I’ve got the guilts

[jerseygirl]

Sort of.  More like I’m worried. The temps are starting to drop in my part of the world and I always feel like it’s to cold for the rabbits overnight in the back room.  I’ve even borrowed a electronic thermometer to guage just how cold it’s getting.   To you northern hemisphere residents, my version of cold is probably laughable!

Anyway, I read an old thread that stated rabbits are most comfortable in temps between 45 and 75 F ( about 7-23 C)  Does that sound about right?  So sitting idly in low temps is ok for them?  I feel the cold terribly so I’m likely over sensitive to what they must be feeling.It’s probably the same in most parts of the house but I can climb under blankets.   How do they come up with these temps anyway?

[Beka27]

It is a wide-range. While buns can be comfortable/survive, the lower temps, I really wouldn’t recommend going down that low for a house rabbit, you also don’t want big daily fluctuations in temperature and definitely no drafts. Can you weather-proof the back room a little bit to keep some of the heat in? Or is there another area you could use for the time being? My house fluctuates betw/ 66 F (in the winter) to about 72 F in the summer (with the air on) so we’re able to keep it pretty stable. I figure if it’s comfortable for you, it should be comfortable for them. If you are not comfortable being in the backroom for any length of time, I wouldn’t keep them in there without some modifications.

[amandafaith90]

I’ve also heard that buns are better in lower temps, but a house bunny may not be as hardy when it comes to lower teperatures. In the case that you can’t weather proof better or keep your bunny elsewhere, you could paritally cover the bunny’s cage with a blanket, and maybe give him one inside of his cage. That may help to keep him a little toastier while you figure out a more permenant solution.

[KytKattin]

I personally leave my window open most of the time during the winter as long as it is over 50. They are across the room, and to me seem more active in the cool than when it’s warmer. They play with their toys more and beg for more attention. I only have a tarantula that needs to keep warm and she has a light. Plus since my two came from the great outdoors and were probably kept in garages or outside before they came to me, I think they are used to much worse. On the other hand, all 3 of us have problems when the temps get over 80 so I am very sensitive to their needs in that regard. I agree with Beka though, if you are comfortable, they probably are too. Though if you are extremely sensitive to cold, do you have someone else that lives with you that might be a little more normally regulated? Ever since my thyroid thing I’ve been much more sensitive to cold so I’m constantly bundled in blankets and rely on my boyfriend to give me a better idea of what is actually cold.

[RabbitPam]

I’ve always understood that cool temps are good for the bunnies, and preferable to being too warm. I think you don’t have to be at all concerned if the room is in the 50s or higher. You could get an indoor thermometer and see exactly what the temp is. I agree with Beka that there is more concern about drafts than a regular but cool temp.

At risk of sounding silly, they are wearing fur coats!

[jerseygirl]

Well it’s still over 50F (10C) so it ok. I do draft proof, the room has huge windows on 2 sides so the warmth would escape thru that a bit. I may put up curtains yet instead of venetians. They’ll get chewed though. When I start lighting the combustion heater, I really notice the differance from the rest of the house and that room. Last year I’d just let Jersey stay in the lounge where it was warmer, but now with two unbonded… Anyway, they seem fine in the morning and they both are always busting to spent time outside where it’s cooler…so I think they’re ok. I might look at some more insulating ideas though all the same.

Lost, I share with my sister and she’s just as bad as me!!

[KytKattin]

At the very least, insulation will keep the heating/cooling bills down!

Well, I do have to say that it’s nice to be more cold than always hot. It’s a lot easier to warm up than it is to cool down!

[Cassi&Charlie]

Our guys have to deal with lower than 10C all the time cause our house has ridiculous heating (read no heating) and since we have to deal with it, they have to deal with it. I put a fleece blanket down on the floor and they sleep on it/under it…so cute!

This winter we’ll prob buy a portable heater though – since we’re both working, it’s finally affordable. lol.

[RabbitPam]

Temperature is such a personal thing – I have a boss who can’t stand having the office higher than 68, and prefers it 65F.No one else likes it that cold, including me. Stuck with it.
Remember the old saying where a mother would say to her child “I’m cold. Go put on a sweater.”

I like the fleece idea as long as they don’t chew it. A bunched up fleece could be something they could snuggle on or under. Remove if turning into lunch.

[LizzieKnittyBun]

My vet told me it was a bad idea to cover the cage with anything (blanket, towel, etc.) but said that as long as there are blankets inside the cage they should be okay in chilly weather

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