the rabbit hutch in winter
As the nights get longer and the weather colder, it's important to prepare for the winter. The majority of this advice is for outdoor rabbits; however indoor bunnies will still need somewhere warm to sleep if the temperature in your house drops low at night.
Rabbit Hutch Repairs
The sides of hutches also need to be water proofed. The protective coating will wear and needs to be reapplied every few years - more if necessary. This will stop the damp entering the hutch and also protect the wood from rotting. If you are treating the inside of the accommodation, it needs to be with a stain or varnish that is safe for pets. The DIY store or product manufacturer should be able to advise you on which products are suitable.
Hutches should be raised off the floor to prevent the base becoming damp. A brick at each corner can be used if the rabbit hutch doesn't have legs.
Keeping Warm & Dry
Large mesh doors can be partially covered allowing your rabbit to see out a
nd the sun to come in but preventing wind and rain. Ventilation is still important though, so leave serval inches gap for this.
Covering the whole hutch with an old blanket/carpet and then a tarpaulin will help keep the heat in and the weather out. During the day leave the front open for ventilation and at night cover the majority of the hutch leaving a smaller area for ventilation.
Rabbits need a warm snug bed area. This should be the equivalent of a box with an entrance hole. Often hutches have a bed area divided from the main hutch. If a sleeping section isn't available or it's very large, then provide a smaller box as well. A smaller area will warm up around your bunnies and keep them snug. This is only for sleeping, your rabbit will still need plenty of space for exercise.
Provide extra bedding and a thick layer of litter for the floor. Newspaper can be used to line the floors/walls underneath the bedding.
Entrances should face away from the wind. If it's not possible to turn the rabbit hutch around then put something just in front to block direct wind and rain.
If you're in an area that is at risk of flooding, you will need to ensure the accommodation is sufficiently high of the ground not to cause a risk to your rabbits.
If possible, moving the hutch into a shed or garage will help keep it warm. Do not put it in a garage that you also use for your car as the fumes pose a health hazard.
Food & Water
Outdoor rabbits will need more food during the winter months, they use more energy heating themselves so need to take in more energy through their food.
Water bottles/bowls will freeze and need checking regularly. Even if the main bottle is unfrozen, it's important to check the spout as this can freeze solid and block. Insulating the bottle can help.
It's helpful to have spare bottle(s) to use whilst ice defrosts, and also because plastic become brittle in the cold and is more likely to crack or shatter.
Hibernation
Rabbits don't hibernate, if your rabbit becomes limp or sleepy its ill not hibernating for the winter, take it to the vet.
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