Rabbit questions

[sherrardk]

We have had two rabbits since April so have never done winter with them. How do I stop their water bottle freezing and how can I make sure they keep warm enough (they don't seem to sleep in the house bit of their hutch). Thanks.

[ummmm]

Lot's of bedding and you can get covers for the hutch. Not sure about the water bottle but you can always just change it in the morning.

[redvanman]

Hi keep a spare bottle in the house and change it dailey and plenty of straw near them and they will be ok

[boxtops]

Next door covered their hutches in polythene for the winter, with a flap they could lift up in the daytime in good weather.

[gadgetgeek]

We move the hutch into the garage for the winter. Rabbits use a run during the day.

[sherrardk]

Just saw a little mouse trying to get into their cage now (after their food?), is that a problem?

[boxtops]

I don't think so (although others may feel differently!)

[ummmm]

If there is one mouse you can guarantee there's plenty more close by.

[seadogg]

Perhaps they will retreat as the weather gets colder. Otherwise you need to insulate the whole hutch as your chilldren wont like to find them frozen to death one morning. My sister was mortified when ours did years ago.

[what..the?]

You can buy water bottles with covers, regards the hutch itself keep the rabbits indoors in an indoor cage mine are indoor all year round, if not possible in the garage or outbuilding, if not possible in a dry area where it get less cold wind and rain (more sheltered). Also think about covering the top/sides and underneath in anything you have to hand that could provide insulation, or buy a cover.

http://www.netpetshop...818-hutch-covers.aspx

[sherrardk]

Thanks for all of your answers - think I will try and find a cover for it (the bottom bit is a run which is twice as deep as the top bit (which is the hutch bit).

[what..the?]

http://www.therabbith...ting-rabbit-hutch.asp

[erin-x]

We had a bit of old, thick carpet which we covered in a black bag, which we then used to drape over the cage. They always survived so it must work :)

[what..the?]

These people have ideas for insulation too

http://forums.rabbitr...3487-Hutch-Insulation

[what..the?]

love the foil insulation in the photos here lol

http://forums.rabbitr...5901-hutch-insulation

[sherrardk]

Thanks for all your ideas - will pass them on to himself.

[wildwood]

Whatever you do, make sure that the rabbits can never nibble on the plastic/insulations or whatever. This takes me back to my childhood when Dad covered the hutch with plastic and the two slowly started eating it. Both died within two days of each other. With the second one we got it checked and the stomach was full of bits of plastic.

[ummmm]

If any of my rabbits get cut open they's be full of dining table and skirting boards!!!!

[sherrardk]

Good thinking wildwood - would never have occured to me. The bottom bit is covered in mesh as its the run bit, will just have to cover the top and sides of the hutch bit which sits on the top of the run bit.

[notasyoungasiwas]

I've had rabbits and during the winter I just put loads of extra newspaper and straw in the hutch and they were always snuggled up to each other anyway keeping each other warm, as for the water bottle I just kept refilling it in really, really cold weather. I had a polythene flap to pull down when it was windy or wet.