Indoor Summertime Temperatures

[Tami]

Hello Everybunny :o)

Since summer & warm/hot weather is soon on the horizon, I would like to know what temperature is good for our bunns ? 

We have central air but try not to run it too much because of it raising the electric bill (which they are talking about raising the rates, yet again, very soon !  UGH !).  We didn’t have bunns last year except for the little time we would bunnysit Sid for my son for about a week at a time, but we always had the CA running for his and our comfort until my son came to pick him up.

This year, though, we have our own bunns……Sid included, since he was our “Christmas present”, LOL !……and we want to make sure it’s comfortable in here for them at all times.

When we have the CA running, we have  the temp set between 65 and 70 degrees, all depending on how hot it is outside, so we adjust accordingly.  Is this an exceptable temp for them ?

Thanks so much for your help :o)

[Sarita]

65 to 70 is definitely okay for them. I usually keep mine between 75 and 77 degrees to help save (me) money. Of course that does depend on the humidity and stuff outside.

[babybunsmum]

oh i think thats a fine range… thats not too warm at all since its normal room temp range isn’t it?

unfortunately i do not have ac   and it can get nasty hot during a summer heat wave.  i can control the temp a bit by closing the blinds to keep sun out during the day & opening all the windows to let the place cool at night but i think it’s still too hot in here for the animals.  so what i do is freeze water in empty margarine tubs and place them in buns enclosure.  baby bun usually lays near hers.  i also have a fan blowing nearby but not right on bun.

[Tami]

Thanks Sarita and babybunsmum !

I kinda thought  that the temp we usually keep in here would be good enuf, but ya never know !  I know with our parrots that what is comfortable for us is also ok for the birds, but since bunnies have all that fur, I didn’t want to assume anything ! 

Just wanted to double check and be prepared for the summer heat :o)

[osprey]

We don’t have AC in our house, but for the most part it does not get that hot in the Bay Area, usually just a couple of weeks a year with over 90 temperatures.  A couple of easy things you can do to help the buns when it gets hot:

– put a couple of 12″x12″ ceramic tiles in the pen with them.  These can be found at home improvement type places.  Pieces of cut stone like granite or marble work too if you have any left over from home projects.  These substances absorb heat, and feel cool to the touch even when it is hot out.  Bunny will quickly learn that laying on the cold stone makes her more comfortable.

– add ice cubes to bunny’s water bowl and feed refrigerated greens rinsed in very cold water.  Hydration is important when it is hot, and the cool bowl will offer some comfort too.

– freeze some plastic bottles filled with water and place them in the pen, especially on top of the ceramic tiles.  Bunny will flop down next to the bottles to cool off.

– I read that a fan does not help bunnies because they do not have evaporative sweat like people do, but I always set up a fan anyway, usually sending air over the ice bottles to make a cool breeze.

[Bunnies4ever]

I use to live in an apartment with no a/c. I did the marble tile thing and the frozen water bottles. Chloe would bite the bottles until they started leaking, so I had to take them out. One thing you can do is mist their ears. It helps them cool down. That worked for me.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I recently read that you can spritz their ears with water to help them cool off as well!

[Scarlet_Rose]

You can also hang a towel on the side of the cage and have a fan blow on it & through the cage, it’s a mini-version of an evaporative cooler.  

Oops, I just realized that I didn’t specify a DAMP/WET towel.

[babybunsmum]

cool ideas!  thanks all… i’m gonna make use of them this year for sure.

[Tami]

Just wanted to thank everyone for the great suggestions !  I have written them all down and will see which works the best :o))

 

Thanks so much everyone !

[kimberleyanddarren]

i dont think i will have this problem in england LOL so i have no idea but it seems you have had some good responses so yay

[Floppy]

this is great information!!!

[Hedi]

Someone mentioned last summer to freeze fruit and the buns will lick/eat the ice to get to the frozen fruit. My buns seemed to like it when I did it last year.

