Outdoor Winter Housing Ideas!

[PickyPenny]

Hey guys!

So I’m at college and my family is taking care of my rabbit, which I’m grateful for. My doe lives in the basement and recently they’ve decided to move her outside, in the garage. I really don’t like the idea because the garage door is ruined and has a hole which will let drafts in(it’s small enough that predators can’t get in though). I live in MN so it gets really cold here. Anyway, I hate it that she’s moving into the garage but because I’m away for college, I can’t prevent it from happening. She lives in a NIC condo and that’s what I’m worried about because she won’t have any way to hide from drafts. So I want to refurbish her condo and just need some ideas or pictures of how people who house the rabbits outdoor set up the condos. Thanks a bunch!

 

*I’m planning to get an apartment next year so I can bring her along with me and I won’t have to constantly worry about how my family’s taking care of her.

 

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Linked is a picture of her current living conditions.

[LongEaredLions]

I don’t think any of us would be able to provide you with photos as this is a house rabbit forum and the majority of members keep their bunnies indoors.
There is no way you could convince your family? Tell them how much your rabbit means to you and ask why she shouldn’t be kept in the basement any longer. If you have to keep her outside you will probably need to buy a big hutch and fill it with straw and blankets to keep her warm.

[JackRabbit]

While you’re away at school, couldn’t your bunny stay in your bedroom at home?

[Eepster]

Bunnies actually don’t mind the cold much. When I was a teen, it was believed that indoor air was bad for bunny lungs* so they were always kept outdoors winter was fine for the bunnies. They just huddled down inside the wood part of their hutches. Bunny fur is extremely warm.

It was summer weather when we had to worry. We went batty keeping the poor furry things cooled down.

Now I’m not saying a garage is a good place for a bunny. First off, I would be very concerned about air quality. Garages sometimes store nasty chemicals. Plus if it is used as a garage, there are nasty chemicals. The bunny is likely to get lonely in the garage, who wants to go play with the bunny in the cold garage? When I was a teen. going out to be with my bunny on our porch was bad enough in winter, but a depressing garage would have been awful.

The garage just seems like all the down side of outdoors, with none of the benefits of outdoors.

I would choose a sturdy outdoor hutch over a garage. That way at least your bunny gets to enjoy seeing nature and fresh air.

*I wonder if our indoor air quality used to be much worse or if this was always a total myth. My mom tells me that when she was a girl my grandmother killed several canaries in their house by cooking with pans that gave off toxic fumes when overheated. After a while they just gave up buying canaries.

[MK]

unfortunately due to space issues, my bunnies are currently in the garage. here are some ideas on how to keep them warm:

1. buy several cheap comforters. cover all but the door (or 4 squares) of her condo. You can use zip-ties.

2. heating pads. buy some heating pads. If you don’t have a rug on your condo, buy the heating pet beds. These beds will stay on, but human pads will turn off. put one (or two, depending how big the condo is) on the floor. It is best to put it under something small, like an igloo or box. Don’t cover the entire floor, as bunnies can over heat and she will need some cool floor space. just make sure the cord is out of her reach.

3. Does she use a water bottle? if so, buy a heating water bottle, or put her water crock near the heating pad. If using a crock, it can be hard to make sure the water stays liquid, your family will need to check it several times a day.

4. Lots of hay. make sure she gets a little more than usual hay. this will help keep her warm.
Good luck!!

[Flopsie]

the other issues with garages is that they have no insulation which means when its cold, its terribly cold inside the garage. Also, when its hot, its ridiculously melting hot in the garage as well.

I think another concern is making sure that they don’t get a draft. block off or prevent a draft from hitting the cage

[Megabunny]

Minnesota must get pretty darned cold. I feel badly for you being at college and unable to have a say (my daughter is at college). One other thing I might add, and I know it sounds like a fire hazard but we’ve done it before for a rabbit who had to be in the garage in the winter is blowing a space heater at a part of the cage. My bun would go over and turn his butt to the heat and sit there. We were super careful not to get anything near it, but one of those heaters can make an amazing difference in a garage. 24/7 blowing in the cold weather but, well, your little one should be allowed to still be in the basement. I would recommend one of the tall heaters given the extremely cold climate you’re in.It’s super that you’re going to get a place you can have her with you next year. She will be such a comfort to you during the stressful times.

[Author]

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