Hi KoopaBunny – welcome to BinkyBunny! I can’t say I have much experience keeping water from freezing because I do not have any outdoor bunnies. Is there a particular reason that your mother doesn’t want them in the house? Do you need help with litter training them or any behavioral issues? The reason I ask is that on this forum we strongly encourage bunnies as indoor house pets. This is not only due to the dangers for a bunny being outside, like insects, and extreme elements, but also due to the fact that rabbits are very social creatures that really need attention and interaction from their human owners. Is there any way the bunnies could at the very least go into the garage? If their water is freezing it must be really really cold for them, even though they do have the hay and protection, that is REALLY cold for them to be living in the kind of temperatures you have in Michigan.

I have heard there are certain types of water bottles or crocks that you can use to keep the water a little bit warmer, but really there isn’t a way to keep water from freezing in freezing temperatures. Until you find a way to keep it from freezing, you can use a crock, and you’ll just have to dump it out and re-fill it at least twice a day so you know they have access to water.

I’d think the garage is better than outside, are there windows or lights you can leave on inside it?

Even in a garage you may need heated accessories. Those need to be checked very frequently to know that they are in working order.

http://www.rabbitmart.com/shop/index.php

http://www.rabbitmart.com/shop/index.php

http://www.rabbitmart.com/shop/index.php

Is the water bottle outside the hutch? How is it freezing if it’s in the warm hutch with the bunnies? Sorry just confused!

What would it take to convince your mom to let you move them into the garage? Could we help with some links or resources? I lived near Michigan before-cold winters-garage would be nicer

I live in SW Michigan and the lake effect weather can be down right brutal!   How many times a day to you go out to replace their water?  just once?

hi koopabunny!! dont stress or fall out with your mum because of this, my parents dont want my bunnies inside so they need to stay outside too! i live in the UK so im guessing its not as cold here but sometimes there water freezes. When i go see my bunnies they are very warm… not just nice but actual warm (i feel there ears )they cozy in together and kep each other toastie. rabbits are outside animals and if its what there used to then personally i think its fine. they grow thick coats and get used to it!!
anyway… back to the water bottle situation. a very quick, cheap and simple way to keep them from frosting so quickly is to put thermal socks over the bottles. also in my pet store they have covers to put over the bottles. keeps them freezing in winter and keeps them cool in summer!! brilliant idea!!!

good luck and im sure ur buns are fine outside!!

It’s a LOT different keeping a bunny outside in the UK then in Northern NA…when we say brutal winter-wll a bad day in the UK is like a balmy spring day in NA

Your talking a continent away -it’s very different. As well we do not have shots for our bunnies in NA like you do in the UK so it’s also not safe disease wise.

Let’s look at temp in England right now
http://www.theweathernetwork.com/weather/ukxx0085
9 above zero -very warm…
Lets look at Port Huron as that’s where I lived near-Michigan
http://www.theweathernetwork.com/weather/usmi0684
two below zero and with windchill eight below zero

That’s a twenty degree Celcius temperature difference…Not the same at all

I agree-don’t have a falling out with your mom. BUT do what you can to get your bun indoors asap please!! Straw straw straw is perfect for keeping them warmed. How soon do you think you could move the bunny out then?

From what I understand Talullah is also able to bring her bunnies inside at night  to play and nap (correct me if I am wrong Talullah) where it sounds like koops bunnies  must be outside all of the time even in the extreme conditions.

I am sorry your mother is so resistant to bringing them into the garage. I am baffled by that – not sure what harm it would cause. I wish there were some other options like nearby friends or family that may be able to temporarily take them in until you get your own place.

Though we do have a few members here that have their bunnies outside, we are a house rabbit site and so you may not be able to get a huge amount suggestions for outdoor living.(thanks Petzy for the links)  We are better at helping with the transition from outdoor to indoor.

Even though rabbits grow thick coats like most animal species do, they are never meant to be exposed to the cold above ground. Rabbits are particularly sensitive to dampness. If an outside bunny had his way he would surely head for an underground warren where he would be sheltered and warm with 60 other rabbits. I came across this recently and it is very disturbing! I had a discussion with someone about frostbite in animals, rabbit, specifially, and happened to find this.

en.allexperts.com/q/Rabbits-703/amp…d-legs.htm

KoopBunny, are your rabbits bonded?