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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A How to tell if a bunny is cold

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    • SilverBlaze
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        With autumn coming, I’m a little concerned about Ollie getting too cold. She’s on my floor in a converted dog crate, and I work 3rds, so she’s alone in my room during the coldest part of the day. What behavior should I be looking for to let me know she’s getting too cold? (Right now she’s sprawled out and dozing, so it’s not an immediate concern, but you never know when we’ll get a cold snap.) We’ve had hamsters and stuff before, and Mom suggested putting a smaller box in her cage and stuffing it with dryer lint like we did for the hamsters, so she has a warm cuddly spot to retreat to if it DOES get too cold. Good idea? Bad idea? 

        Thanks! 


      • Monkeybun
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          Don’t use dryer lint. If you do want a box for her, just use shredded paper or hay.

          That said, if she is indoors, she’ll be fine.


        • Craig H
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            the only thing i would say is to make sure you leave a door open to keep the air circualting,if the door is closed and you dont have any kind of direct heating inyour room,when it gets cold it will get cold and stay cold in the room,but if the door is open heat from the rest of the house can still circulate


          • Huckleberry
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              I agree with Monkeybun. Just dont leave her on a cold cement floor or near a cold drafty window or wall and she should be fine. Remember, she has ALL that fur (even though its hard to believe there is any left after shedding season) and she should stay warm. Does she stay on the metal/plastic of the crate or is there a blanket/towel/mat down? That could help insulate things a little better, not to mention its good for those delicate feet to have something soft to sit on.


            • SilverBlaze
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                Cool, thanks guys.

                @huckleberry: She’s in a crate with a blanket draped over the back and the two sides, and there’s a hospital blanket on the floor that she pushes and rearranges. During the summer she had it shoved to one side and was laying on the solid plastic tray, but she’s since recovered that and rebuilt her ‘nest’. And oh my, the shedding recently. O.O I swear, the mounds of fur is equal to two rabbits! Where did she have it all??

                I just worry about her since she can’t escape to a warmer part of the house like the cats can. The fish has a heater, but Ollie’s just by herself. She is nestled against the wall, with my nightstand between her and my bed, which is all between her and the window, so there’s no drafts. I just know in the fall there’s some mornings I come home and it’s rather… chilly in my room. *shivers*


              • Monkeybun
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                  She’ll be fine. That fur isnt for decoration


                • Beka27
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                    Buns can do pretty well down to about 40 degrees if they have a winter coat developed. The level of fur for winter will form based on what type of conditions they are in, so if the house gets colder, she’ll get more fur as a protection. How cold does the house get in the winter? Cold is not a concern as much as drafts.


                  • SilverBlaze
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                      In the winter-winter, the thermostat is set to 70*. I was just worried about the autumn nights, as we start to get colder, you know? I may just turn off the box fan if it’s cool when I leave for work.

                      I tend to forget that fur isn’t just decor! I do the same thing with our Golden-Husky mix… she ADORES the snow, and will lay out in it for hours, and I keep trying to drag her in because it’s so cold. XD


                    • LoveChaCha
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                        When my dad and I were selling the old house – I had to put Chacha in her kennel in the garage for the day. It got to about 40 degrees and it worried me. I cut holes in a cardboard box and put a blanket over it and some hay inside. She did really well and as soon as I got home from work, she came back into the house. Now, she is an apartment dweller and is free ranged haha


                      • RabbitPam
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                          I was going to say 50 degrees or above is fine. Basically, if it’s too cold for a human with a sweater on (if you are grabbing your coat and mittens) than it’s cool for a bunny.

                          It’s much worse for a bunny to be too warm than too cold. Autumn nights are probably refreshing to a bunny after summer. They can’t take those snuggly fur coats off in the heat.


                        • Hopscotch
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                            I was wondering the same thing. I am not able to keep my heat turned up because it costs a fortune to heat my house. I wanted to buy Hopscotch a sheepskin rug to lay on but right now he only lays on cold hard things so I am not sure if he would like something taht is fuzzy and soft. Do your rabbits like to sleep on fuzzy things or hard surfaces?


                          • tobyluv
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                              My bunnies sleep on carpet and rugs. I saw the other thread that you started, Hopscotch, where you said you would be keeping your house in the 60’s. That would be fine for a rabbit. I think that temperature would feel good to them. If you think that your rabbit wouldn’t like something fuzzy, you could get a low pile carpet remnant or rug for him to try out.


                            • SilverBlaze
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                                I will stop fretting now over cold bunnies! XD I woke up this ‘morning’ (I work thirds, but it was a night off and I slept in, so it was about 3am our time), rather chilly, and Ollie is sprawled out in her cage. Seems she likes the cooler weather! XD Can’t wait to see what she thinks of pumpkins this fall. \0/ *is super excited for autumn already*

                                 

                                @Hopscotch: I’ve got Ollie in a dog crate, and it comes with a plastic tray, and I put in an old hospital blanket (we have tons of them!), and she pushes and rearranges it to suit her. She usually sleeps on the blankey, but this summer she kept shoving it out of her way and sleeping on the cold hard plastic. I’m gonna agree with Tobyluv, and say put in a piece of carpet remnent or a towel and see what happens.

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                            Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A How to tell if a bunny is cold