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| Bunny Trail Farm |
Summer Rabbit Care
These tips are for bunnies that reside outdoors. Rabbits are living
creatures and YOU are responsible. Adults must double check on the
condition of the animals and must NEVER assume a child has properly
cared for the rabbit.
High Temperatures:
It is critical that your bunny be kept in a well shaded and well ventilated
area during the summer months. Keep them out of direct summer sun
at all times. When the temperature climes pas 80 degrees, It's time to
take action to cool your bunny down. Frozen bottles help such as milk
jugs and bigger pop bottles. Even a frozen ice pack made for human
lunches will work. Adding ice cubes to the drinking water is helpful as
well. It cools the area slightly and encourages them to drink more.
Rabbits will not drink hot water and become dehydrated quickly.
Fans:
If you run fans for your bunnies, be sure to direct the air flow ABOVE or
BELOW the cage, not directly on the rabbit. Thermostats built into fans
are a great way to be sure the rabbits stay cool while you are away.
You can set them to go on a certain temperature and will turn
themselves off when it cools down. You can buy a plug that has a
automatic turn on heat or cool.
Misting Rabbits:
Spray your rabbit with a bottle of water that just mists them.
If you attach a mister to the top of the hutch the mist will circulate
around and run down the back of the hutch. A simple misting hose or a
regular hose with small holes punched in it will work as a mister.
Cool Rooms:
You can make little air conditioned rooms for your bunny by putting a
small frozen bottle inside a nest box, use sanest box or a hiding box .
A small bottle will cool the area remarkably. PVC pipe is another way to
keep them cool. Our rabbits love their pipe and some will just lie with
their head and ears int he tube to stay cool.
Summer Vacations:
When leaving on vacation it is best to take the bunny to someone who
will be able to tend to the cooling process. .Don't leave the rabbit
unattended for more than 12 hours without someone checking on it to
be sure it has plenty of COOL water to drink and adequate cooling in
the form of frozen bottles or misters etc. Rabbits become overheated
very easily and can die in a matter of hours. Rabbits need to be feed
on schedule so you need to find someone who will keep the rabbit fed,
clean, give him/her water and be sure the bunny stays cool in hot
weather. You can ask a friend, family, or hire a pet sitter.
Winter Rabbit Care:
Keeping your bunny comfy in the winter takes a little extra care for
bunnies that live outdoors.:
Rabbits have a heavy winter coat, but there are ways you can make
Your bunnies life more comfortable. We use heat lamps and try to
supply light so the rabbits will reproduce and stay warm, especially the
tiny kits.
Holiday Tips:
Please remember that Poinsettias and Holly are POISONOUS PLANTS.
Keep them out of reach of your house or yard bunny! The
consequences can be deadly!
Christmas trees are another deadly attraction to a house rabbit.
They may chew on light cords or pick up dried pine needles from the
carpet. Fire retardants on trees can be toxic to small animals so let
your bunny enjoy the Christmas tree from the safety of his cage or your
lap.
NOTE:
RABBITS DRINK MORE WATER IN COLD WEATHER THAN IN HOT.
BURNING CALORIES TO KEEP WARM CAUSES THEM TO
DEHYDRATE. So be sure to check the water supply frequently.
If you use a water bottle, placing a heavy sock over the bottle will help
reduce the likelihood of freezing. If you use crocks, only fill them half
way so there is room for expansion if the water freezes (otherwise the
crock will break). You can use a heated horse bucket or even a plug in
water bottle. You can use a heated horse bucket that works very well.
If the water is frozen in the bottle you will have to discard the bottle as it
will be ruined from the water expansion. If crocks or metal bowls are
used they can be defrosted by putting them in the horse bucket of
warm water. We have also used one of those electric hot pots that plug
in and warm or even boil water very quickly.
Automatic Watering System:
I have planned to have an automatic watering system made of pvc pipe
which my husband will wrap with insulating foam. My husband is an
insulator by trade and can wrap the brass fittings in the watering
system. I have turned the water supply off to the rabbitry at night when
temperature are expected in the 20's and below. In the morning,I and
turn the water back on. I then if the water supply is frozen, I will use the
horse bucket and bowls thawing them when needed and keeping on
eye on the rabbits to be sure they have cool water to drink. Plans on
how to make a watering system cheaply are located on the Internet.
