Preparing Your Rabbit Hutch for Winter
Rabbits cope well with cold but hate damp and wind. Seven simple steps to keep your rabbits snug through a British winter.
Healthy rabbits cope surprisingly well with cold, dry weather. It's wind, rain and damp bedding that cause problems.
Seven steps to a winter-ready hutch
- Check the roof: re-felt or patch any splits before the first storms.
- Move it: position the hutch against a wall or fence, out of prevailing wind.
- Raise it: keep the hutch off the ground on legs or bricks.
- Add a cover: a fleece-lined winter cover blocks wind and rain while letting light in.
- Deep bedding: fill the bedroom with dust-extracted straw, not just shavings.
- Check water twice a day: bottles freeze; a bowl plus a spare bottle works well.
- Keep the run usable: a part-covered run gives a dry area for exercise.
Should I bring them indoors?
Moving outdoor rabbits into a heated house and back again can be stressful. A well-prepared outdoor setup, or an unheated shed or garage with good ventilation and daylight, is usually best.
