Rabbits and cold

[J&J]

heading for a hard freeze tonight and every night this week here in NC...
global warming... any thoughts on what we need to do for our new meat rabbits? They are outside in wire and wood cages, elevated off the ground.

Thoughts?

John

[dilligaf]

biggest thing to remember is to besure they have a dry and draft free home.

Rabbits are better able to withstand the cold than summer's heat. Protected from drafts, rabbits can withstand temperatures below zero. Enclose both sides and the back of the cage or hutch with clear plastic draped from the top of the hutch to three inches off the ground. A burlap flap should be placed along the front of the cage, this will keep drafts out while allowing for a mild exchange of fresh air.

[Dean]

I would suggest building them a really basic enclosed area to go when they get too hot/cold.

How many do you have?

[Hank]

Whatever you use to enclose the cage they will probably chew on and if the cages are elevated there can be drafts from below? What do you use for nesting material?

[J&J]

We have 5 rabbits, 1 male and four females. the wief went to the feed store and bought a bale of hay and they are using that for nesting. Just started that the night after I posted the original question. We also are putting tarps over the cages at night to help cut the wind, etc...

Seem to be OK so far, has been to 28 degrees and they all seem to be holding up. It will get colder than that but not by a whole bunch where I am.

Thanks for your thoughts.
John

[dilligaf]

28 , you aint gotta cover them at all at that temp they will be fine i can assure you so long as they are dry

[Treyfer]

Wow! I did not know that rabbits could withstand freezing temps, especially temps below zero. That is a great piece of knowledge. Maybe I ought to look into getting a few rabbits. What is it about the draft that can kill them?

[bonanacrom]

All the people I know that have raised rabbits always had an enclosed area for them to go into. In the winter they wrap the enclosed area for the draft and to increase the insulating properties. The wired area in front is covered with something on at least two sides to break the wind.

[CVORNurse]

We built a wooden box at one end of the pen to enclose it for a hutch. I put an old towel down on the bottom to cover the wire for drafts. That way they always had a place to go to get out of the wind/rain. Hubby even built a ladder for them so they could utilize the top of the hutch. It was quite funny sometimes to watch the rabbits running up and down that ladder chasing each other. The ladder was just a piece of 1x6, with some strips nailed across ever so often for traction.
And yes, if you have wood anywhere near them, expect it to get chewed. Rabbit's teeth grow constantly and they need something to chew on to keep them ground down.

[bonanacrom]

I would seal the bottom of the hutch with plywood for the winter. The trick is to line the inside of a rabbits cage and hutch with wire to keep them from destroying it.