These tips are for bunnies that reside outdoors. Rabbits are living
creatures and YOU are responsible. Adults must double check on the
condition of the animals and must NEVER assume a child has properly
cared for the rabbit.
High Temperatures:
It is critical that your bunny be kept in a well shaded and well ventilated
area during the summer months. Keep them out of direct summer sun
at all times. When the temperature climes pas 80 degrees, It's time to
take action to cool your bunny down. Frozen bottles help such as milk
jugs and bigger pop bottles. Even a frozen ice pack made for human
lunches will work. Adding ice cubes to the drinking water is helpful as
well. It cools the area slightly and encourages them to drink more.
Rabbits will not drink hot water and become dehydrated quickly.
Fans:
If you run fans for your bunnies, be sure to direct the air flow ABOVE or
BELOW the cage, not directly on the rabbit. Thermostats built into fans
are a great way to be sure the rabbits stay cool while you are away.
You can set them to go on a certain temperature and will turn
themselves off when it cools down. You can buy a plug that has a
automatic turn on heat or cool.
Misting Rabbits:
Spray your rabbit with a bottle of water that just mists them.
If you attach a mister to the top of the hutch the mist will circulate
around and run down the back of the hutch. A simple misting hose or a
regular hose with small holes punched in it will work as a mister.
Cool Rooms:
You can make little air conditioned rooms for your bunny by putting a
small frozen bottle inside a nest box, use sanest box or a hiding box .
A small bottle will cool the area remarkably. PVC pipe is another way to
keep them cool. Our rabbits love their pipe and some will just lie with
their head and ears int he tube to stay cool.
Summer Vacations:
When leaving on vacation it is best to take the bunny to someone who
will be able to tend to the cooling process. .Don't leave the rabbit
unattended for more than 12 hours without someone checking on it to
be sure it has plenty of COOL water to drink and adequate cooling in
the form of frozen bottles or misters etc. Rabbits become overheated
very easily and can die in a matter of hours. Rabbits need to be feed
on schedule so you need to find someone who will keep the rabbit fed,
clean, give him/her water and be sure the bunny stays cool in hot
weather. You can ask a friend, family, or hire a pet sitter.
Winter Rabbit Care:
Keeping your bunny comfy in the winter takes a little extra care for
bunnies that live outdoors.:
Rabbits have a heavy winter coat, but there are ways you can make
Your bunnies life more comfortable. We use heat lamps and try to
supply light so the rabbits will reproduce and stay warm, especially the
tiny kits.
Holiday Tips:
Please remember that Poinsettias and Holly are POISONOUS PLANTS.
Keep them out of reach of your house or yard bunny! The
consequences can be deadly!
Christmas trees are another deadly attraction to a house rabbit.
They may chew on light cords or pick up dried pine needles from the
carpet. Fire retardants on trees can be toxic to small animals so let
your bunny enjoy the Christmas tree from the safety of his cage or your
lap.
NOTE:
RABBITS DRINK MORE WATER IN COLD WEATHER THAN IN HOT.
BURNING CALORIES TO KEEP WARM CAUSES THEM TO
DEHYDRATE. So be sure to check the water supply frequently.
If you use a water bottle, placing a heavy sock over the bottle will help
reduce the likelihood of freezing. If you use crocks, only fill them half
way so there is room for expansion if the water freezes (otherwise the
crock will break). You can use a heated horse bucket or even a plug in
water bottle. You can use a heated horse bucket that works very well.
If the water is frozen in the bottle you will have to discard the bottle as it
will be ruined from the water expansion. If crocks or metal bowls are
used they can be defrosted by putting them in the horse bucket of
warm water. We have also used one of those electric hot pots that plug
in and warm or even boil water very quickly.
Automatic Watering System:
I have planned to have an automatic watering system made of pvc pipe
which my husband will wrap with insulating foam. My husband is an
insulator by trade and can wrap the brass fittings in the watering
system. I have turned the water supply off to the rabbitry at night when
temperature are expected in the 20's and below. In the morning,I and
turn the water back on. I then if the water supply is frozen, I will use the
horse bucket and bowls thawing them when needed and keeping on
eye on the rabbits to be sure they have cool water to drink. Plans on
how to make a watering system cheaply are located on the Internet.
© 2006-2011 Bunny Trail Farm.
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