Outside Bunnies

[whaleyk98]

I haveall my buns outside in an enclosed side porch. They are in wire cages. I was wondering if they are ok out there in the cold since the porch is enclosed...not heated but enclosed.Should Iput anything extrain or on the cages? I want to make them comfortable but they seem to be doing alright right now. Any advice? I am in upstate NY and my buns are English Lopsby the way if that makes a difference. Thanks.=)

 

[BlueGiants]

It's good that they are out of the wind and rain/snow. Do they have anything to get up off the wire floor? Resting boards? (We use sheetrock - wallboard. Works great! They love to pull the paper off, dig and chew it. Perfectly safe for them.) I don't like mine sitting on the cold wire all the time.

Do you give them hay bedding? You can give them boxes packed with hay to snuggle in if you want. Generally, they do fine in the cold. They should have a good thick coat on by now.

Your main concern will be their ears. If you use bowls or crocks for water, you'll need to be concerned with them dragging their ears through the water and freezing.

 

[DyemondRabbitry]

The ears were the first thing I thought of- frozen crocks + long ears = very bad. Mine are all outside (well, a barn but it's not heated either) and they do just fine. My Dad used to take some 1x4s and make them a little....well.... bench??? to sit on.

 

[whaleyk98]

They have water bottles that I check to make sure they are full and not frozen. They have resting mats for their feet too. I dont have straw though, just hay. I thought about giving them a "house" filled with hay. Thats a good idea. The babies are going to be 8 weeks on friday. Can I wean them now or if not, how long before I can take them from mama...there are only 2 remember. I still am having a really hard time sexing them.:? Im thinking they are both girls but how long until Ill really know? Or are they always going to be this hard?

 

[BlueGiants]

You can wean them at 8 weeks of age. If you want, keep them together for a few weeks. (Seperate by 14 weeks of age!) But definately take momma out. She can probably use the break.

Hmmm... you should be able to sex them by 8 weeks of age. Try again, if necessary have someone else hold them while you check. (Or get someone that has more experience to help you.

I prefer straw as bedding, over hay. I think it stays drier than hay...(lasts longer). It won't hurt if they chew on it.. still give them hay to eat. And yeah, check the water at least twice a day to make sure it isn't frozen.

 

[DyemondRabbitry]

Yup, straw doesn't absorb the moisture that hay will. When you think about it "straw" has no life left after the grain has been picked and it has a kind of...resiliency?? Hay, on the other hand, is much more likely to stay wet. Making hay can be pretty tricky and it will actually produce alot of heat after it has been baled in that tricky weather. Some farmers even have to salt the hay to draw some of the moisture out and prevent molding. Straw- much easier. Pick grain, dry straw, bale straw...ta-da

 

[BlueGiants]

Hay will mold pretty quickly if wet... even in a nestbox/house. Straw tends to shed the moisture and stay drier, less mold. I use both with my rabbits, but hay is for eating!

I use straw in my nestboxes, because the does are less inclined to eat the nest out from under the babies!

 

[DyemondRabbitry]

BlueGiants wrote:

I use straw in my nestboxes, because the does are less inclined to eat the nest out from under the babies!

Lol! Yes- for rabbits anyhow! I use bedding for our horse stalls and Cody will clean his entire stall overnight! I swear, he'll eat ANYTHING!