out, or a brick falls on my head while I'm out and the piggies get forgotten for a bit. Not sure if those are good enough reasons to have two

If flying bricks are a concern for you, I would say better safe than sorry!

 

[PigglePuggle]

I also have 2 water bottles for my pair and 3 for my group of 6 pigs. Just in case!

 

[Jill B]

I have one bottle for two girls and they're fine.

 

[My Piggies]

I have the same issue as you @h.h.lovecraft, except they only drink out of the right bottle. I'm not really sure why
However, Poppet who we only recently adopted, uses the left one...Maybe the other two know something she doesn't

 

[Claire W]

I have two water bottles for 4 piggies but they always drink out of the one on the right and leave the one on the left. It makes me feel better having two in case one falls off or stops working but I see no reason why one bottle wouldn't be sufficient for a pair of piggies. It really is personal preference