How to Keep Rabbit Warm in Winter – Rabbits are suitable for colder temperatures. Their thick clothes and physical activity help keep them warm during the winter. In fact, the cold weather can bring the natural play of your rabbit! However, sub-zero temperatures can be uncomfortable for your rabbit. Therefore, it is significant for you to keep your rabbit warm when outside temperatures drop below freezing.
How to Keep Rabbit Warm in Winter
1. Waterproof hutch. If your rabbit stays away, it can tolerate extremely cold temperatures, staying warm and dry in a well ventilated and waterproof cabin. Check the center of the hutch for any water stains and moisture. If there are signs of leakage from the roof, repair the roof or replace it completely. The roof sealant can be used to repair the roof and is available at your local home improvement store. Follow label directions when applying to hutch wood. You can also use a prophylaxis of wood or waterproof paint. Apply the product only to the exterior of the roof to prevent your rabbit from biting the product and possibly ingesting harmful chemicals. If the sides of the hutch appear to be leaking, repair the leaks in those areas as well.
2. Raise the cabin. If your rabbit’s hut stays on the ground, you’ll need to raise it to avoid snow and rain. Keeping the cabin on the ground can also provide extra protection from the sub-zero temperatures, keeping the lower part of the cabin away from direct contact with the coldness of the ground. How much do you lift the hutch depends on you – putting a brick below each corner of the hutch would suffice. If you’re especially smart, you could build legs for the chicken if you do not already have them. Visit your local improvement store for guidance on adding legs to the hutch.
3. Reposition the hutch. To protect your rabbit from cold wind bursts, position the hutch so that its front is away from the wind. Facing hunting away from the wind also allows warm air to enter the cabin. Also, try positioning the hutch against the side of your home to prop it up against the wind. If you are not sure which direction the wind is coming from, stay out near your rabbit’s cabin and wait for the wind to pass. Repositioning the hutch will also keep the rain or snow burned by the wind from entering the hutch.
4. Put warm bedding inside the hutch. Many warm beds are needed to keep your rabbit warm at temperatures below zero. Straw and hay are good bedding options. Straw is the best option, however, since it provides better insulation and your rabbit is less likely to eat it. [10] You can fill a nest box with straw, or place the straw directly on the floor of the hutch if your rabbit does not like nest boxes. Consider putting the newspaper under the bed for extra insulation. Even if you do not use hay for bed, put plenty in the hen to give your rabbit something to chew on.
5. Replace bed linen regularly. With temperatures below zero, your rabbit will probably remain in the straw to keep warm and probably urinate and defecate in it. Replace dirty straw with dry, dry straw every two days. Dirty and damp straw is not only unhygienic, but it is also less effective in keeping your rabbit warm and dry while it is cold outside. Consider putting wood chips under your rabbit’s bed to absorb moisture. [16] Replace wood chips when they become wet.
6. Warm up your rabbit hunt. Fortunately, you do not need to buy expensive insulation material for hunting your rabbit. Thick blankets and canvas make excellent exterior insulation. Place the blankets directly over the hutch and place the canvas over the blankets. Hutch covers are commercially available both online and at your local pet store. If the cabin has a mesh door, you could cover it with plastic to avoid the drafts.
7. Keep the hutch well ventilated. Make sure your rabbit has fresh air is very important even with temperatures below zero. Whatever type of insulation you use, leave it at least partially open during the day and close it almost overnight. [19] Proper ventilation will prevent the accumulation of ammonia, which may be toxic to your rabbit. Ammonia would accumulate because of rabbit urination. Replacing the bed regularly also helps prevent high concentrations of ammonia.
