Leaving a rabbit out in this weather..?! What do you do..

wilykit

Hi everyone,

I moved house in the summer and the garden is larger than my old one and not as sheltered. The weather is bitter and it's blizzardy outside and there is thick snow! I have been worried about my giant rabbit, I covered the front of his hutch with bubble wrap to try and keep the draught out but I still think it is too cold.

I have a Lintran dog cage similar to this one:

Which I got a few years ago to keep both my rabbits in when my sister was babysitting them whilst I was away.

I have decided to bring Ben in and he is currently in this cage in my bedroom upstairs.

Some people say not to being outdoor rabbits indoors as the heat can affect them badly. But my house is still cold, it is old and has no central heating, I just think it will take the chill off for him.

Does anybody else being their rabbit in?

picklepick

theres a thread asking this question further down the page!!

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2891716

wilykit

i'm asking in the title what other people do rather than just asking for advice and i didn't see that thread

Jessw0

We leave ours where they are, cover half the open part of the hutch with carpet and make sure they have loads of hay and straw to eat and nest with. I think bringing them inside will unsettle them more. They grow a winter coat for a reason and this will only confuse them when you put them out again. Remember where they live in the wild, provide shelter and they'll be happy.

gizmodo_2

I leave my rabbits outside. If you're concerned I think you should just add some insulation to the hutch (bubble wrap, old carpet or purpose made hutch huggers), although I'm not sure I get what this dog cage is, does it have sides?

POPPYOSCAR

I always moved my guinea pigs into the garage in the winter and I have done the same for my rabbit.

I can't say if this is the right thing to do or not but to my mind in the wild they would be underground where it is relatively warm and sheltered and I feel happier knowing that they are out of the elements.

wilykit

Yes it has sides as it is a cage. We have had non stop snow and I was not comfortable with leaving him outside and he seems happy inside - he is used to being brought in and he is fine.

PasturesNew

Our rabbit hutch used to be completely wood, topped with proper roofing felt nailed on. The door was the only part that was exposed, the door was about 1/4 to 1/3rd of the width. We had some covers that we dropped down over the front of the hutch at night.

Ours was a bit like this, but with a bit more covered and the door had the mesh on it http://www.goodpricetoday.com/images_products//Rabbit_Hutch_Enclosure_40_75x38x20_25.jpg

Money777

Yes just wanted to add you shouldn't bring an outdoor bun in as he has grown a very thick outdoor coat and will quickly overheat and could die inside- the same as you should never put an indoor bun outside in winter as they still have a summer coat and will die outside. Even tho you think you're being kind bringing bunny in on an especially cold day and then putting him out again that is the worst thing you can do, and depending on how long you keep him in he will start to moult his winter coat which he def needs if going out again.
Just make sure they have plently of hay to snuggle in (and hopefully all the garden buns have a rabbit friend to snuggle up with) and their hutch is insulated and out of drafts. Def put blankets etc over hutch but be careful that they still have ventilation (especially if using plastic) or they can suffocate. xxx

wilykit

i have brought him in before and he is still alive. my house itself is cold as we do not have central heating. the bedroom that he is in is cold, but not as cold as outside and takes the chill off. he will not be in for a long time, just until the weather is milder.

hubert_cumberdale

its a rabbit with a fur coat im sure it will be fine

you could always get some 4mm thick polystyrene sheets and put them on the inside walls of the hutch and then cover with 1mm ply
easy cavity wall insulation. I did this for my guinea pig as he was 10 years old and a bit bald lol