The Bunny Chat Thread - For Bunny Owners

[Bigtom Turkey]

One looks to be a Rex mix the other seems to be a mini lop w/ no floppy ears.

 

[SpotTheCat]

One looks to be a Rex mix the other seems to be a mini lop w/ no floppy ears.

I think they are probably around 6 months old, definitely older then 2 months.

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

Yeah I am thinking that to now, and just breed them to my dutch buck.

 

[LizzzyJo]

It's that time of year! The temps go down past zero (fahrenheit) and I freak out over my outdoor hollands. They have three inches of hay in an enclosed bedroom with only a tunnel access to the outdoor part of the hutch which is wrapped in plastic (with a vent).

STILL I am up at night checking the temp and thinking they will freeze.

Please remind me that they will not freeze. Help a girl out.

 

[EverythingDucks]

It's that time of year! The temps go down past zero (fahrenheit) and I freak out over my outdoor hollands. They have three inches of hay in an enclosed bedroom with only a tunnel access to the outdoor part of the hutch which is wrapped in plastic (with a vent).

STILL I am up at night checking the temp and thinking they will freeze.

Please remind me that they will not freeze. Help a girl out.

That sounds like a cool setup!
Rabbits typically do well in the cold so they should be fine. They'll cuddle up together and stay in a warm spot. I'm sure they'll be just fine. If they are all adults they should have no problem regulating their own body heat.
I'm sure they'll be just fine

 

[ChocolateMouse]

This is my hutch. They have hay and cardboard boxes. Sometimes, if it's raining and cold, we put tarps around the sides. Your bunnies will be good.

 

[LizzzyJo]

That sounds like a cool setup!
Rabbits typically do well in the cold so they should be fine. They'll cuddle up together and stay in a warm spot. I'm sure they'll be just fine. If they are all adults they should have no problem regulating their own body heat.
I'm sure they'll be just fine

Thank you! I know you're right - but it's so scary to see the temps dip down. I go out and feel their little arm pits to be sure they're still warm -- Which is a crazy person thing to do, i know...

 

[LizzzyJo]

View attachment 2511788

This is my hutch. They have hay and cardboard boxes. Sometimes, if it's raining and cold, we put tarps around the sides. Your bunnies will be good.

Oh my goodness. Thank you! Cleveland - perfect! Nice hutch! Have you ever had to bring them inside? What about the 2014 polar vortex?! I am not new to breeding at all, but I am still relatively new to OUTDOOR breeding and last year was relatively warm, so I am a mess right now.

 

[LizzzyJo]

View attachment 2511788

This is my hutch. They have hay and cardboard boxes. Sometimes, if it's raining and cold, we put tarps around the sides. Your bunnies will be good.

This is their hutch. Their bedroom has a little tunnel now instead of an open door. And the wire is wrapped in plastic. We're expanding now with a larger one like yours. --love from Bowling Green!

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Oh my goodness. Thank you! Cleveland - perfect! Nice hutch! Have you ever had to bring them inside? What about the 2014 polar vortex?! I am not new to breeding at all, but I am still relatively new to OUTDOOR breeding and last year was relatively warm, so I am a mess right now.

In the 2014 polar vortex this hutch wasn't built but they did fine in our unheated garage... Which is admittedly a handful of degrees warmer than outside because of radiant heat from the house, and windchill factor is nil.

Litters of 3 or less can't maintain their body temps outdoors in less than 25ish*F. 4 is sketchy and depends on nest quality, moms care (is she a once a day or twice a day feeder? Does she like to pee in the boxes, even just once? Does she clean her kits well?) and general kit quality. Never had a problem with 5+ kits.

Litters born on the wire (in this case, in the hay) or not in a properly built nest may struggle. I keep extra fur around from previous nests of molts and I use it to help moms that don't build good nests build better nests.

As a reminder, a kit isn't dead until it's warm and dead (goes for any baby anything you find, and a lot of adult things too) so if you DO get a chilled litter, don't give up hope. Try to warm them up before you call it.

Never had to bring adults inside for anything but a malfunction in the hutch (like broken wire).