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Forum DIET & CARE Rabbit molting/ growth cycle question?

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    • hummingbird
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        Hi,

        This may seem like a silly question, but I read that rabbits molt about every 3 months, mainly when the seasons change, and that they grow thicker coats for winter.  But does this happen with house rabbits?  How does their fur “know” it’s winter if they live indoors at a pretty constant temperature?

         My rabbit is shedding now (it’s the beginning of fall), but I’m wondering how his fur knows to do that. Should we try to keep the house at the temperature of the outside, so our rabbit’s fur knows it’s fall, so it grows in right so in the winter, when it does get cooler inside, he has the proper coat?

         Also, my rabbit recently was sick and had to go to the vet, and he got an IV and they shaved his ear and 3 of his legs (I have no idea why they shaved so much), and I’m wondering if it should grow back with this shedding.molting cycle, or how long will it even take to grow back normally.  I don’t want his ears and legs to get cold in the winter.

        Thanks!!


      • Mocha
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          Lol I’ve never thought of this.

          Where do you live? I live in CA, so the temperature is never really freezing.

          Rabbit fur grows fairly quickly so expect the fur to be there within a few weeks. The temperature indoors for him should never exceed 75 Fahrenheit, as your rabbit may get heatstroke.

          My rabbits mainly shed when the weather is hot (I major shed once a year, with 3 lighter sheds). They are constantly loosing fur and you need to brush it or else when they are grooming themselves them may get a deadly furl (they can’t throw it up like cats, and they can even kill rabbits).


        • JackRabbit
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            I’m going to take a very wild guess that the shed cycle and coat thickness may be based on the length of daylight (or lack thereof) as the seasons change and is somewhat pre-programmed into them. I could be way off, but since they start shedding just before the temps change, this was the only thing I could think of that made sense.


          • Eepster
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              All I’ve got is anecdotes to go on, but Porky our house bunny is a much more erratic shedder than the outdoor bunnies my sister and I had as teenagers.


            • manic_muncher
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                Same here, Bumpy is always in a state of shed. There is a cycle.. maybe 3-4months then it’s really heavy for about 10 days or so. Then back to normal shedding, and back to me plucking tufts as he hops by. LOL


              • hummingbird
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                  Oh yes, the daylight – that makes sense.
                  Our rabbit definitely has started shedding more since summer turned to fall.
                  Thanks!


                • LittlePuffyTail
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                    You’re right, Jackrabbit. The shedding and coat growth is triggered by the change in daylight.

                    My short haired bun I actually notice a difference in her coat from summer to winter. In summer, it’s shorter and silkier and in the winter it seems thicker and fluffier.


                  • hummingbird
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                      Though doesn’t artificial light from our homes interfere with their perception of a change in daylight? We have our lights on until we go to bed at night, well after it gets dark. How does an indoor bunny even perceive a change in daylight?


                    • LittlePuffyTail
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                        Good question. I’m really not sure about that. The light here has changed in the last few weeks. It’s dark a few hours earlier now and both my buns are in a big molt.


                      • Eepster
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                          Light from bulbs isn’t full spectrum like sunlight, and sunlight comes in through windows. I would think some homes allow more of the solar cycle in than others depending on window placement, shades, glass type, and what have you.


                        • Silverpaws
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                            my nurse told me that rabbits who live in warm houses can get muddled with their cycle…. but merlin is always fluffing and our house is pretty chily (cheap students dont use heating! blankets and cuddles are the way forward!) so it may just be him being contrary, or hormones, or as someone said, solar.


                          • drwil
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                              Jackrabbit has it correct…this largely has to do with light. All animals things have internal clocks greatly influenced by length of day and night. If your animal is in a sunny area his coat shedding should adapt to seasons to some extent.
                              The vet said to make sure our bunnies have natural light dark cycles…it is good for people too.


                            • Thump
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                                My big bunny Casper is a chronic shedder. It seems that at least 50% of his body is shedding at any given time. My vet said not to worry and that all the crazy weather is causing dogs and cats to have strange molting cycles this year. I hope that it stops for at least a season but I doubt it. I’m sick of breathing and eating fur and having to pull hair out of my eyes at least 10x a day.


                              • beebun
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                                  Wonder whether my bun will shed too. Any experience with tropical bunnies?

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                              Forum DIET & CARE Rabbit molting/ growth cycle question?