Makes me so sad to think of bunnies outside in hutches in places going through that deep freeze.

I am in an area that’s not supposed to go above 0 degrees F tomorrow and I can’t stop thinking about the animals that are being left outside. My bunnies are running around without a care in the world and it’s sad knowing there are so many out there that aren’t as lucky.

Mine are outside (I have a German Shepherd mix and little siblings, trust me, they are safer out there) and I have found a ton of ways to keep them cozy. The most important part of keeping buns warm is keeping them out of the wind. Putting a tarp over the hutch for the winter helps more than anything else I have tried. In the winter, it is also important to feed them more than usual. Stuffing the hutches with bedding helps, too. They love blankets and towels to cuddle up in and sit on, along with hay and straw. Adding a ton of toys keeps them moving around. Bunnies grow a very thick winter coat if they are accustomed to being outdoors, which does more than any amount of straw ever could.

DarthVadar it’s great that you are taking such care to make sure your bunnies are comfortable outside. This is a house rabbit site so a lot of us feel that having them in a home is better for them. It makes me sad when I think of rabbits outside in hutches to begin with but it’s especially heartbreaking when I think of them outside in hutches during weather like this. Not all bunny owners are as concerned about their bunnies comfort as you appear to be. I totally understand that based on your circumstances you may have no other options but to have yours outside. From some of your other posts it appears you feel that rabbits are happier outside anyway. I just happen to disagree but we can still all learn from each other and share our love of rabbits.

It’s already in the single digits here and I spent all evening (5+) hours with my rabbits. If they were outside there is no way they would be able to get the attention they receive on a daily basis (no, not because of laziness like you mentioned in another post). I wouldn’t be able to stay out there that long with snow on the ground and the air freezing. Even if I could they probably wouldn’t even want to step foot out of a hutch and I am not about to climb into a hutch to spend time with them. They probably wouldn’t approve if I tried.

The thought of any animal outside in such cold weather is heartbreaking. Especially animals that are particularly vulnerable, i.e. rabbits

In the UK it doesn’t get below 0 degrees Celsius very often but even here it is advised to bring your rabbit inside in extreme weather.

I almost didn’t join this site bc mine are outside, but all the outdoor rabbit sites are mostly for people who keep their rabbits as livestock (meat, fur, production, etc).
Mine are happier when their hutches are outside. During bonding, I had Panda and Maisy inside, and Panda hated it. A lot. She’s been a mostly outside bunny her whole life, so she didn’t like all the noise that being inside entails. I think that rabbits can be happy indoors or out as long as they are getting socialized and cared for well.
When it gets super cold, they come inside. I’m not going out one morning to find bunny popsicles. They get plenty of playtime inside, too. My room is rabbit proofed, so I let them take turns running in there when I’m home.

My rabbits are also outside however I’m lucky because it doesn’t get that cold in Ireland and hardly ever goes below freezing point. They seem very happy as they have a large space and are brought indoors for multiple hours daily. They can be perfectly fine outdoors, while of course, given the appropriate care and attention. Vaccinations are a must.