Cooling Methods

[Eucalyptus]

Some of you probably already know, but Java has hyperthermia – or basically that. He’s always a little warmer than the average temperature, and he gets VERY hot VERY fast when actively moving about.

Normally, a frozen water bottle to lean against has been more than enough for him to keep himself cool (he just lays with it after a bit of running around, and he’s back to normal in no time). However, the hot weather has proven to be a bit of a problem for all of us. Our apartment is naturally a bit humid – so it’s very stuffy. On top of that, we have ONE window (we’re in a studio) that we can actually open. The patio doesn’t have a screen, so it’s pretty much useless for airflow because of the bugs.

We have a wall in a/c unit that’s …. mediocre at best. It’s great if you sit in front of it, but only cools a small area around it. It barely reaches Java’s house, so it does help, but not nearly as much as it could. This isn’t really fixable, either. It’s an old apartment. Also, we aren’t the best in terms of budget, so leaving a fan on all day isn’t a viable option. We can … but it’s a last resort option.

We got a tile for him to lay on, but he avoided it completely.  So that didn’t work out. It seems like the warmer weather is making it a lot harder for him to cool off, and I’m just a bit worried now. If he lays with his bottle, he won’t ever get to a dangerous temperature, but he never completely cools off. At times it seems like he’s always running pretty warm, again not dangerously hot or anything. So, I’m wondering what else we can do to help him. I feel like being that warm is going to wear his body out over time, even if he’s not literally HOT or overheating. He’s been a little lower in energy – not sick or anything – so it’s definitely affecting him. He just seems like he’s a bit more tired, which is understandable if you’re always really warm. The same way that we get tired after being out on a really hot day. I think that’s just how it is for him, despite being indoors where it’s not nearly as hot.

Also, because he has a two story house with a lot of room, sometimes he gets himself pretty hot just from playing in there. He doesn’t even have to come out of his house to start warming up fast. And that’s another reason I’m worried – I’ve come home from work before and he’s pretty hot. So, we need some sort of cooling method that will work while we’re not home. Just in case the weather is really hot (and it’s only going to get hotter as we get deeper into summer), and he’s energetic in his house.

Any suggestions?

[Deleted User]

This is something I’ve been giving a lot of thought to as well (different reasons, similar effect for the rabbits), just a couple of thoughts in passing if more occur (we are just getting warmer here so it hasn’t been my focus) I’ll share them.

First, wondered, did you try putting something like a seagrass or straw mat over the tile? Might make it more appealing to lie on.

Second, I know this isn’t a fix for when you are away for a while but it may help a little in general (especially after he’s been playing) you could try freezing some of his fruit treats. I can’t get to the grocery store often so I slice and freeze bananas when I can, and they love nibbling them straight out of the freezer. I plan to try strawberries next, … applesauce out of the fridge was also appreciated.

And lastly, what about freezing several water bottles and placing them (several at a time that is) around the cage? (And/or freezing the tile for that matter.) I’d think they’d throw the cold for quite some time and while it isn’t a fix it would help drop the immediate temperature.

Some of the newer fans really don’t gobble electricity so it may be worth testing carefully when it gets hotter to see if it really has a noticeable impact on your bill.

I’ll be following this thread with interest and will share anything else that comes to mind.

[MoveDiagonally]

What I’ve been doing lately is running a window fan at night, cooling the room down and then shutting it in the morning before it starts to warm up. That seems to help keep things cooler during the hotter points of the day.

The fan I have is like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Holmes-HAWF2043-Blade-Window-Thermostat/dp/B000065DK8
But I bought it cheaper locally.

What kind of tile did you get? I have two different types because some of my bunnies didn’t like the slippery tiles. For them I purchased some slate tiles which are textured which they seem okay with. You could also try laying some thin cloth over the tile that you have and see if that helps. I haven’t tried freezing the tiles but I’ve heard that it works well.

