i have a two storey wooden hutch that is in the corner of my garden. It is getting pretty cold outside and it is their first winter outdoors. Any good tips on keeping them warm?
2007-11-17 05:29:02 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
some times you cant bring them inside as its not practical if they have to live out side bed them on a thick layer of straw,and line the bottom of the cage with newspaper,it helps them keep warm.
cover the cage with thick blankets and put a water proof cover on top,
2007-11-17 05:43:11 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hi,
Rabbits can do well in cold weather, so long as they have been out at least a few months now so they have been able to grown in their winter coat. If possible move their hutch into shed or garage etc. If that is not possible keep them somewhere that isn't exposed to the wind and rain.
Shavings is not really a suitable bedding to use at this time of the year as it doesn't retain heat. Use a layer of newspaper, then a layer or shavings to absorb urine and lots and lots of straw which is good for retaining heat.
You can buy special covers for your hutch, or use blankets to cover the hutch with plastic over the top. Strong industrial bags are good for this. Make sure that you don't cover the entire hutch as they need clean air to circulate the hutch to ensure they stay healthy. You can also buy snugglesafe heat pads (cheaper from a site called vetmed including delivery) which you put into the microwave and they work the same way as a hot water bottle except they are indestructible to animals. Keep an eye on water bottles, and it helps to put warm (not hot) water into their bottle each night to prevent it from freezing straight away, also a cheap way of keeping it from freezing is to wrap tin foil, then bubble wrap, then another layer of tin foil around it.
2007-11-17 14:18:19 · answer #2 · answered by angela s 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If there is an area that is wire instead of completely wooden, you can put thick hardware plastic around that area. Also make sure they have lots of bedding in thier hutch, especially the area where they sleep.
I put plastic on all four sides of my rabbits pen. The bottom is is wire on one side, so they get plenty air through the bottom if they need it, and the part that isnt wired is completely enclosed with with either wood or plastic. My rabbits seem to be okay through the winter, at times i even think they like the cold, or atleast more so than those hot steamy summer days.
Oh yeh, I use aspen bedding. And if it gets below freezing, check on their water alot. The water bowls/bottles freeze easily and need changing often. I like plastic dishes- the water doesnt freeze as fast.
2007-11-17 13:41:35 · answer #3 · answered by midnightjoker 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
im in the uk and all my rabbits and guineas are housed outside whatever the weather, the funny thing is i have a mum and daughter lionhead who have a huge hutch with run attached and in the winter i used to shut them in the hutch without the access to the run and they thumped and thumped till the ramp broke and now the stay out in the run wotever the weather even tho they have tonnes of bedding upstairs and theyve been like that for 5-6years, i do cover them over at night the only time they are not covered is in the summer otherwise they have a thick double blanket, kind of like a bed throw which is used to cover them at night with a plastic sheet incase it rains, the other hutch houses my netherland dwarf and 2 guineas , again they have a thick blanket and tonnes of hay they are checked daily in the really cold weather incase i need to put more hay in , as long as you provide sufficient cover by means of a thick blanket they will be finexx
2007-11-17 14:22:55 · answer #4 · answered by greyhound mummy 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Make sure they have a good sized box with a hole in it. Fill the box with hay or straw so they can get out of the weather and stay warm. Feed and water. A covered wood box that won't leak is the best. Don't put plastic around them. and don't give them any artificial heat unless you do it every day. In the wild they would use grass,hay, leaves or straw to keep warm. They will be fine. No plastic, and no heating pad.
2007-11-17 13:38:46 · answer #5 · answered by Robert S 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
most of the time rabbits can keep themselves warm with their fur. Do they have a place in their hutch where the wind and snow can't reach them? If you're truly worried then just to be safe you can buy a animal heating pad to slip in their hutch and they'll lay on it and be warm and toasty.
2007-11-17 15:03:17 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's better for the rabbit if you could move the hutch inside or switch them to an indoor cage. If you leave them outside they'll have a really rough winter.
2007-11-17 13:37:30 · answer #7 · answered by Judgerz 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
wrap the hutch in plastic, to keep the wind off them, don,t make it to tight, they will survive, keep fresh water to them, did that to mine.
2007-11-17 13:50:48 · answer #8 · answered by William B 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