Keeping my rabbits warm in the winter

Question
I have two wonderful little bunnies.  I've tried to let them in my apartment but they love to chew carpet and wires, so therefore I need to restrict them.  They've done alot of damage. I won't get rid of them because I'm committed to them and love them.  I have a wonderful back porch that is totally enclosed.  That's were they live and have full run of the room.  I have no airconditioning back there so on hot days it was very hot for them.  I had a fan going along with all the windows open, and I use to keep frozen water bottles around for them to lay next to, to keep cool.  I brushed them regularly so they had no extra hair to deal with.  My concern now is that winter is coming and even tho it's all enclosed it will be cold in the winter as it was hot in the summer.  Is it safe to keep a heat lamp over their cages 24/7?  Can you give me some good ideas on how to keep them comfortable?  They really love their freedom out there opposed to being in the house locked in their cages.  

Thanks so much....Annemarie

Answer
Hi Annemarie,

in the winter it probably is best to bring them inside.  I am not certain if you have ever looked at what it takes to bunnyproof a room in your house, but it is fairly easy to do.  You don't have to proof the entire house.

There are several types of coverings you can place over wires.  There is black flexible tubing that comes in different sizes and easily cut, you can use regular PVC piping for extra strength and harder to chew through.

If they like chewing on wood, give them alternatives like wicker baskets full of hay, or smal,l cut pieces of pine wood boards (not chemically treated) with a little vegetable oil wiped on them.  You can also get dried apple branches from Busy Bunny for them to chew on.  Even certain hard baby chew toys like plastic teething keys are a great hit to nibble on and toss around.  

If you still feel you can't bring them in, you can put heat lamps above their cages, but I wouldn't put them close enough to touch the cage, or close enough that they'd try to lean on them or chew any hanging wire.  A couple feet above their cages would probably be safe enough.  I would go to a home store and get a simple outdoor thermometer and try to keep the area 58 degrees or a little higher.  Anything below 60 with wind gusts is going to be a problem.

I would also consider building some snuggly places for them out there.  Get a 12" concrete form tube (they are cardboard) and place some blankets in the bottom of it (they like tubes and will like being warm in it.  You may have to make a base for them so they do not roll around.

Lee