My rabbit has died :(

[ilovejonty]

I went out yesterday and found her just lying there. I was so upset. I had 4 rabbits, now have 3.

I am concerned the cold weather isn't doing them much good. The bunny that died was the oldest. Could it have been the cold weather? I always understood that as long as they have plenty of bedding, rabbits actually cope with cold weather better than hot weather. But now I am feeling guilty as well as sad and thinking I should have put her inside or something.

Does anyone have any tips on making the hutches warmer for the others? (They are already double wood construction but have large wire panels in all but the 'sleeping compartments', it's got to be chilly in there.)

I'm sorry to hear that We have a tarpaulin on top of our hutch - good for keeping it dry and probably adds insulation as well.

We have a fleecy blanket on top of our hutch, and a plastic hood to kep the wind out. Sorry to hear about your rabbit.

so sorry, i put a heavyweight blanket over the hutch in really cold weather. but don't blame yourself

it probably wasn't the cold - how did she look? not to be gruesome but apparently they die with a sort of grimace on their face when they freeze to death, if she just looked like she was asleep then it must have been something else. rabbits are pretty hardy aren't they and good at keeping themselves warm

sorry you have lost her, it's so horrible when they die

She looked asleep, no grimace {comforted emoticon}. Thanks.

When in a group the act like hotwater bottles for one another and will be much warmer than a rabbit by itself. It was more than likely just old age. Rabbits hide symptons of illness and by the time the symptons do reveal themselves it's often too late anyways. Please don't feel bad, sounds like she had a great life living in a group.

sorry

I went through this last year when our house rabbit moved outside (in summer) and then later died in early winter, I still feel pangs of irrational guilt - but even if she had been ill apparently there is very little if anything the vet could have done, and I was reassured that it couldn't have been the cold

am still about it though, why do we blame ourselves for these things?