Winter Is on its way! Tips!

[Ptbunny8087]

Winter is coming! Here are just some tips that I wanted to share with you for the cold winter coming!

Keeping rabbits warm is important, because during the cold winter they would live in underground burrows where the temperature is warmer than outside. By keeping them from their true nature they cant defend for themselves and we need to help them stay warm and dry. A wet rabbit can die in matter of hours during the winter. We always recommend that rabbits are kept in pairs, and there is no nicer way to keep warm than by snuggling up to your friend. If possible, some rabbits don't get along.

To stop water bottles or bowls freezing:
Tie a blanket or tarp over the hutch to make it insulated. Once the hutch is insulated it make it hard for the the bottle freezing. Lift water bowls off the floor of the shed or hutch, and place a blanket, or rag underneath to stop it freezing. Wrap bottles with bubble wrap, a thermal sock or glove.


For keeping hutches and runs warm:
You could do many thing to keep a rabbit warm that is in a hutch or a cage.
1. You could tie blanket,sheets, or tarps over the hutch/cage to keep the wind out, and warm air in!
2. You could buy straw or marsh hay to place on the wire, since the wire is very cold. Some rabbits may make little burrows in the hay/straw, so they can keep themselves warm. Maybe add a wood box with hay in it to keep them warm.


Top tip:
If need to bring rabbits indoors do it gradually over a period of weeks so they can get used to it. First of all bring them into a quiet room and give them plenty of places to hide. Use their own litter tray and toys so that they have a familiar smell.

When to take action:
By cold I mean if the temperature falls below zero, some rabbits can handle the cold, some cant. That is when insulating hutches and sheds and items such as snugglesafe can be used for best effect.

 

[ottersatin]

Not to rain on your parade,
you've got some very good tips posted.
One problem that I see, is that although a wrap
may keep a water bottle from freezing. There is no way to keep
the metal nozzle from freezing. Often in the colder winter months
while folks feel that there is plenty of water available for the rabbit,
It is not, as the nozzle freezes withing an extremely short time.
This is why, though I hate/despise them, I use water bowls in the winter.
I fill them at least twice or three times per day. It is most important that a rabbit
or any other animal [including Humans] have access to drinkable water,
without it they will not prosper. A rabbit that cannot drink, will not eat.
I house my rabbit outside in an enclosed enclosure, They are protected
from : Wind, Rain, Snow to the best of my ability.
With proper housing and feeding most Rabbits will survive and even
produce offspring. My herd breeds year-round and I don't house them two to a cage
unless they are youngsters. I am not trying to be a "Fly in the Ointment",
but there are many more than one way to successfully raise Rabbits.
Ottersatin. ldtimer:

 

[grumpy]

Keeping rabbits in "pairs" is begging for a fight worse than throwing two tom cats
in a gunny sack. One, or both, will get hurt. Possibly severely. I've seen
some Gawd-Awful fights just between fryers when sorted and graded for
shipment to market. Imagine what two old--timers can, and would do?

Trust me:::::It gets down-right NASTY!!

Rabbits can tolerate extreme cold far better than they can deal with the
heat. Keep them dry, out of the wind, with no drafts and you'd be surprised
how well they'll do. I've had does successfully kindle and raise litters when
the temps were 12 below zero.

Watering three times a day in a crock takes time but it works. Just don't fill
the crock all the way to the top on your first trip. Maybe a little less than a
third, then another, and finally another. Then you'll have to dump it and
begin anew. A pressurized, heated, auto-watering system is the way to go
if you've more than a handful of cages to care for.

grumpy.

 

[akane]

Rabbits do perfectly fine sitting on wire through -20f. Aside from lops with large ears there is no reason to bring then in. As said they just need to be dry and the wind blocked. If you do bring a rabbit in absolutely do not keep bringing them in, putting then out, bringing them in... It really stresses the body when temps yoyo. Spring is a common time for livestock to get respiratory illness or go off feed cause the temps bounce. Bringing them in once for a night or day is fine but not repeatedly.

 

[Zass]

I agree with....everyone! I use crocks instead of bottles because the nozzles freeze, but...it depends on how severe the weather is. I leave the bottles on as long as I can get away with it

It's not necessary to pair them up, but they do seem to really enjoy the company when it's cold. I consider it a luxury for those who have just the right rabbits and setup pull it off without bloody rabbit battles.
In winter, I generally manage to give my breeding does a companion by simply leaving the oldest female kit from her last fall or early winter litter in the cage with her. She later becomes either replacement stock, or a roaster.
This strategy helps me have lots of does to choose from, which I need, because I'm fussy about what I'll keep.
It means I'll actually be feeding MORE rabbits in winter, in contrast to many breeders who prefer to cut back on rabbits to reduce chores.

Most of my does are super mellow and have direct ancestors that did well in a colony setup. I also have good sized cages. Not everyone's does are that mellow. And I find, the poor boys usually have to stay alone. I might get away with keeping a buck in with a laid back doe for about 20-25 days...but then I have to separate them and make sure I have a nestbox ready, because my rabbits also breed all year. Mellow or not, the does don't typically want a buck in close proximity when their due date is near.

I love to line my cages with straw...all except the rabbit's favorite potty corners.
Not because they need it, but because I feel it must be more comfortable for them. I also have to make sure to routinely clean out any soiled straw, because wet hay or straw would be worse for a rabbit than bare wire.
By routinely...I mean daily.
I guess it's only a good method if you don't have a whole lot of rabbits, and you have a source of cheap straw.

I want to add, when bringing home a rabbit in winter, relocating them, or even taking them to a vet, be wary of moving rabbits that are kept outside or in a cold place into a HEATED VEHICLE. Severe temperature changes can wreak some respiratory havoc on a bunny. I lost a rabbit to pneumonia once, and I feel it was very likely triggered by such a move.