Another idea is ice cubes in his water to keep the water chilled.

Dampening his ear tips with water might help cool him off if he’ll tolerate it.

I second Grey Dove’s idea of maybe putting in multiple frozen water bottles.

[Deleted User]

Like the multiple frozen bottles of water a tile that’s spent time in the freezer (or even the fridge) would still help lower the temperature in the cage.

But I remembered something, … don’t know if it will help Java since it depends on what he’d chew. There are pads for dogs made with special beads (actually you can just buy the beads, they are also used for neck ties and headbands for soldiers serving in hot climates) that work by being soaked in cold water and thoroughly wrung out. The beads retain the cool moisture for several hours and they can be very cooling to lie on. Again, obviously if he chews fabric then this wouldn’t be safe, but if he doesn’t, …

The Vermont Country Store used to sell the pads for dogs, … their shipping to Canada got beyond stupid so I stopped checking them out but I’d bet they still have them. They also have good customer service so if they aren’t listed a note would probably get more info and/or bring them back. I also know (if you can sew or know someone who can) a lot of sites that send items to support the troops can guide you to the beads (then you could make your own pad or pads), and they are fairly inexpensive. The names of these organizations are currently alluding me but a search on Google using “knitting for the troops” will bring them up.

[LittlePuffyTail]

I’m very paranoid about my buns overheating. Last summer I purchased these crate fans: 

 

 

I attach them to their condo doors. If you put a frozen bottle in front of it, it really helps cool things off.  They are a bit noisy but it didn’t take my buns long to get used to them. They seem to enjoy them. There are 2 speeds and they are battery operated.

I bought them for $10.00 at a farm supply store. You can buy them online. Just google: crate cooling fan

[Eucalyptus]

Posted By Grey Dove on 05/21/2013 02:31 AM
This is something I’ve been giving a lot of thought to as well (different reasons, similar effect for the rabbits), just a couple of thoughts in passing if more occur (we are just getting warmer here so it hasn’t been my focus) I’ll share them.

First, wondered, did you try putting something like a seagrass or straw mat over the tile? Might make it more appealing to lie on.

Second, I know this isn’t a fix for when you are away for a while but it may help a little in general (especially after he’s been playing) you could try freezing some of his fruit treats. I can’t get to the grocery store often so I slice and freeze bananas when I can, and they love nibbling them straight out of the freezer. I plan to try strawberries next, … applesauce out of the fridge was also appreciated.

And lastly, what about freezing several water bottles and placing them (several at a time that is) around the cage? (And/or freezing the tile for that matter.) I’d think they’d throw the cold for quite some time and while it isn’t a fix it would help drop the immediate temperature.

Some of the newer fans really don’t gobble electricity so it may be worth testing carefully when it gets hotter to see if it really has a noticeable impact on your bill.

I’ll be following this thread with interest and will share anything else that comes to mind.

 

Wouldn’t putting seagrass over the tile defeat the purpose? Maybe if the tile was frozen, so it’s extra chilled. But it seems like the point is to be directly in contact with it. I can still try this, though.

Java is usually really good at knowing he needs to lay by his bottle, but lately it seems like he doesn’t want the bottle until he’s BURNING. I tried leaving lots of bottles around his house, but he shoves them all away from wherever he wants to lay. He has a particular spot (where his main bottle always is) that he’ll always lay at, but if he decides to lounge anywhere else, he refuses to be with a bottle. This is starting to become a problem. One of us literally needs to sit with him and pet him while he lays with the bottle in order for him to stay with it. That’s fine and all, but if we aren’t here, I’m worried about him going to lay somewhere that he can’t cool off at because he doesn’t want the bottles.

Might invest in a fan. I’ll do some research on energy saving models. Thanks!

Also, just to reply to your second post – that pad sounds interesting! I’m going to give it a look. He’s not much of a chewer on fabric, but sometimes can get chewy/diggy.