[Scarlet_Rose]

I just wanted to let you all know that upon request I am pinning this conversation at the top since summer is just around the corner and some of you are already experiencing hot weather and we don’t want to forget our fur family friends.   I also would like to add this article by the CO HRS on Summer and Winter Dangers: http://www.coloradohrs.com/articles/care_seasonal-dangers.asp

[Scarlet_Rose]

O.K. I’ve also added this discussion to the FAQ section entitled:

Temperatures in the Summer: (How hot is too hot?)

https://binkybunny.com/Default.aspx?tabid=54&forumid=1&postid=40288&view=topic

[masteroffm]

we actually invested $300 in a portable air conditioner for the bunnies room and it has worked out pretty well. the only issue we had was that the window in their room slides horizontally and most of the portable AC units have ducting that is more suited for a window that opens vertically. it seemed a little pricey at first, but the peace of mind it provides makes it well worth the cost. being that we are only cooling a single room it isnt to much of a hit on our power bill.

[kimberleyanddarren]

i have a little fan that clips on the side of the cage, it isnt very strong, just to keep the air going round it works well! i used to have one for my birds aswell they liked it

[RabbitPam]

I did the frozen water bottles in the cage, which I heard would melt, making condensation on the sides in drops. Fans directly on the bunnies is not supposed to be good, so I had a fan on a tall stand, like a pole lamp, that oscillated to circulate the air but was above the cage.

When I got home, I wrapped Spockies ears in a turban: Take a washcloth that’s wet with very cold water, wring out, and wrap it gently around both ears. Cooling off the ears cools off the bunny. I knew he didn’t mind because he’d sit very still wearing his turban! So cute, too.

[Scarlet_Rose]

Oh I also wanted to add that I have natural stone tiles flipped wrong-side up for traction that will also keep a bunny cool as well. You can but them singly at your local hardware store or find them in a cast-off bin in a tile store.

[Annie Fann]

i tried the frozen bottles/containers and it works well, but my buns chew on the container and then it springs a leak.  soo i dunno what else to use?

[Sage Cat]

As for a bottle the buns won’t be able to distroy – try a Nalgene bottle!

Originaly used in labratorys; backpackers & mountaineers quickly realized how indistructible they are.

Nalgene is shatterproof and lighter than glass. The bottles also resist stains or absorbing odors, and permit filling the bottle with boiling water.

You can get them at any outdood store or someplace like Target.

 

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[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Oohhh but don’t drink out of them-they are pulling them off the shelves and asking that people throw them out-they are chock-full of carcinogens!!

It should be ok to use to freeze though… ?

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Here are some articles…

http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/08/could-your-nalgene-bottle-give-you-cancer/
http://leas.ca/On-the-Trail-of-Water-Bottle-Toxins.htm

Just google water bottles, cancer, for lots of hits

[Floppy]

bf’s bunny, my baby as well..lola with her new ex-pen area with ceremic tiles!

shes spoiled and of course it will be great for summertime!

shes such a character, she got spayed over a week ago and is healing fabulously!

Can’t wait for the day bf and I move in together and Lola and Floppy can be bonded!

 

[Bunnies4ever]

She is adorable! A cutie-pie!

[Sage Cat]

What a bummer that Nalgene causes cancer.
Is there anything that does not cause cancer now days?

[osprey]

Floppy, did you take her to Palo Alto Spay/Neuter?

[Floppy]

yup love that place…so glad you told me about it Osprey! Had to pass the knowledge on to my boyfriend.

[osprey]

I really like that place too.  When I had my foster bunny Marilyn spayed there, I was amazed by how small her scar was.  That clinic does nothing but Spay/Neuter, so their surgeon is extremely good at it.  I like the vet tech who works there too, he always gives the buns a little exam when you check them in, looking at the teeth, checking for parasites, etc.  You cannot beat the price either.

[Floppy]

Bay Area folks…just a news flash.. suppose to be in the 90’s inland tues/weds and thurs-friday it’s expected
to reach 104! Be prepared for the heat!!!

[Sage Cat]

Wow – it is already starting to get in the 90’s & 100’s in the Bay Area!

It snowed here in Denver yesterday – really. I love Colorado!

[JK]

Yeah I know!  This will be a good test to see how the buns handle the heat.  It’s only supposed to last a couple of days. I am going to put some water bottles in the freezer to get ready!

