Our bunnies started inside but needed to be moved outside as we added more to our family. So, we built them a mansion and moved them outside, and that’s where they reside all year—yep, even in the hot summers and frigid winters. They can handle it! Here is what we do.
Winter Dietary Care
We let them free-feed pellets. We always let them do this, as our bunnies don’t gorge themselves. But, especially in winter, we ensure there are always pellets available. We also always make sure that they have hay. Bunnies need about the size of their body in hay each day. Hay needs to be 80% of their diet. Our bunnies will eat their hay before they eat their pellets. That’s another reason why we free-feed their pellets. Water is a must with any animal, especially in winter. But how do we keep the water from freezing in cold weather? Simple. We have these heated water bottles that are plugged in all winter long. We do not use bowls, as we don’t want the mess of them tipping over, getting spilled, and having water freeze in the cage or worse on our bunnies.
Winter Enclosure Care
Our bunny hutch is two stories. The entire bottom is where their hay, water, and litter are. They have a landing space with two ramps to get them to their upstairs domain. Two out of three bunnies we have live on that landing space. They love to perch, and oftentimes, I find them completely sprawled out while taking a nap. Their pellets are upstairs. In their upstairs domain, we built a place where they could hide. They are still easily accessible for us to grab, but they are enclosed enough to keep them warm in the winter or cooler in the summer. For the winter, we essentially put up curtains that block the hidey-hole. That way, when they enter the hidey-hole, their body heat keeps them warmer and doesn’t escape.
Supplemental Heat
We DO NOT provide supplemental heat for them. If there was a power outage, which has happened a time or two, the bunnies would not be acclimated to the cold and would risk dying from the extreme change in temperature. It is important to note that when moving your bunny outside, please make sure your bunnies are transferred outside when the weather is mild so they have time to acclimate to the weather as it gets more extreme. We have moved our bunnies outside in the late spring, early summer, and early fall.
Drafts
Position your hutch away from the wind or where snow and rain could get in. It’s essential for your rabbits to stay dry and in their enclosure. Rabbits don’t like damp spaces. Keeping them protected from drafts helps them stay warmer. They must be getting fresh air, but keep them protected from the drafts during winter. Our enclosure faces away from where the wind comes from. Our bunnies have plenty of fresh air and space to look out for.
Litter Box
Our litter box situation doesn’t change with the weather. We keep the pine pellets as their litter bedding. We clean out the litter boxes and put fresh pellets in them before the snow hits. I will add pellets as they absorb their pee so that they continue to have dry bedding in their litter box so as not to cause discomfort.
Bunnies in Winter
Bunnies are pretty resilient, and their natural instincts will kick in. Their fur will become thicker in winter, and they will shed it in summer. They eat more in the winter to keep themselves warm, so keep the hay, food, and water stocked again. Please give them a space to hide to keep them warm. Keep them away from drafts and provide them with attention. Even though you might not want to be out in the elements, your little buddy still needs love and care.