Winter’s arrival brings cosy evenings and festive cheer for us, but for our rabbit companions, it signals a time requiring extra vigilance and care. Whether your furry friend lives indoors or outdoors, the drop in temperature, changing weather conditions, and shorter daylight hours necessitate adjustments to their routine and environment. Ensuring your rabbit stays warm, dry, comfortable, and healthy throughout the colder months is crucial for their well-being.
Housing Adjustments for Winter
Where your rabbit lives significantly impacts their winter care needs. Both indoor and outdoor setups require attention to detail.
Outdoor Hutches and Runs
Rabbits living outdoors face the most direct challenges from winter weather. Their wild cousins burrow underground for protection, but domestic rabbits rely entirely on the shelter we provide.
Location is Key: If possible, move the hutch to a more sheltered location, away from prevailing winds, driving rain, and heavy snowfall. Positioning it against a house wall or inside an open shed or garage (ensure good ventilation and no car fumes) can offer significant protection. Raise the hutch off the cold, damp ground using bricks or sturdy wooden blocks to prevent moisture seeping in and improve airflow underneath.
Insulation and Warmth: Extra bedding is non-negotiable. Provide deep layers of absorbent material like paper-based bedding or wood shavings, topped with plenty of insulating hay or straw (straw generally insulates better than hay). Ensure the sleeping compartment is especially well-packed, allowing your rabbit to burrow and create a warm nest. You can further insulate the hutch by covering the outside walls and roof with old blankets, carpet scraps, or bubble wrap, secured under a waterproof tarpaulin. Be careful not to block ventilation holes completely.
Waterproofing: A damp hutch is a cold hutch and poses serious health risks. Check the roof felt for damage and repair any leaks promptly. Ensure the hutch is sturdy and doesn’t allow rain or snow to blow in through wire mesh fronts. Consider fitting a temporary Perspex or wooden screen over part of the mesh front during severe weather, leaving adequate space for ventilation.
Ventilation Matters: While keeping the cold out is important, completely sealing a hutch is dangerous. Good ventilation is vital to prevent the buildup of ammonia from urine and moisture from respiration, which can lead to serious respiratory problems. Ensure ventilation holes are clear and not blocked by insulation materials or snow drifts.
Never fully block ventilation in an outdoor hutch, even in freezing weather. Ammonia buildup and damp air create unhealthy conditions that can lead to respiratory infections. Ensure there is always a source of fresh air, protected from direct drafts.
Indoor Rabbit Care
Indoor rabbits are shielded from the worst of the weather, but winter still presents challenges within the home.
Avoiding Drafts: Even indoor rabbits can suffer if their enclosure is placed in a drafty area. Keep their cage or living space away from exterior doors, poorly sealed windows, and air conditioning vents blowing cold air. Feel around their area at rabbit height to check for subtle drafts you might not notice.
Consistent Temperature: Rabbits are sensitive to sudden temperature changes. Avoid placing their enclosure right next to radiators, fireplaces, or other heat sources. While you want them to be warm, overheating can be just as dangerous as being too cold. Aim for a stable, comfortable room temperature.
Humidity Levels: Central heating can make indoor air very dry during winter. This dry air can sometimes irritate a rabbit’s respiratory system. While usually not a major issue, if the air in your home feels excessively dry, using a humidifier in the room (not pointed directly at the rabbit’s enclosure) can help maintain more comfortable humidity levels.
Keeping Water Flowing
Dehydration is a serious risk in winter, primarily because water sources can easily freeze.
Frequent Checks: Check water bottles and bowls multiple times a day (at least morning and evening, and ideally midday too) to ensure they haven’t frozen. The metal spout of a water bottle is particularly prone to freezing solid, even if the water inside is still liquid.
Preventative Measures: Use insulating covers (special bottle snugglers or even old socks/bubble wrap secured around the bottle) to help slow down the freezing process. Offering water in a heavy ceramic bowl can also be beneficial, as it may freeze slower than a bottle spout, though the surface can still ice over. For persistent freezing issues, consider investing in a purpose-made heated water bowl, ensuring the cable is safely protected from chewing.
