Brrrrrrrrrrr up in Michigan!

[playsndirt]

I live in northern Michigan with my two girls, spayed mini rexes Julietta and Romey. This is turning out to be an unusually COLD winter and they are predicting -22 at night within the next couple days. They have nesting boxes packed full of clean dry straw, and I tucked in some old fleece tops that they have been cuddling on as well. I'm concerned about the extremely low temps and was considering getting a couple heat lamps to place underneath their nesting areas for radiant heat. Their hutches are raised well above the ground.

I'm looking for opinions. Would this pose a fire hazard even if the heat lamps were placed several inches beneath the floors? Would it make much difference at all to their well being and comfort with the bedding and the floor being about 1/2 inch thick wood?

Any experience, tips, information, etc would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Imbrium]

Welcome to RO!

For what it's worth, rabbits handle cold extremely well - it's drafts that pose a risk much more than temperature, so the most important thing is to make sure their hutches aren't susceptible to drafts/wind. However, -22 is pretty low, so I can see why you'd want to take some extra precautions.

I know some people use "snuggle safe" pet warmers in cold temperatures... I'm not sure about the fire hazards of heat lamps, but I imagine as long as the rabbits couldn't possibly get to the wires and you make sure the lamps couldn't fall or get knocked over and weren't right up against something combustible then it wouldn't be any more of a fire hazard than using them inside your house. If you only used them underneath part of the cage (which it sounds like you were planning to do), then they could move to the other side if it got too warm for them as long as the lamps weren't too powerful.

That said, my rabbits live indoors - I'd never keep mine outside due to the obscene heat down here (100-110F+ for most of the summer) - so I'm not overly familiar with the details of winterizing hutches. I do know that many people safely and successfully keep rabbits outside in temperatures even colder than -22F, though - hopefully someone with personal experience in this department will be along shortly to provide a bit more detail .

 

[playsndirt]

This summer we had extremely hot temps as well. I set the girls up in the garage on the cool floor and they we living in luxury when it was over 100. Since I'm heading into town I'll stop by the second hand shop and get a couple comfortors or some sheets to help block the wind if there is any. Romey is a goofy girl, in the summer she will sit out in her playpen when it's sprinkling and literally take a shower, clean her face, her ears with the rain water. i was always under the impression rabbits didn't like water. Julietta isn't that brave!

 

[Imbrium]

Yeah, but a garage isn't the same as being fully outdoors - a garage, when properly set up for rabbits, would offer a decent amount of insulation against heat . Also, the time of day that the temperature peaks and the duration that it peaks for varies quite a bit depending on what part of the country you're in - here, it's over 100F well before noon and stays that hot until well after sunset. South Texas summers are a kind of brutal I just can't see Michigan experiencing (also, 10 degrees is a big difference when you're looking at low 100s vs low 110s).

If you can't find anything good at the second hand shop, a cheap tarp and a staple gun would probably do the trick as far as blocking drafts go.

 

[BunMomma]

Hi I'm new to this site but my bunny is an indoor bunny...why don't your bunnies live indoors with you?

 

[playsndirt]

That heat spell we had was crazy hot and definately NOT something we are used to. Usually on a hot day up here I can step out the back door and within a few steps can actually feel some relief. There was nothing of the sort during that time. Stepped out the door and it was like being under a heat lamp even in the shade! I remember it being 87 degrees at 11 pm.....so hot a tree snapped in my front yard. Even the trees gave up The girls were happy to be cool for a little while, but after 24 hours they were getting antsy and wanted to go back out. No, no and no. Finally when it was getting down to 70 after sunset I put them back out. Peace in the valley again.:happyrabbit:

 

[playsndirt]

I live in a small cabin with two cats who aren't keen on the buns. The buns are much happier being outside with the fresh air, birds, breezes and other entertainment.

 

[RabbitGirl101]

Haha Michigan weather, one day it can be 60 degrees and sunny and the next day it could be a blizzard lol! As to keeping them warm, make sure there are no drafts that is going to be the thing that you have to watch the most. If possible (I got the impression they are in a hutch) try putting them in a garage/shed it will help protect them a little more from the dropping temperature as well as keep them a little warmer.

Lots of straw will help with insulation. Maybe you could spread it across the entire cage. Another major thing is to keep them dry. If its that cold and they get wet then they can freeze (sounds disturbing, sorry!) My cousin had a chicken who dumped the water and it ended up freezing its feet. So that is really important. Another thing is a solid part of the hutch where they can be completely protected from the elements, but it sounds like you have that covered! You could also wrap the hutch with a tarp (keep one wall open for ventilation) that will also help protect from the wind and cold and it will be more "insulation" for them.

 

[Imbrium]

Hi I'm new to this site but my bunny is an indoor bunny...why don't your bunnies live indoors with you?

It's generally recommended that pet rabbits be kept indoors for climate control, safety and socialization purposes... however, there are a variety of reasons why someone might decide an outdoor setup is better for them and their bunnies (allergies, issues with other pets, lack of space indoors, that sort of thing). As long as safety, climate and exercise concerns are properly addressed (as they obviously are in this case), bunnies can thrive as well outdoors as they can inside.

In other words, it's usually best to house pet bunnies indoors... but like with all general rules, there are exceptions .

 

[Bville]

I have these small animal heated resting mats for my outdoor rabbits. I have them in the enclosed part of their hutches covered with a little straw. I actually got mine on eBay for around $25, but the listing is gone. You could do some shopping around on the internet for the best price if you want them.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NVC7DO/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Our weather here in upstate NY is calling for below zero temps this weekend and I am seriously thinking of bringing them inside for a few days, but am worried it will mess them up to go from cold to warm and then cold again when I put them back outside. They have been okay with temps down to 4 degrees so far this winter, but I will be so worried about them if it's below zero. So basically I will worry either way...if they are outside or if I have them inside due to the change in temps. I'll probably start my own thread about that one!!!

 

[RabbitGirl101]

It's generally recommended that pet rabbits be kept indoors for climate control, safety and socialization purposes... however, there are a variety of reasons why someone might decide an outdoor setup is better for them and their bunnies (allergies, issues with other pets, lack of space indoors, that sort of thing). As long as safety, climate and exercise concerns are properly addressed (as they obviously are in this case), bunnies can thrive as well outdoors as they can inside.

In other words, it's usually best to house pet bunnies indoors... but like with all general rules, there are exceptions .

:yeahthat:
Some pet bunnies do better outside-you just have to be careful when it gets too cold or hot, otherwise they can strive while being outside