Rabbit feeding questions and housing questions

[obsessed]

I have my meat rabbits ( I have been posting about them) in outdoor hutches. I have two questions

1. Should I feed my rabbits more in the winter to keep warm? I am in South LA so it doesnt get too cold. I feed them Purina rabbit chow and it says 4-6 oz so I have been feeding the buns 6.

2. Should I cover them with a tarp at night. It is starting to get cold and brisk at night. I wonder if they are cold/


Ok thanks....

 

[amysue2012]

With my meats I dont follow feeding directions much...they get a cup a day. Some days they eat it all and some they dont. I figure kinda like me some days I eat more than others.

My neighbor also raises meats and he has their feeders FULL at all times.

As for heating mine are in a barn and the only extra I do is cover vents to keep snow from blowing in. It doesnt really make a heat difference it just keeps the drafts out.

 

[herbandteas]

Are you talking that you live in LA calif or somewhere else? If your in calif I think a tarp when ever it rains would be fine. Are they in hutches or wire cages? In hutches they will get partial coverage.

 

[BethinIrving]

I have to worry more about Texas heat hurting my rabbits, than the cold getting them. I have a three tiered pen so they have the top tier for sleeping, the middle tier for food and water (there's a barrier between these two tiers so poop doesn't fall in the food/water), and the bottom level sits directly on the ground. The entire thing is moved to a different area of the yard once ever three to five days. The cage is hosed every day.

The rabbits seem to have adapted to the weather and temp changes. Like you, I was concerned when it started getting cold at night. We tarped once or twice but now they just stay out there no matter what -- except that I take extra precautions if there are heavy rain or bad storms.

My rabbits are fed one cup of food each, and they are fed every morning. They nibble a lot during the day and there will still be food in their bowls when I go to bed at night. By morning, that's all gone.

They are also fed alfalfa, other green stuff, and leftover cereal from breakfast. Their favorite is that chocolate cereal with marshmallow things in it.

In the summer, about once a week they got to swim in a wading pool which they really enjoyed.

The rabbits are kept where the birds can't roost on their cages.

I collected a lot of political signs after the elections and secure them to cages when I'm concerned about temp, weather or wind. The signs are weather proof and easy to put on the cages and remove after all is well again. They do look funky, however, and I'm not real sure how the politicians would react if they saw their signs on my hutches.

Once when it was going to be cold at night, I rolled up an old sheet and put it in the hutch thinking they'd tunnel into it. What they did was chew holes all in the sheet. I won't be doing that again.

Best of luck with your rabbits! We just love ours!

 

[miss_thenorth]

Yeah, your location is important here. Rabbits can take cold freezing temps better than hot. They do need to be protected from the elements--direct sun, wind, rain etc. Drafts and wind are the worst for rabbits in the winter (freezing cold winter)

For feeding--get yourslf a scale. And find out what your rabbits weight 'should' be. This will tell you whether they are eating enough. Overweight rabbits do not breed well, they are not as good to eat, and really--why pay the expense to feed thm just to be fat. An 8 lb rabbit should typically get 8 oz of feed. But weigh them to be sure.

 

[coffeemama]

Yes, I agree about the feeding-only mamas with litters should have full feeders. Do weigh you rabbits to determine the feed. My 4ish lb mini rex get 4oz of feed a day + hay.

 

[herbandteas]

Do you just have mini rex? I am also in wa state so was wondering where you are located?