Dietary Considerations
A rabbit’s dietary needs might shift slightly in winter, especially for those living outdoors who expend more energy keeping warm.
Hay is Paramount: Rabbits generate heat by digesting fibre. Ensure a constant, plentiful supply of good-quality feeding hay. Outdoor rabbits may naturally increase their hay intake to help stay warm, so provide generous amounts. Hay also doubles as edible bedding, adding to their warmth.
Fresh Greens: Continue offering fresh greens daily, but be mindful they can freeze quickly if left uneaten, especially in outdoor hutches. Remove any uneaten frozen greens promptly. Check leafy greens carefully to ensure they haven’t frozen before you offer them.
Pellets and Monitoring: Maintain their regular pellet portion unless advised otherwise by a vet. While outdoor rabbits might need slightly more energy, overfeeding pellets can lead to obesity and digestive issues. Monitor your rabbit’s weight and body condition closely throughout the winter. You should be able to feel their ribs easily but not see them sharply defined.
Bedding for Warmth and Comfort
Adequate bedding is crucial for insulation and comfort during cold weather.
Extra Layers: As mentioned for outdoor hutches, deep bedding is essential. Provide more substrate than usual and pile up extra hay or straw, particularly in sleeping areas. Rabbits love to burrow, and a deep bed allows them to create a snug den.
Keep it Dry: Wet bedding rapidly loses its insulating properties and can make a rabbit dangerously cold and susceptible to skin infections or hypothermia. Spot-clean soiled areas daily and perform full cleans as needed, ensuring the base is completely dry before adding fresh bedding.
Dry bedding is critical for keeping your rabbit warm in winter. Check bedding daily for dampness, especially in corners and sleeping areas. Remove wet patches immediately and replace with fresh, dry material.
Exercise and Mental Stimulation
Even when it’s cold, rabbits need exercise to maintain physical health and prevent boredom.
Safe Outdoor Access: If your rabbit usually exercises in an outdoor run, ensure it’s safe and sheltered. Clear snow from the run area. Provide a dry, non-slip surface (a tarpaulin under a layer of hay can work) and ensure part of the run is covered to protect from rain or snow. Limit outdoor exercise time during very cold, wet, or windy conditions.
Indoor Alternatives: If outdoor exercise isn’t possible or safe, ensure your rabbit has ample opportunity to run around indoors in a bunny-proofed area. Encourage activity with toys, tunnels, and cardboard castles. Even indoor rabbits benefit from dedicated playtime outside their usual enclosure.
Health Monitoring in Winter
Cold weather can exacerbate underlying health issues or make rabbits more vulnerable.
Regular Checks: Handle your rabbit daily and perform quick health checks. Feel their ears – while naturally cooler than their body, they shouldn’t feel icy cold. Watch for signs of cold stress such as shivering, lethargy, Hunching up, or lack of appetite. Check their underside and feet for dampness or sores.
Appetite and Droppings: Monitor food and water intake closely. A reduction in appetite or changes in the size or quantity of droppings can indicate a problem, including gut stasis, which requires urgent veterinary attention. Ensure droppings are not getting stuck to fur, especially with longer winter coats.
Grooming: Keep your rabbit well-groomed. Matted fur provides poor insulation and can hide skin problems. Pay attention to keeping their fur dry, especially if they venture outdoors in damp conditions.
Special Care for Vulnerable Rabbits
Elderly, very young, underweight, or chronically ill rabbits are less able to cope with cold temperatures. These individuals may need to be brought indoors or housed in a well-protected shed or garage (with precautions) for the winter months, even if they usually live outside. Consult your veterinarian for advice specific to your rabbit’s needs.
Winter demands more from rabbit owners, but by taking proactive steps to weatherproof housing, ensure constant access to unfrozen water, provide ample dry bedding and appropriate food, and monitor health closely, you can help your rabbit navigate the colder months safely and comfortably. A little extra effort ensures your long-eared friend stays happy and healthy until spring returns.
