As temperatures are dropping, it’s time you thought about warming your bunny’s home up. If you keep your bunny inside your home, there’s probably nothing much you need to worry about. However, for bunnies living outside in the cages, you may need to start preparing as it’s going to be a challenging time for them when cold strikes.
Many rabbit owners find them in a fix when they don’t have a clue how to winterize a rabbit cage, especially the new pet owners. That’s why we have come up with some cool (or warm?) hacks that you can apply for your pet to be warmer in the coming winter!
Excited? Let’s find out!
Rabbit Body Temperature in Winter
As the temperature falls down during winter, the rabbit’s body temperature tends to lower, as well. However, that doesn’t mean that you will allow it to be cooler than what’s usual. Generally, a rabbit’s body temperature should be around 101-to-103-degree Fahrenheit. You can allow it to drop a couple of degrees more but not beyond that.
During the winter, you need to check the temperature of your rabbit more often. If it drops below 100, you need to be cautious and plan to see a vet to confirm everything is okay with your buddy. If the temperature is above 100 in general, you don’t need to worry about it.
Making A Rabbit Hutch or Cage Winter Proof
Rabbits can easily adapt to the cold temperature; that’s something you can feel great about. However, you need to make sure that its cage is also ready to support its adaptation. So, before winter strikes hard, you need to take steps to keep the hutch ready for the winter bite! Here’re what you can do.
First of all, make sure that the hutch is totally waterproof from all sides. Any leak or damage that may allow water droplets inside can be devastating.
If you have the budget, simply paint the backside of the hutch, which can help in trapping warmth inside. Plus, water droplets won’t penetrate through the painted layers.
Try to place the hutch above the ground so that it doesn’t have a direct connection. It can safeguard the entire hatch from getting cooler and also keep other animals away from being a threat to your bunny.
How To Keep a Rabbit Cage Warm?
Now that you are ready with the hutch, it’s time that you have thought about the warmth of your furry buddies inside. Here are some of the ways you can keep your bunny safe from getting cold or suffering from hypothermia.
Keep Them Cozy with Straw
Rabbits need a warm bed in the winter. As they spend the longest time of the cold portion of the day in bed, you need to take extra care of the bed. It’s a good idea to put straw and newspaper on the bed as it will insulate the sleeping area and give warmth to your bunny.
Plus, straw and hey around the bed can trap heat during the hotter part of the day and retain the warmth until nighttime. So, it works as a sweater that keeps the heat trapped and allows us to feel warmer.
Provide Cozy Bedroom Areas
You can set up a specific place in the hutch for the bunny to rest and sleep. A good idea is to cover the area on the top with a tarp. You can also cover three sides of the specific bedroom with sheets or blankets. However, you must leave at least one side open or part of it open for it to breathe air.
Then again, you can purchase electric blankets from the stores that can cover your bunny and keep it warm. However, you need to make sure that you don’t leave it with the blanket on, as it may pose risks for your pet. So, try to be very cautious in this regard and observe it while it’s sleeping.
Keep It Inside
A good idea is to keep your bunny inside your home for the most part of the day. There’s no point in leaving it outside when It’s freezing cold and the ice-cool breeze is biting the skin. Try to keep it inside as much as you can so that it can feel warmer inside.
However, you need to make some preparations for it to stay inside, like keeping the wires and cables above the floor, setting up a specific area for it to wander around, training the kids not to bother it, etc.
Let it Run Around
Another nifty way to make your bunny feel warmer is to allow it to do physical chores. When it’s cold and shivering, you can take it inside the home and allow it to run around. It also works well if you are taking it outside at noon and afternoon.
Running and jogging will make its body warmer, and the effect will remain for a long time. Alternatively, you can keep the pets in pairs so that they can keep themselves warm by mingling with each other.
Five Tips to Make Your Rabbit Hutch Winter Ready
Keeping the hutch warm and winter-ready is really crucial. Follow these tips to make sure it’s ready to take on the winter challenge!
- Simply move the hutch to somewhere warmer than usual.
- Check for any leaks, damages, or any gaps that may allow water drops or cool air to enter, and fix it.
- Clean the hutch every day so that the straws don’t stay wet.
- Insulate the hutch with hay and straw.
- Cover the hutch with a tarp for extra caution.
Final Word
So, now that you know how to winterize a rabbit cage, it’s time you took action! Make sure you have taken every single step to warm up the entire cage for your furry bunny to feel warmer. You can start trying by relocating the hutch inside the house and then try out the remaining methods!
Good luck!