Winterizing an outdoor rabbit hutch?

[2468Chickensrgr8]

Any tips for winterising an outdoor rabbit hutch...what do you do for the water bottle?....The rabbit has a two room hutch with a run added on....I've put straw on one side ....

 

[chickflick]

I had my rabbits in a chain link dog kennel. I put boards all around the kennel so they were protected from the wind. Lots of straw in their dog house and a heated water bowl. One winter storm I had to go out and dig them out. The snow had blown in and even buried the dog house.

 

[Dill]

Give him a box/some kind of enclosed thing with tons of hay inside. Fleece blankets are also good to have in his cage so he can snuggle against them

 

[zatsdeb]

they make small heated dog waterbowls, that is what we use. also my DH puts plastic around the bottom by the legs, it is off the ground quite a bit. all that manure that drops makes heat also, they do quite well.

 

[windtryst]

I put layers of newspaper on top of the wire, then in the covered back space 6" of shavings. In the front space, I put layers of newspapers, then soft sweet smelling hay, very thick. I use stall dry when needed. We also cut plywood to cover the two sides and top of the front part. The very front door area is wire covered and open. I use a bottle waterer hanging on the front wire. They are only in there at night. They love their rabbit hutch.

 

[2468Chickensrgr8]

Hey thanks for the great ideas guys !....Would you place the heated water bowl in the run or inside the hutch were its" bed " is not....When we first got this bunny it would flip the water bowl over ..even the one attached to the side and so we went to using the plastic water bottle with the spout and it works...all these are inside the hutch on the side were theres no bedding...What do you think of straw for a bedding? ....thanks again....I have to go do my chores now...ahhhh!! its cold......

 

[Anny]

block any drafts, make sure their sleeping area is always dry. Give them extra bedding to snuggle up in. Make sure their fur is very matted, as matted fur doesn't keep them as warm.

 

[herbandteas]

I have taken a wool tube sock to put over the hanging water bottles. It really cut down on the ice build up. The thicker the sock the better it is.

 

[Skyesrocket]

I prefer straw bedding. It stays dry a lot longer.
Keeping the rabbit dry and out of the wind is important for winter.

 

[joshplus10]

I got heated water bottles from Dr. Fosters & Smith (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=18379). Expensivve, but hey work perfectly!

At the moment, they're on speciall for $19.99.