What do you do with your rabbits in winter?

[Clarinet60]

Got a rabbit for ds1's birthday in August.
He has an outside run with hutch attached, and a second hutch in an outbuilding which we put him in at night. He never shelters in the 'cosy' parts of either hutch - just sits there hunched up in the cold, even in the rain.

Is it best to keep him in the outbuilding hutch altogether during this cold weather?
I thought rabbits were supposed to burrow into warm places? What's wrong with him??!!!!!!

I'd put him in the indoor hutch, but give him an hour or so in the run every day. But then I know naff all about bunnies ! Have you asked your vet for advice ?

a nice warming stew and a lovely pair of gloves

At night defijitely lock him up in his hutch. We used to put a blanket over the wire at night to keep out the cold and take the water bottle in at night as it will freeze and break. Use lots of straw and newspaper under the sawdust for extra warmth

on freezing nights we used to bring the hutch inside, and Lucky the bunny used to hop about near the dog and they used to snuggle up (the dog was soppy). then during the day as long as it wasnt snowing the hutch went back outside.

they now make indoor hutches for smaller bunnies, the look like large hamster cages.

Oh and peter has said we can get a bunny next summer, yippee!! (i'll be the one in charge as Peter wont be allowed as he will hopefully have had transplant)

oh yes, the blanket over the front works well.

when i used to have my g. pigs, i used to bring them in when is icey/ frosty or snow... other times if its not too bad, just put a thick blanket over and also stuff loads of hay inside too for warmth

in the really cold/crap weather we bring our smaller bunny hutch inside

Message withdrawn

Brilliant advice - and so quick!
Thanks guys - will get a little indoor hutch (both hutches he has atm are bulky and wooden, yuk.)

Daisy999!!

i want a rabbit.

Get a bunny Cod, get a bunny, getabunny!!!!!!

He's really really cute.
All whie & fluffy with loppy ears.
Go on, get one..... you know you want to ........

WHITE and fluffy, that is. Goes by the name of Thumper.

he;s fine outside!
my rabbit has lived outside for the last 6.5 years! and he's in great health!

we put a blanket over the front of the hutch at night, and a layer of bubblewrap to keep the water off

Get one Aloha, get one!!

You won't look back!!!

iwnat a domesticated lop eared

here

What about putting it in the garage or shed?

Ours were always in the outside hutch but it was in a sheltered spot and had a piece of old carpet or heavy tarpaulin to pull down over the front to keep the wind out. A thick layer of clean, dry paper in the bottom of the hutch gives good insulation, plus lots of good hay.

They still came out for a quick run about if the weather was bad, I think it helped get the circulation going. I've a lovely picture of one of my rabbits in the garden sitting up looking at a snowman!

Our rabbits and guinea pigs all enjoyed a bowl of warm milky tea and bread at bedtime. They seemed to live to good ages so it didn't do them any harm and I'm sure it warmed them up.

Only put them in the garage if the car doesn't go in there because of the exhaust fumes!

oh yes, sid is out ALL day. he only goes into his hutch if he wants something to eat, and at nighttime

rest of the time he is outside... even in the snow!

Our rabbit and guinea pigs are outside in the winter. Rabbit goes out of his hutch during the day and hops around and in and out of house.

We got one of these hutch hugger

and one of these hutch snuggle

They are as snug as bugs in rugs.

Bought him a plastic indoor hutch yesterday and brought him in. He stretched out all relaxed and cosy as if he was lounging on a Hawaiian beach and it was nice for the boys to spend some time with him.

Thanks poofiewuddle, I'll get one of those.
Your Sid counds just like mine, Starlover.

Around here they eat them.....

See them on restaurant menus round here too, Mary. 'Wild rabbit stew', they call it. (As opposed to Pet bunny curry)

if he is normally outside be careful about bringing him in... they overheat VERY easily (hence the stretching out to cool down)