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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 DIET & CARE Keeping outdoor rabbit warm? Snugglesafe?

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    • Maizy
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        HI! My rabbit lives outside. And now that it’s getting a little colder, I’m wondering what precautions I can take to keep her warmer. I plan on putting aspen bedding in her nesting box. But since I have to change it once a week (she’s littertrained), that could run into a little bit of money (not terribly expensive). Also, there’s the Snugglesafe heating pad, which is quite expensive. Is it worth it? I’m thinking it will be quite small for a bunny to sit on, and there is the chance she won’t use it, since I’ve heard of rabbits only using them when they get really, really, cold. So, I was thinking if I give her lots and lots of bedding/ or straw, she could easily be kept warm. To summarize, I know rabbits do really well in the winter, but not so great in the summer. Any advice on keeping her warm? 


      • Bam
        Moderator
        16836 posts Send Private Message

          How cold does it get? Extra heating is not required unless it gets like really cold.

          Here it gets cold, but it’s still legal to house rabbits outdoors in un-heated spaces, provided the following precautions are taken:
          The hutch should be elevated off the ground to prevent cold from penetrating from underneath.
          There must be a section where the bun can hide and where it is sheltered from rain, snow, hard winds and direct sunshine (during summer).
          The bunny should have access to ample amounts of appropriate bedding-material (straw is excellent).
          If it gets so cold water freezes, the rabbit must be served warmed water twice a day.
          The rabbit might need some extra food because keeping warm and growing thick fur requires energy and protein. If you use straw as bedding, the bunny can make a nest of it, that’s good both for warmth and enrichment. Keep in mind that the bun still needs hay to eat though, straw has virtually no nutritional value, whereas hay contains quite a lot of important nutrients.


        • Maizy
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            Thanks for replying. My hutch is off the ground. It is out of the snow, rain and direct wind. It doesn’t get terribly cold here. Very rarely gets below 10 degrees Fahrenheit. I’d say the coldest it gets is about 25. Is this too cold? I’ll buy the snugglesafe, but if I don’t have too, it’s quite a bit of money saved. I do want her to be warm. I just don’t want to waste the money if she never uses it, you know? I plan on buying straw or bedding for her, as well. And I would definitely still feed her hay.


          • Bam
            Moderator
            16836 posts Send Private Message

              25 F is not too cold, but it’s below zero Celcius which is when water will freeze, so you have to keep an eye out for that (she obviously can’t drink frozen water, hence the twice-a-day serving of warmed water).

              I honestly don’t think a Snugglesafe is necessary. The best thing for her would probably be a rabbit friend, but that’s of course more expensive than a Snugglesafe in the long run.


            • Maizy
              Participant
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                I would definitely make sure about the water. I stress over that with all of my pets (getting water, I mean).

                Yeah, I couldn’t afford that right now, and the hutch wouldn’t be big enough for two. It’s like 7.5 sq. ft. I want to upgrade later on, when I get some money saved up. So, if I can get straw, I wouldn’t need the snugglesafe? Sounds like a plan.


              • Bam
                Moderator
                16836 posts Send Private Message

                  Snugglesafe is great for when you have a sick or newly operated-on bunny, but then you monitor like all the time. I’d not put it past a bunny to chew a snugglesafe, and even if that might not harm the bunny, it will definitely harm the snugglesafe.

                  It kind of feels “wrong” not to provide heating, but it’s not a requirement even here where animal wellfare-laws are strong. You must provide chickens with extra heating and guinea pigs can’t be housed outdoors at all here – so I guess there are good reasons why rabbits are not required by law to have heating, as long as they are sheltered from the weather and have nesting/bedding-material.


                • Maizy
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                    Thanks so much for the info! I may buy one someday in the near future, but right now weather hasn’t been exactly ‘cold’ at 70 degrees

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                Forum DIET & CARE Keeping outdoor rabbit warm? Snugglesafe?