It WAS the humidity....

[Frosted Rabbits]

So, Easter morning I found Charlie shivering in his cage--
The day was DAMP and COOL---no breezes

Later, when feeling the other rabbits for condition, I noticed the Rex pair was 'damp' while my half AmChin was perfectly dry!! So,, I felt DEEP into Charlies coat-- yes-- he had a damp undercoat.

So, it seems, the undercoats will attract moisture from humid air--Charlie's top coat is not like Marsha's in the least--

Despite feeling dry to the causal touch, Charlie was 'wet' as well as in the 'cold' air.

 

[Miss M]

Interesting... I never would have expected rabbit fur to absorb that much water from the air! Interesting that it was the Rex rabbits that ended up damp.

 

[Frosted Rabbits]

the Rex were not shivering the way Charlie- a mini-lop was-- his top coat weas dry, while his undercoat was damp--- Of course, his smaller body mass probably contributed to his needing to shiver for warmth. Seems the undercoat is what was getting 'wet'-- not the topcoats---interesting in that respect--

 

[Miss M]

Oh, I didn't catch that Charlie is a minilop.

That's very odd... I'll have to pay attention to our rabbits' fur... see if it's happening with them.

 

[AmysMacdog]

Poor lil Charlie! I never thought about the humidity doing that before but it makes sense. The humidity effects so many other things.

 

[Frosted Rabbits]

this cold/humid connection could explain why some of us have a harder time keeping rabbits in condition over the winter. I did not have this problem when I was at bigbrother's-- but then, my herd was mostly AmChins and CalxNZ mutts. They were also kept in more of an 'outdoor' situation--and under a LOT of trees- literally in the wooods!

 

[hoodat]

I'm surprised you found the Rex undercoat damp. I always considered Rex as darn near waterproof. Unless they get a lot of dampness water just seems to run off them like a duck. On the other hand if they ever do get really soaked that thick fur makes them slow to get dry again.