22
Dec
Cold weather can be deadly for any animal but with a few precautions and your rabbits naturally well-insulated body the animal can live warm and comfortable in even the coldest climates. For rabbits living entirely outside there is good news for rabbit owners.
Temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit may be too cold even for healthy adult rabbits.
Can pet bunnies live in cold weather. When the temperature outisde falls below 19 degrees Fahrenheit -7 degrees Celsius things can become more life threatening and you should consider moving your rabbit inside your home or garage. However it is not just about what temperature is too cold for rabbits. Temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit may be too cold even for healthy adult rabbits.
Remember that the temperature inside the hutch may be warmer due to your rabbits body heat so check both the environmental temperature and the ambient temperature inside the hutch. Rabbits need more hay than usual in their diet when they are kept outside in the cold weather. You should give them nearly twice as much as you normally would.
Just make sure that you dont give them too much as this can lead to excess weight gain. Hydration is also crucial for rabbits that are living outside in the cold weather. For rabbits living entirely outside there is good news for rabbit owners.
Rabbits are equipped to withstand even below freezing temperatures as long as two things are assured they are kept out of the wind and can stay dry at all times. With those two precautions these animals can thrive in very cold weather. Can pet rabbits live outside in winter.
Rabbits have adaptations that help them survive the cold such as thick fur coats and fur pads on their feet. Rabbits are cold weather animals. Theyre highly temperature resistant and can handle temperatures down to almost 30oF -2oC.
With a well-insulated hutch theyll be fine even in near-freezing conditions. You can always check by measuring their temperature which should be. A rabbit living outside can easily get used to with the weather conditions and temperatures.
However unlike wild rabbits that leave in burrows it is a bit complicated for domesticated pet rabbits. A rabbit guardian has to assist the pet rabbits so that they will be safe from extreme weather conditions all year round. Pet rabbits are most comfortable in environments between 50 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit.
There are no absolutes in nature your pet bunny will not immediately overheat at 78 degrees. Pet rabbits can tolerate up to 85 degrees. Beyond those temperatures your pet rabbit can start to suffer from the ill effects of overheating.
Rabbits have a tendency to tolerate the cold of winter a lot more easily than the heat of summer so it is up to us to make sure our rabbits are comfortable and cool during the heat of the summer days. Yes they will get cold on occasion but they can still live outside and it isnt going to make them sick. As long as you give them a good diet then they will be getting all of the nutrients that they need to grow a thicker coat to help them get through the long winter days.
Two things should be managed then rabbits can live outside these are. You should keep protecting your rabbits from wind and you should always keep your rabbit dry. With these two precautions these animals can thrive in very cold weather.
Despite the cold weather rabbits still require proper ventilation such as provided by the all-wire cages. With proper care however you can ensure that your rabbit will remain healthy through the cold weather. Rabbits are more able to cope with cold weather conditions than hot conditions but given the wrong conditions rabbits can suffer from exposure frostbite.
Rabbits can manage the colder temperatures of the winter months safely and comfortably as long as they have a warm snug home to protect them from the elements. You may already keep your rabbits hutch in a shed garage or outbuilding year round but if you do not it is worth considering if you can do this over the winter months in order to make caring for them in the cold a little easier. Indoor house rabbits should be fine in the cold weather as the temperature indoors tends to be regulated for yourselves.
But check that their living area is not in a draught and if temperatures drop very low during the night you could give them a Snugglesafe Heatpad its like a. If temperatures plunge below minus 5 C wild rabbits hunker down and lie close together to share and conserve body warmth. In a backyard hutch they will struggle when things get this cold.
Not many pet rabbits can cope with sustained temperatures below minus 5 even in something as well-insulated as an Eglu. Cold weather can be deadly for any animal but with a few precautions and your rabbits naturally well-insulated body the animal can live warm and comfortable in even the coldest climates. Rabbits survive in the wild further north than most other animals but your rabbits relie on you to give it the benifits that allow their wild ancesters to live throughout the year.
Protect pet birds kept outside from cold weather by providing plenty of additional dry warm bedding such as straw and cover enclosures to keep the wind and rain out. Birds will eat more to keep warm in cold conditions so ensure the birds always have access to plenty of food and fresh water ensuring water does not freeze over.