Bunnylova4eva
Well-Known Member
We've had outdoor bunnies for almost 8 years. They've always been good through the winter but this year I got my bunny Ripley-our first buck.
I'm a bit concerned about Ripley though because he's a buck who sprays some, and as he's gotten older, isn't litter trained hardly at *all*. I plan to have him neutered in the spring, but feel now it is already too cold out to have him in for the surgury and put him back out into the cooler temps-not good for his respiritory system.
Our other bunnies had carpet across the whole bottom of the hutch except for one small corner of wire where they'd use for a bathroom. Being that Ripley goes *everywhere* now and has forgotten litter/corner habits, I've limited the size of the carpet. 2/3 is carpet, a third not.
I cover the hutches with blankets and tarps every winter for the whole winter so I think that helps. The water bottles are heated, so that isn't an issue.
He used to have a litter box, but I took it out when he seemed to have respiritory symptoms/allergies with the ones i tried. They've gotten *lots* better, though his eyes tend to still be a bit wet sometimes. (He's curently getting drops for them, we'll see if they do anything.)
The wooden side of his cage is *full* of hy which he burrows in and I think that helps alot. We have a light bulb in there with a low wattage bulb that we turn on when it gets really cold out.
With our other bunnies, I always put hay everywhere but with him, in the half/third wooden side is the only side I fill. The other side of his hutch he tends to go everyyywhere.
Any other tips to help winterize? I got him a dog bed, but being his 'bucky' habits, I found all these little holes nibbled in the side and caught him in the act of thinking it a 'bunny.' several times
silly boy.
I'm a bit concerned about Ripley though because he's a buck who sprays some, and as he's gotten older, isn't litter trained hardly at *all*. I plan to have him neutered in the spring, but feel now it is already too cold out to have him in for the surgury and put him back out into the cooler temps-not good for his respiritory system.
Our other bunnies had carpet across the whole bottom of the hutch except for one small corner of wire where they'd use for a bathroom. Being that Ripley goes *everywhere* now and has forgotten litter/corner habits, I've limited the size of the carpet. 2/3 is carpet, a third not.
I cover the hutches with blankets and tarps every winter for the whole winter so I think that helps. The water bottles are heated, so that isn't an issue.
He used to have a litter box, but I took it out when he seemed to have respiritory symptoms/allergies with the ones i tried. They've gotten *lots* better, though his eyes tend to still be a bit wet sometimes. (He's curently getting drops for them, we'll see if they do anything.)
The wooden side of his cage is *full* of hy which he burrows in and I think that helps alot. We have a light bulb in there with a low wattage bulb that we turn on when it gets really cold out.
With our other bunnies, I always put hay everywhere but with him, in the half/third wooden side is the only side I fill. The other side of his hutch he tends to go everyyywhere.
Any other tips to help winterize? I got him a dog bed, but being his 'bucky' habits, I found all these little holes nibbled in the side and caught him in the act of thinking it a 'bunny.' several times
silly boy.