[Eucalyptus]

Posted By MoveDiagonally on 05/21/2013 03:37 AM
What I’ve been doing lately is running a window fan at night, cooling the room down and then shutting it in the morning before it starts to warm up. That seems to help keep things cooler during the hotter points of the day.

The fan I have is like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Holmes-HAWF2043-Blade-Window-Thermostat/dp/B000065DK8
But I bought it cheaper locally.

What kind of tile did you get? I have two different types because some of my bunnies didn’t like the slippery tiles. For them I purchased some slate tiles which are textured which they seem okay with. You could also try laying some thin cloth over the tile that you have and see if that helps. I haven’t tried freezing the tiles but I’ve heard that it works well.

Another idea is ice cubes in his water to keep the water chilled.

Dampening his ear tips with water might help cool him off if he’ll tolerate it.

I second Grey Dove’s idea of maybe putting in multiple frozen water bottles.

We actually don’t have a windowsill … LOL. I know that’s ridiculous, but it’s true. There’s a windowsill, per se, but it’s so short that NOTHING would be able to sit on it.  It’s one reason I haven’t started growing my own herbs.

Does slate still stay nice and cool? We got granite because of that reason, but we can try the slate. Thanks for the suggestion!

He’s definitely drinking more water these days so I’ll keep a couple of ice cubes in there. I feel like this really only helps if he’s thirsty, though. We definitely do dampen his ears – his head and neck as well, too. He’s used to that because he’s had to deal with that even back when he was with his foster mom. 

[Deleted User]

I’ve always lived in houses with odd windows so I never even think of those kinds of fans.

I think putting a grass or straw mat over the tile would lessen its effect, but it would still be cooler then the regular floor.

And I think if the bottles are in there with him they are still helping, … not enough maybe but better then if they aren’t.

Sorry, in a real rush, so just hitting the main points here.

[Eucalyptus]

Posted By LittlePuffyTail on 05/21/2013 05:47 AM

I’m very paranoid about my buns overheating. Last summer I purchased these crate fans: 

 

 

I attach them to their condo doors. If you put a frozen bottle in front of it, it really helps cool things off.  They are a bit noisy but it didn’t take my buns long to get used to them. They seem to enjoy them. There are 2 speeds and they are battery operated.

I bought them for $10.00 at a farm supply store. You can buy them online. Just google: crate cooling fan

This looks promising. I guess my only concern would be that there’s only a few places to put it on his upper floor (where he almost always is) and that might make it so he can’t do much to get out of the draft. I’ll see what we can do, though.

[mocha200]

People have given great tips! Have you checked the cooling tips listed here on BB? https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/tabid/53/CategoryID/23/PID/940/Default.aspx

One tip that has worked for me (As we haven’t had our AC installed yet) Is leaving all shades and curtains closed and lights off! It really does help not having the sun in the room

[Eucalyptus]

Posted By mocha200 on 05/21/2013 03:37 PM
People have given great tips! Have you checked the cooling tips listed here on BB? https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/tabid/53/CategoryID/23/PID/940/Default.aspx

One tip that has worked for me (As we haven’t had our AC installed yet) Is leaving all shades and curtains closed and lights off! It really does help not having the sun in the room

Actually, our place is highly shaded by a HUGE tree, so no direct sunlight ever gets in our apartment. Great for summer!

And THANKS! I totally forgot that this page even existed!

[Baxter n Boos Mom]

We bought a doggy ice cooling pad. There were two ice cube inserts – so always keep one in the freezer, and one in the pad. He may like the feel of this better than the tile.

http://www.amazon.com/CoolDog-Reusable-Keeping-Dogs-Summer/dp/B003LM4NM0/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1369176641&sr=8-5&keywords=dog+cooling+pad

[BinkyBunny]

Posted By Baxter n Boo on 05/21/2013 05:52 PM
We bought a doggy ice cooling pad. There were two ice cube inserts – so always keep one in the freezer, and one in the pad. He may like the feel of this better than the tile.

http://www.amazon.com/CoolDog-Reusable-Keeping-Dogs-Summer/dp/B003LM4NM0/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1369176641&sr=8-5&keywords=dog+cooling+pad

The inserts — are they the soft gel kind or the hard ones?   IF they are soft, I would just caution against those as bunnies are notorious for chewing on their soft bedding. 