[Scarlet_Rose]

We didn’t get snow by me, we got rain but Downtown where I work it snowed. Blech! It is supposed to be in the 80’s over the weekend here. Hard to believe when it was only 63 today.

[Floppy]

 I stuck some water bottles in the freezer two days ago, I took them out yesterday
and put a sock on them, Toki wasn’t so crazy about them but Floppy loved them. I wasn’t able to take
a picture but at one point it looked like he was hugging the bottle! It was sooooo cute!!! I put them back
in the freezer later in the evening when it cooled down…it’s suppose to be hotter today so we’ll have to
just try our best to stay cool! If I can get a picture of Floppy with the bottle I will post them!

[JK]

That’s a good idea about putting the bottles in a sock.  A super thin one I presume.  I’m doing that today.  Can’t wait for it to be 105 as they say!  Ugh.

[SandraT]

We just got slammed with temps of 40+ with the humidex in parts of Ontario.  I was using every trick of the trade (pulled curtains, had 2 big fans going, frozen water bottles, ceramic tiles, wet downs throughout the day on head/ears/back, wetted greens, ice in shallow water bowl)… and my buns were still having problems.   Went on a mad shopping dash for a portable air conditioner only to find all decent ones sold out and no new stock coming in anywhere!   I ordered one on-line and it’s supposed to arrive in 5 days on Monday…

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

That sucks!! We tried to buy an airconditioner last summer, luckily we heard there was a wave coming and bought it ahead of time. They totally sold out during the heat wave. Have you physically wet down the bunnies? If they are having a hard time, you might wet them right down.

[JK]

The Bay Area is getting another heat wave…100 by Friday.  The ice bottles with a thin sock didn’t work.  Edson just pushed it away!  Got the shades pulled and the fan going.  The really bad thing is my next door neighbors smoke like fiends and their smoke comes into Edson’s room as we are so close.  Their back deck is right next to my office where Edson is. We have asked them to please blow their smoke elsewhere and they keep on doing it.  I’m really upset by this.  So if there is a nice cool breeze I have to shut the windows if they are home.   It’s so frustrating. Thank god they go to bed early. I own my house and they rent but I guess I do not have any rights as a homeowner. There is really no other place I can move Edson either.  The office is the perfect set-up.  If I put him downstairs he would not get nearly enough attention.  As it is now he gets too much!!!Ugh.

[JohnO]

I live in Vt and it gets hot but not 100 hot, i came home from work the other day to fined a very hot bunny who was over heated, I just scooped him up and put him in the citchen sink and ran some cold water on him… He LOVED IT!!! once he got cooled off he started playing in the water and having a grand time, now even when its not hot he goes for dips in the sink…. I have a microfiber cloth that i use to dry him off with and it removes all the loose hair its awsum!!! definetly try it!

[MimzMum]

I never thought of ceramic tiles for the bunny area! Wow! I’m going to get some tomorrow when we go into town. Thanks!
Also the wet towel idea sounds great! I have a small fan in the bun room, but I worry about whether in the small space it doesn’t get Mimzy sneezing because it’s hard to angle it away from his pen, if the wet towel is in the way, he’ll stay cool AND it’ll help block the direct breeze.

lolz rabbitpam…I am trying to imagine Swami Spockie in his turban! (images of The Great Carnac come to mind!) xD Between that, licking your feet and playing tag with your slipper…geez, he gets more special with every story!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Welcome J O Blizard! Where did you get your microfibre cloth? I’ll have to look into one-it sounds great!!

Knowltons, your neighbors stink!! My neighbors below us smoke too and it comes up into our kitchen in the winter time somehow and in the summer you can smell it too. Since it’s just the smell and not really the smoke, I’m annoyed but not worried. Why can’t they smoke on the other side of their house? Or would that make any difference to Edson?

[JohnO]

you can get a microfiber cloth at any automotive store thay are super cheep that will be with the car wash stuff and thay work best when your bunny is drenched!!

[RabbitPam]

Aw, MM. Thanks. I just read this now. Don’t know if I’ll ever get one as special as he was. Been missing him badly this week.

Knowltons, is it possible to set a fan going above Edson’s space and blowing into the room but facing the window? I mean, you could actually blow the smoke OUT of your room as it’s coming in. The fan would circulate the good air.

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