Rabbit's and Cold Weather Cheap way of keeping them warm ?

Question

Hi

How can i keep my rabbit's warm this winter, i have obviously used hay and straw loads, but how can i keep them warm this winter ?

Could you please give me your suggestions or tips on how you do this ....

Thanks

Answer 1

I agree with what others have said, plus you can get a winter food for him which contains molasses, the sugar content helps during winter months to keep him warm.

Answer 2

I have raised rabbits for over 25 years and all of our rabbits are kept outside.

Rabbits can take cold weather really well. Actually, they can take it pretty good down to about -10F.

What you need to be really concerned about is wind. The temperature isn't what will hurt a rabbit. A cold draft is what will hurt them. Make sure your rabbit hutch is enclosed on three sides for the winter. It is also normally a good idea to face the hutch south or at least make sure that the rabbit hutch is not faced north. The cold winds come from the north so that is why you don't want the hutch facing that direction. By enclosing the hutch on 3 sides you ensure that a cold draft does not flow through the pen. Normally, I enclose every side except for the side with the cage door. Heavy duty clear plastic sheeting or a thin plywood will do for enclosing the three sides. For extremely cold weather, we will enclose all but about 6" of the pen leaving a 4-6" gap at the cage door for a little fresh air to get in so that ammonia doesn't build up too heavily in the cage. If the weather gets down to -10F or lower bring your rabbits inside or into a warmer place. Once the weather gets down that cold you risk having the rabbit's ears freeze.

A cold draft can give your rabbit pneumonia. Pneumonia will normally kill a rabbit within a few hours to a few days. And once the rabbit gets pneumonia it is almost impossible to save it. A rabbit that has pneumonia will normally exhibit deep heavy breathing or you may hear a rattling noise when the rabbit breathes.

The risk of the rabbit getting pneumonia is one main reason why I recommend that people should not bathe or wash their rabbits. Bathing or washing the rabbit also removes the natural oils from the rabbit's fur, damaging the rabbit's coat of fur.

One person did mention about a change in feed. That can help. Rabbits use more energy in winter than they do in summer. A rabbit feed with more energy can be utilized during the winter to help give them extra energy. Normally a family ration or rabbit food ration with about 16-18% protein will do for winter. Most rabbit feeds increas the amount of energy the feed has by increasing the amount of corn or soybean meal that the rabbit pellets have.

There are several times when a rabbit needs more energy in its diet:

1.) When it is pregnant or milking babies
2.) In the winter
3.) Males, when the male is being constantly used to breed with
4.) When the rabbit is growing and not yet mature or to full adult weight

Answer 3

Move the hutch into a shed or garage, but make sure you leave a window open for them so they get some fresh air. Alternatively, stack the hutches against the wall outside the house, cover with a thick duvet, and then finish off with a waterproof cover. Uncover in the morning, cover up at night. On really cold days, only partially uncover so they are still cosy but have some fresh air. Remember though, damp can be worse than cold so make sure you keep the bedding as clean and dry as possible!

Answer 4

Cover their hutch at night. Old blanket would do fine, it just keeps the draft out and rabbits hate drafts.

I find my rabbits eat the extra bedding I put in so I use shredded paper too.

Also put hutch in a shed or some where sheltered near your house in the winter helps.

Answer 5

Line the bottom of your hutch with newspaper about 10 sheets to insulate it then a covering of sawdust and then straw. Your hutch should be up off the ground the higher the better.

Answer 6

if the hutch is out in the open put two big blankets over it then put a tarp plenty of straw dont use shavings it can hurt their lungs.i own a rabbitry.any more questions email me [e-mail]

Answer 7

move the hutch into the garage or shed, line the sleeping compartment floor with an old towel for insulation,

Answer 8

install a safe form of heating where they are - e.g. electric heater on wall if inside. outside, they will have risk of getting cold whatever you put in their hutches I think. bring the hutch indoors if you can.

Answer 9

they have fur coats to keep them warm its more important to keep them dry

Answer 10

They should be in the house.