@Mocha – thanks for posting the cooling tips page as there are some great ideas on there (both what has worked for me and member tips).  One of the best things that helps keep water bottles cold is wrapping them in fleece.  It takes about half hour for the fleece to become cool, but after that it seems to insulate and keep the water bottle frozen for 8 hours or more!  Whcih in turn keeps Viv cool. 

 I also do what Mocha does and keep the shades closed on hot days. 

We also have a so so window air-conditioning unit as most houses around here don’t have AC — older 1900 – 1920s bungalows/houses and it doesn’t get that hot normally, but when it does, these old houses can get hot attics and the heat just radiates down .   So I too worry on hot days about things getting too hot for Vivian even with frozen bottles.  If the air-conditioner was in the same room, I wouldn’t worry so much and I’d just add an oscilating  fan to move the cool air toward Viv, but the AC window unit is in our bedroom, and the bunny room is next to our room, so my husband made this thingamajig out of cardboard and vent hose (in the pics it looks like it’s metal — it’s just a soft silvery papery plastic thing. I wish I knew the name for it.  The cardboard part fits onto the part of the ac unit that is blowing out air – you don’t to cover the air intake.   It does a great job of getting cool air from the AC to Viv’s room.  

Now I can’t vouch for any safety concerns or if it causes a malfunction or something in your AC.  It’s just what works for us and we haven’t had any issues.  

Below are photos of this DIY contraption. 

This is it before we attach it to the AC.  The cardboard wide mouth part goes on the AC. 

 

 

This is the type of window unit we have

  

 

 

 

This is the part that goes over the unit output — notice that it has an lip on it to basically hang from the top over the air grid.  Not sure if I am explaining it right. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here it is on the unit — notice it only cover the air going out — it does not cover the intake vent otherwise it wouldnt’ work properly of course. 

[mocha200]

Wow! That is quite an invention! Does this eliminate any AC going into your room?

[Baxter n Boos Mom]

The sheet insert can be either frozen to cool, or microwaved to warm the buns. The insert is filled with water, not gel, and pretty flat, so not uncomfortable….and then inserted into a canvas cover that the boys never chewed on….and my boys LOVE to chew. It seemed to work well for my boys.

[BinkyBunny]

@Mocha – LOL! My husband is handy for sure. It definitely does eliminate any AC from going into our room but the time that I use it is during the hottest parts of the day when wouldn’t be in that room. If for whatever reason we are in the other part of the house, I just alternate it from the living room etc to the bunny room.

@Baxter n Boo – oh good — that’s good to know!

[mocha200]

Ok. Does the tube just sit on the floor then?

[BB Administrator]

Posted By mocha200 on 05/22/2013 08:50 PM
Ok. Does the tube just sit on the floor then?

No, well sort of — though it could.  I just put it on the edge of the bed, put a blanket over it to hold it in place an THEN the rest of it goes on the floor and out the door into the next room.  It’s not the most glamourous thing around for sure, but it’s only used when it gets really hot and around here that really isn’t that often. 

 

Helloworld!!

[mocha200]

Posted By Computer Boy on 05/23/2013 01:02 AM

No, well sort of — though it could.  I just put it on the edge of the bed, put a blanket over it to hold it in place an THEN the rest of it goes on the floor and out the door into the next room.  It’s not the most glamourous thing around for sure, but it’s only used when it gets really hot and around here that really isn’t that often. 

 

I see! That’s neat how you thought of that! 

[Author]

Messages