Netherland Dwarf outside

[Appleblackberryorange]

It's currently +2 centigrade outside.

Looking on many rabbit websites, the netherland dwarf seems to be able to cope with this, as long as he has plenty of straw, hay and sawdust. He has plenty of both, although prefers to sit in the open bit, where he's made a circle on the floor with no bedding underneath him. But the option is there.

DH has suggested bringing him in for an hour or so, to run around as it is nice and warm inside. I'm wondering whether this is wise if he's going back outside to the cold?

Can you put a blanket or a tarp over the hutch to keep the frost off a bit?

I wouldn;t bring him in if he usuallly lives out. Is he in his own or does he have another rabbit to snuggle up to?

We have a thing that goes in the microwave and then keeps warm for hours which i put in with the rabbits in very cold weather. It's like a falt plastic plate.

He has the microwave plate thing.

No he's on his own, because he's a grumpy old man, and doesn't want a friend any more. But he loves the guinea pigs, and normally goes in the run with them, but they are indoors during the cold period.

We have two German dwarves (essentially the same breed but speak a different rabbit language :) ) and our vet was quite insistent that they shouldn't be permanently outside below zero. They spend the winters indoors. However, we've let them run around in the snow a few times and they love it for a few minutes without getting ill.

Have you insulated the hutch or is it just a single layer of wood? Do you have any way of covering the open bit at night (with blankets etc) to keep draughts out?

DH has put stuff down the back on the roof to insulate, can't remember what the material's called.

I have one of the waterproof rabbit cover things, but that seems to make it damp.

If I bring him in, when can he go back out again? Does it have to be very mild for him to cope with the difference of being in centrally heated house? Or just while the cold snap happens?

Difference between small makeshift home (have two cats, so he can't be anywhere open) and purchasing another indoor hutch for him to live in.

I think if he's developed his winter fur (which presumably he has this late in the season) he can go out again as soon as it's no longer so cold - as long as it's definitely above freezing at night. But I'm not an expert! Our neighbours keep their rabbits out all winter and it can get down to minus 15 here, but the rabbits aren't dwarves and they insulate the hutch incredibly well with blankets everywhere, and pull the hutch to face the living room window at night (so it's almost touching the window). Dwarves don't develop enough of a winter fur for that.

I've a (large) mini lop and lop/rex cross.

Both live out in 2 storey hutch. The hutch is against a 6ft brick wall so very sheltered. We have insulated the back and walls with foil bubble insulation and it has a hutch hugger on top of the foil insulation.

I've made a screen out of the same foil bubble insulation which hangs down the front of the hutch and and the hutch hugger plastic drops down over it. All pinned tightly close with velcro and clothes pegs to keep out draughts.

Last night was the first night that they've slept in their straw filled sleeping compartment, so they must be feeling the cold.

Tonight we bought a heat pad and placed it in their sleeping compartment.

If the temperature drops further I'll think about putting the hutch in the garage but I doubt that would make a lot of difference as there's no heat in there, just shelter and they are very well sheltered already.

They are out each moring at 8am and both have very thick coats. And they have each other to snuggle up to.

But if we face prolonged and severe temperatures they'll have to come into an unheated house porch.