Help dealing with heat

[sarahthegemini]

HHi guys, it’s unusually hot here in the UK and has been for the last week or so (at least it is where I am!) I’m talking 30+ degrees Celsius. I’m doing all I can to keep my rabbits comfortable – they’ve got a large tile to lay on, frozen water bottles, ice cubes in their water bowl and a fan that’s on 24/7 angled downwards so they can lay in the flow of it to be cool but also move away if they want too. I can tell the heat is getting to them a bit still tho, they’re not as active – they’re definitely not lethargic but no sprinting but still hopping about and running for treats. I also feel like they’re not eating as much. It’s definitely the heat because they eat as normal when it’s been a little cooler. Both peeing and pooping as normal. I assume it’s fairly normal for them to be a bit lazier/nor as energetic with heat like this? But do you guys have any suggestions for anything else I could do?

[Bam]

It is normal for buns to be less active when it’s hot. In nature, they spend hot days in the warren and only hop out in the evening to graze.

I think you have taken adequate steps. A wet towel over a fan (if it’s the type of fan you can safely hang a towel over), will make the air even cooler. Some people spray their buns with water -just a fine mist , of course, and only on the back, not the belly (that would probably make them very cross ??)

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By bam on 6/19/2017 3:16 PM

It is normal for buns to be less active when it’s hot. In nature, they spend hot days in the warren and only hop out in the evening to graze.

I think you have taken adequate steps. A wet towel over a fan (if it’s the type of fan you can safely hang a towel over), will make the air even cooler. Some people spray their buns with water -just a fine mist , of course, and only on the back, not the belly (that would probably make them very cross ??)

I’ll try putting a wet towel over the fan, that’s a great idea thank you! I shan’t spritz them tho, in theory it sounds lovely but they don’t even like being a tiny bit wet (as evident when I tried grooming with wet hands! )

[jerseygirl]

I agree, it sounds like you’ve provided them plenty options to stay cool. Im like them when it gets hot here. Can’t do anything! Currently we are in Winter but you wouldn’t know it looking at a vividly blue sky today!

This is a page Ive had open on another tab for a while. You might be interested. I really need to save it somewhere I can find it when our summer rolls arounds again.
http://petdiys.com/diy-rabbit-cooling-platform/

An elevated dog bed might appeal also as they get a bit of air flow going under their body. I know Gina.Jenny and Azerane have these so hopefully they will chime in and let us know if their rabbits use them more in the hot weather.

[Gina.Jenny]

None of ours will use a frozen bottle, Snickers and Jenny both go into total attack mode towards the bottle, getting themselves even hotter. Yes JG, they did use their hammocks more, and yes, bam ours all got their rears sprayed with fine mist too, and it did help esp poor Snickers who was showing early signs of stress until I sprayed her. Thankfully its a bit cooler today, and they are out chomping grass. Saturday and Sunday they got kept indoors all day with the blinds down to keep the house as cool as possible.

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By jerseygirl on 6/19/2017 9:01 PM

I agree, it sounds like you’ve provided them plenty options to stay cool. Im like them when it gets hot here. Can’t do anything! Currently we are in Winter but you wouldn’t know it looking at a vividly blue sky today!

This is a page Ive had open on another tab for a while. You might be interested. I really need to save it somewhere I can find it when our summer rolls arounds again.
http://petdiys.com/diy-rabbit-cooling-platform/

An elevated dog bed might appeal also as they get a bit of air flow going under their body. I know Gina.Jenny and Azerane have these so hopefully they will chime in and let us know if their rabbits use them more in the hot weather.

I turn into a complete sloth when it’s this hot. Thankfully England doesn’t get heat like this regularly! 

That diy looks great, thank you! And I’ll look into the elevated dog beds. I actually do remember GJ mentioning them before

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By Gina.Jenny on 6/20/2017 7:02 AM

None of ours will use a frozen bottle, Snickers and Jenny both go into total attack mode towards the bottle, getting themselves even hotter. Yes JG, they did use their hammocks more, and yes, bam ours all got their rears sprayed with fine mist too, and it did help esp poor Snickers who was showing early signs of stress until I sprayed her. Thankfully its a bit cooler today, and they are out chomping grass. Saturday and Sunday they got kept indoors all day with the blinds down to keep the house as cool as possible.

Haha! Peanut hasn’t gone into attack mode but he does seem wary of the frozen water bottles. Buttercup has pretty much ignored them til today, she was resting her head on it like a pillow  She had a strop yesterday though because it was in her way 

We’ve got all the curtains shut to try and keep the sun out.

[Gina.Jenny]

This is the one we use, if you’re interested?  size small is fine for each bun pair

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00OP6QR7K/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[sarahthegemini]

Excellent, thank you Gina!

[Vienna Blue in France]

Z&H aren’t impressed with bottles and they chew fabric….

The upside down pot saucer is a cunning plan, but oh so chuckable !!!!

So I’m trying an icepack underneath a heavy clay flatish plant pot… Henry can move it around with his nose (in DISGUST that i should think THAT was a good place to put it!!!) but can’t get any purchase on it with his teeth to overturn it….)

I’ll see if the cold transfers through to the outer pot…

[jerseygirl]

Vienna, I think a clay saucer (like that goes under a planter) would work well. Or look for clay bird baths in garden centre.

[Bam]

GJ, that’s so funny, the other week it was hot here, so I gave Bam an iced bottle – and he was so CROSS! He hopped up to it and sniffed it and backed away in dismay. Then turned around, foot-flicked me and hopped off to the other end of the run where he lay down and wouldn’t budge.

[Vienna Blue in France]

Jersey. Clay saucers = sooooo chuckable !!! LOL

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