Winter, Bunnies, and packing on the pounds.

[MirBear]

So my girls are currently on unlimited pellets every other day, unlimited hay 24/7 and lots of veggies regularly, is this sufficient for outside winters?

 i’m trying to get them inside, but so far no give.

[Deleted User]

They will get fat on unlimited pellets. Where are the rabbits outside?

[MirBear]

the unheated garage, and its only forabout 2-3 weeks, since it started snowing.. just to give them a bit more in the protection from the cold department

[Deleted User]

Well, a garage is not the same as outdoors because it gves them at least shelter from predators, snow and wind. Some people let their rabbits burrow in small square hay bales if it is very cold. What do you do for their water? Does it freeze in the garage?

[MirBear]

fresh water twice a day or more in tall ‘ish’ plastic dishes. their water hasnt frozen yet. They drink it before it freezes. and their food in frisbee’s.

[mocha200]

 

I used to have heated water dishes when my buns were out side but now there are just in the garage not being used. I should give them to you! haha.

Edit: If your water starts to freeze you can get a heated pet bowel like this one. The rabbits can’t chew the cord if you keep it out of there cage and it has a protector around the cord to. Just make sure you keep the outlet away from rabbit pee, because if it gets in the outlet it starts a fire. ( I found that one out the hard way!)

 

[Deleted User]

Those heated bowls are a great solution but the trouble with water bowls is that a rabbit can accidentally get wet, for example, when she spooks she may run through the bowl and end up with a wet leg or similar and get very very cold that way. Heated water bottles are better for that reason. Bringing fresh water several times per day is a lot of work.
About keeping them warmer, Mirbear, you could stuff two boxes, one for each bunny, with straw or hay and cut a small hole as entrance for them to burrow in. They might like that very much.

[mocha200]

Yeah, I didn’t use heated water bottles because my buns don’t drink out of water bottles.

[Deleted User]

That’s fine Mocha as long as someone checks on them — it’s no problem.

[MirBear]

theres no outlet in the garage, so heated bowls wouldnt work.
Theyhave blanket flooring, boxes stuffed with newspaper, pillows and cat beds, lol, should i cut back on pellets then?

[Monkeybun]

Yes, cut back on pellets. You do not want overweight bunnies. Just give them boxes filled with warm hay or straw for when they get chilly

[MirBear]

Just a bit of extra info, once the snows gone they are on a hay/grass, and veggie diet, no pellets what so ever.

[jerseygirl]

Going from no pellets to unlimited might be too risky. Just a moderate amount would be better.
Ditto on the bedding straw to burrow into. It has insulating properties. If you go the hay route, make sure what you get is good and clean. You don’t want to be dealing with mites and all that.

[Isabelle]

Unlimited pellets all of a sudden could make them sick. I give Dutchess 1/4 cup per day, she is 4 pounds. If they are out, I suggest lots and lots of extra good quality hay, and plenty of warm places to burrow into. If you do give pellets, give a measured amount per day, they are loaded with excess calories and will make your bunnies overweight.

[MirBear]

normally during fall i give 1/4 cup pellets, summertime their on unlimited hay grass mixture and lots of veggies and no pellets, but this is their first winter outside so.. thats the reason for posting.

[Sarita]

I think that unlimited pellets is only going to make them fat and not help keep them warm. You are better off figuring out a way to keep them warm than to pack on pounds which will cause physical problems.

[MirBear]

now i have to find cheap bales of hay i should buy some this weekend, when i go out to the farm.

[Author]

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