Is it ok for my adult rabbits to play outside if it's windy and cold?Mine seem to think snow is a treat which is great and readily at hand in the winter.
I had 75° days and 60° nights less then a week ago. Now its 28 and dropping and if the wind shifts could potentially see 12"+ of snow tonight.
Thank you Maggie. That is an idea that might work well for my growouts!
I dont typically see much Lake effect here, the wind needs to blow just right. Thankfully I am no where near Buffalo and their expected 4ft coming in tonight.
We use the bottles, have extras which we keep in the house and exchange bottles as needed for ice or refill. We check the rolling ball to make sure ones still ok are not sticking.
I think rabbits are the most well equipped animals for snow and cold weather. They don't seem to be bothered by it. They only seem to be bothered if they are wet and it is cold. So I would say as long as it's not a sloppy day, the answer would be, yes!
My rabbits have an insulated shelter leading to a windowed shelter (where pellets and water are kept) and free access to a fenced yard with brush piles. Even on those days it dipped to -20* they chose to be out running and nibbling. We got 14" first week kits were coming out. I worried about them getting lost in snow so much deeper than them. Then I saw the buck put his nose down, push with his hind legs like a snow plow. He plowed paths to several brush piles that they hide in and chew on.( Such a happy surprise)I have heated water bottles in shelter yet they often eat snow. My quail have a heated waterer in their aviary yet I noticed they would come peck snow from my boots so I often give them a snow ball they will flock to as a treat. My sister in law shared when she used crocks with her chickens they got frostbite faces and did better when she took the crocks away and just let them eat snow. someone on this forum posted they freeze blocks of ice with treats in them for their caged rabbits as winter water. Ice and snow would be a wild creatures water source in the cold north winters. Rabbits are not only well built for cold, but seem to enjoy it. Especially if you choose breeds carefully. I also think the ability to run and play helps. Think of yourself just sitting in the cold or working and playing...
I use metal bowls and when it's freezing just change them out 3 times a day. Yes my buck and doe go out of their hutches separately daily and they are really hunting for greens now. Even tho I give them greens must not be the same as spring goodness.
I give them warm water from a milk jug. Then I do it again, and again, and...have a nice nesting box and when she pulls fur she's going at any time, like now ha. there may be some blood, usually is, that's OK. she will keep them warm and covered up and when they need air she will open it up a bit. wind block and they will be fine. I hope it warms up for you, winter has gone on long enuf for you. and yes they do f with the weather. hang in there.So far I have only two does and one buck. In a moment of crazed hope and expectation of oncoming spring I bred the does. They're due in a couple of days now and it was below zero *again* this morning. I'm really getting tired of this. At this point I'm beginning to believe in the kind of climate change made by ppl who think there are too many people, but that's just my weariness... unless it's true of course...
Anyway, I bought them galvanized half-moon shaped bowls that hook onto the cage bars. I bang the ice out of them twice a day (most days) on a 4x6 support post near their cages. The chickens think the shards of ice are a special treat.
Then I dump the sheep's giant ice cube outside of the barn and give them 4-5 gallons of warm water, then the poultry...
(You can get those giant ice cubes out of the buckets fairly easily by turning them upside down and pouring a bit of hot water over the bucket until you hear it release. Under no circumstances should you stomp the bottom of the bucket, unless you wanted to buy another one anyway, because it *will* break the bottom.
i whack the bowls on the side of the hutch but I kept 2 bowls in the garage and switched out. man i'm glad we MAY be thru the worst of the freezing cold. exhausting, wearing bibs and layers gaaaaa
(I couldn’t find a link but just search dollar tree dog bowls. Or look for them in the dog section at the store.).
o yes I meant birthing ha. but not your first rodeo so .....u got it.Thanks @Scooter1A! I didn't know they sometimes bled when pulling fur, so I'm glad to know I should expect that. Or maybe you meant they have vaginal bleeding with birthing... that, I expect, having given birth a few times.
Good point on being active vs sitting around in the cold, quietly suffering. And everything else too, of course. I want to give my three a nice warren when the ground thaws out. I can do it inside the "barn" with wind protection, etc., but neither heat nor insulation, or I can do it outside in the woods or in the meadow. with things like a woodpile or burrows or an added bank of earth on the north side (where our winds nearly always come from). Suggestions welcomed...
sounds to me like you got it figured out. gonn'a be some work involved. i'm making a chicken chunnel with hardware cloth supported the arch with garden hose and zip ties. might work for bunnies but for now it's just for chickens. i have work to do gaaaaa
This is brilliant!
