Keeping Rabbits Warm

Question
Hello!

Just a quick question, autumn is near approaching and that generally means a cold, miserable season of rain, wind and dull skies. How do I keep my outdoor rabbits warm in this weather? they move hay and wood shavings away from areas in their hutch so they can sit on bare wooden hutch floors (they obviously don't find it comfortable otherwise) and they prefer to stay in the meshed side of the hutch. What do I need to keep them warm?

Thanks and have a nice day :-)

Answer
Hi Sara,

this is a hard question for me and forgive me if my answer comes across gruff or is taken badly.

I do not advocate people keeping rabbits outside in hutches.  That said, I'm not trying to denigrate you or that it's anything personal, but I've always felt these kinds of pets are a kind of 'second-class' pet that isn't good enough (or maybe thought of as not able) to be an indoor pet.

My first inclination is to take them indoors when the weather gets very cold and severe outside.  It will allow you to care for them much easier than having to periodically check on them and care for them outside in awful weather.  Makes it less of a chore.  Also eliminates some worries you have such as their warmth and worrying that their water freezes  or that they are sitting in frozen urine, etc and getting sick.

I do know that many people who have hutch rabbits will take them inside in the colder winter months, so it is somewhat a precedent among hutch rabbit owners.

If you do keep them outside, making sure the mesh is not going to have snow or rain directly hitting that mesh and going into the space they are sitting in is important - that must be blocked.  Rabbits getting wet combined with cold temperatures are deadly combinations.  Many people also put down extra hay for them to huddle in.  

I'm also not an advocate of wooden shavings unless they are larger, and untreated (no chemicals in it) pine.  

The only other thing woudl be to check them more often in the bad weather and make sure their water supplies are not frozen, or replace them.

I'd seriously recommend bringing them in in the winter weather.  You can block off an area for them to play/exercise in, put litterpans down.  If your rabbit(s) are not fixed, it may be more cleanup for you than if they are fixed.  Lots of negative behaviors go away when rabbits are spayed/neutered and they can be trained to be good house rabbits when they are fixed.

Have you ever wished you could have them indoors?  I have to tell you from personal experience it is really wonderful to watch your guys enjoying themselves in your house with you, and flopping down near you for a pet.

Anyways, feel free to write back anytime.

Lee