Keeping bunnies in your home is one of the most rewarding things you can do. They are amazing companions, they are going to make you happy, and they are just adorable pets to have around. Some people have just one or two of these furry friends, but there are also those who keep a lot of rabbits on their property. As we are deep in the winter season, you are probably wondering what you can do to make sure your bunnies don’t get cold these months and they can be safe and sound until they can hop around in the upcoming seasons.
If you want to make sure you are doing everything you can to keep your pets safe, you’ve come to the right place. Here, we are going to tell you how to keep your rabbits warm in the winter and how to ensure that they are always safe and protected.
What you need to pay attention to the most?
The first thing we are going to talk about is the needs that the bunnies have. Many people think that the cold is the biggest problem that these animals will face, but that is not necessarily the truth. More often than not, these pets are going to be okay with being in the cold, but their biggest enemy is going to be water. If your bunnies get wet and if they are left like that in the cold, they are most likely going to experience health issues.
So, the first thing you need to know is that you need to keep your rabbits dry at all times, and you should not let them get in contact with rain. In case you let them play in the snow, you need to do everything you can to keep them warm and get them dry as soon as possible. When you plan on building them a burrow, you need to pay attention to this the most before planning on anything else.
Another thing that many owners think is a must is having heaters in the bunny hutch. This is not a must, and you can easily create a space where your animals will be dry and happy without having to use extra power to heat them up. Nevertheless, this all depends on where you are located and how harsh the winters are. If you live in an area where the temperatures go way below zero every winter, and if it stays like that for weeks and maybe even months, you need to find a way to provide additional insulation or heat inside the burrow.
Some owners choose to use things like hot water bottles that will help their bunnies stay warm during the winter nights, and if you choose to do this, you will need to invest in something that will not get damaged easily and that will not be chewed by your pets. Remember that the water should be warm, but it should not be too hot. The bottle may still injure your furry friends if it is way too hot and if it is placed directly next to them. Cover it with a blanket or a piece of cloth so that there is an additional layer of protection between the heat and your rabbits.
How to create a comfortable space?
Now let’s see how you can create a comfortable and warm space for your bunnies throughout the winter. As we mentioned before, the most important thing you need to consider is how to create a space that will not get wet or moist. You need an area that will be completely protected from the rain and the snow, and that will not let any moisture penetrate inside it.
As you can see on websites like aivituvin.com, an insulated rabbit hutch is not difficult to create, you just need to pay attention to what you are going to do from the outside, and then in the burrow.
First, you will need to create a space where your bunnies will be able to sleep, rest, and spend time when it is too cold or dark outside. This space should also be wind-proof because wind can make things much more difficult for your furry friends. Once you have the bunny hutch all made, you also need to think about the area around it where your rabbits will be able to go out and play, and this space needs to be waterproofed as well.
You can use plastic sheets to cover the hutch, as well as the area surrounding it to make sure that no moisture gets to your animals. For insulation, you can use blankets or even an old carpet, which will add that layer of protection against the cold and the wind. Just like the hot bottle idea, you need to create a space that your bunnies will not be able to get to and chew it through if you don’t want to replace the blanket pretty often. Weatherproofing the burrow is not that difficult and you can choose to use items that you can find in your home, or you can just purchase the right items from the store. There are a lot of specialized stores that sell these goods, so you can just save yourself a lot of time and trouble and just order the items that you need.
When it comes to creating a comfortable area inside the hutch, you will need to waterproof the floors as well. You can do this by first adding a layer of a waterproof sheet, and making sure that it covers the whole area. There should not be any regions where your rabbits can get in contact with wet ground or dirt. To be extra safe, you can use old or cheap carpets or blankets to cover the whole area and know that you will need to change and replace these units pretty often. Your furry friends will not be gentle with them, and they are going to make a lot of holes in them, but it is better to change them than to let your bunnies be cold. You can also use cardboard boxes or even hay. Choose the things that will add to the insulation and the comfort of your pets.
These are some of the things that will help you create a better space, and remember that as long as you keep your animals dry, away from the wind, and as long as you have an insulated rabbit hutch, your furry friends should be good throughout the winter and the freezing temperatures.
