Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Create a warm environment
• Method 2 of 3: Take care of your rabbits
• Method 3 of 3: Take precautions

It is important to keep your rabbit safe and warm during the winter months. Cold weather can lead to health problems such as colds and respiratory infections. You should strive to create a warm environment for your rabbit and make sure it gets plenty of water and exercise. Take certain precautions, such as not using electric blankets, to avoid injury and accidents.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Create a warm environment

1. Adjust your rabbit's hutch. Rabbits need to stay warm during the winter months. You will need to make certain adjustments to his cabin to make sure your rabbit is having a good time.
   • The easiest adjustment you can make, if possible, is to move the cage to a warmer place. The ideal is to put it indoors or in a heated garage.
   • Check for gaps in the walls of the hutch. Normally a loft wears out due to rain and other weather conditions. The wood can also be old and rotten. If you see damage, apply an animal-friendly wood protective coating. You can also line the cage with newspaper to prevent cold air from getting through any openings.
   • Cover any mesh doors in the rabbit hutch with clear plastic wrap. This way your rabbit can still see through the doors of the hutch without air entering. Leave a small opening at the bottom for good ventilation.
2. Isolate the loft. Insulate the rabbit hutch in winter by placing newspaper and a blanket on the roof. Then cover it with an outer tarpaulin. Not only does this keep the heat in the hutch so that it is warm enough, but it also prevents snow or rain from falling on your rabbits.
3. Provide a warm berth. Rabbits need a warm place to lie down all year round, but especially in winter. There should be some sort of box in the hutch with an opening for the rabbit to climb in and out. You can buy a bunny bed from a pet store or online, or make your own from a cardboard box.
   • In winter, line the floors and walls of a rabbit's bed with newspaper. This is to insulate the bed and keep your rabbit warm.
   • Put plenty of bedding in the sleeping area. Use dust-free hay as a bedding. Do not put blankets in the rabbit bed. Rabbits chew on blankets, which can cause intestinal blockage.
4. Add straw. One of the best materials for keeping rabbits warm is straw. Place straw throughout the cage. Pile some of it up around the edges of the hutch to insulate it and put some in the rabbit's sleeping area. Replace the straw every few days. Rabbits can pee on the straw and you don't want your rabbit sleeping in a damp place.

Method 2 of 3: Take care of your rabbits

1. Do not allow the water bottles and bowls to freeze. In the winter months, water bottles and bowls can potentially freeze. This would leave your rabbit without water, which it even needs in winter.
   • Check the water bottles and bowls a few times a day. Replace the water immediately if it is frozen.
   • By insulating the water bottles, the risk of freezing is reduced. You can wrap a water bottle in an old towel. You can also buy water bottles specially designed for the winter that are packed in materials that keep them warm.
   • Make sure you have plenty of spare bottles on hand. Especially in the winter months, plastic bottles can burst. You don't want your rabbit to run out of water if his bottle breaks.
2. Dry the rabbits when they play in the snow. If your rabbits sometimes play outside, they can get wet in the snow. Dry your rabbits with a towel before returning them to their hutches. If they are still wet after this, let them heat up indoors. Let them dry naturally indoors. Do not put them near a heater to dry.
3. Keep rabbits in pairs. If you have more than one rabbit, try to keep them in pairs over the winter. This allows for socialization and helps keep your rabbit warm. Rabbits can snuggle together for warmth in the winter months.
   • If the rabbits don't know each other yet, take some time before winter to get them used to each other. It may take a while for the rabbits to get comfortable with each other. Allow the initial introduction to be in a neutral space, such as a room in your house. Rabbits are territorial and it can be a disaster to put them together in a cage right away.
   • Allow the rabbits to get used to each other in 20 minute increments. If they start fighting, separate them and try again in an hour. You can break fights with a water bottle.
   • Keep your rabbits in eye contact with each other when they are not interacting. Once they seem comfortable with each other in a neutral space, you can try putting them together for short periods. Ultimately, you should be able to put your rabbits in the same cage for the long term.
   • Some rabbits just don't get along, even if you've done your best. If your rabbits are constantly fighting, it is better not to put them together in a cage. Rabbits can injure each other if they become aggressive or territorial.
4. Clean the cage regularly during the colder months. When it gets colder, you should clean your rabbit's cage regularly. Urine can cause bedding, straw and hay to become moist and even freeze. This can cause health problems if not handled properly. Remove any lumps of urine from the cage daily, paying special attention to its place to sleep.

Method 3 of 3: Take precautions

1. Be careful with electric blankets. Many pet stores sell electric blankets to keep rabbits warm in the winter. Be extremely careful if you choose to use them. Don't leave your rabbit unattended with an electric blanket. There is a risk of electric shock if a rabbit chews through the cords. They can also potentially cause fires if left near hay, newspapers, or combustible material.
2. Keep baby rabbits indoors. A baby rabbit's body temperature should be around 38 ° C. It is almost impossible to keep a baby rabbit warm enough outside in the winter. If you have babies, keep them indoors for their safety.
   • The first 10 days of a rabbit's life are especially crucial. When the temperature is below 10 degrees, it is difficult for a baby rabbit to stay warm enough to survive.
   • It is a bad idea to let rabbits breed in the winter. However, if your rabbit has babies in the winter months, you must bring the mother and babies indoors.
3. Make sure your rabbits get exercise during the winter. Rabbits do not hibernate in the wild. A period of inactivity in the winter months is not natural for them. That's why you need to take steps to make sure your rabbits get exercise in winter too.
   • Consider bringing your rabbits in to play. This prevents their coat from getting wet with snow. If you have a pet-friendly room in the house, bring your rabbit in a few times a week to let him run and play.
   • However, be careful not to let your rabbit spend too much time indoors. Rabbits develop thick coats in winter to protect them from the cold. Spending too much time indoors can cause your outdoor rabbit to lose its coat. This can cause various health problems.
4. Watch for signs of health problems. With the right precautions, your rabbit should be safe and healthy during the winter months. However, watch for signs of health problems. If your rabbit has a cold or breathing problems, it should be evaluated by a vet and kept indoors. Please note the following:
   • Running nose
   • Dirt around the nose
   • Discharge from the eyes
   • Loud breathing