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Barnyard Buddies:  Bunny question  |
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SheilaC
True Blue Farmgirl
1948 Posts
Sheila
Vermont
USA
1948 Posts |
 Posted - Dec 17 2010 : 6:25:39 PM
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| My daughter has a pet bunny who lives in a hutch outdoors. She's had him for 2 years and he goes through the winter fine, we just keep giving him water/food and he burrows into straw in his hutch. We were in Ohio, and got cold winters, but nothing like where we are now. We are now living in Vermont, very close to Lake Champlain, so we get high winds and very cold temps. My question is, will he be okay in this weather? He's a Jersey Woolly, so he does have lots of warm fur, but I'd hate for her to go out to "play" with him and have him sick or frozen. Thanks in advance for any words of wisdom!! :) |
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Melina
True Blue Farmgirl
435 Posts
Melina
USA
435 Posts |
Posted - Dec 17 2010 : 6:42:31 PM
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The biggest worry is the wind. Many animals that can stand very cold temps are unable to compensate for the chill of drafts. I think I'd try to get in touch with other rabbit growers in the area, maybe through the local extension service office, and see what they do. I would also consider making him a windbreak with straw bales and be sure to pile the straw into the hutch, even thicker than he had it in Ohio. Temporarily, can he move into a garage or outbuilding that's unheated but protects from the wind?
The morning breeze has secrets to tell you. Do not go back to sleep.
Rumi |
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amomfly
True Blue Farmgirl
658 Posts
Angie
LaGrange
IN
USA
658 Posts |
Posted - Dec 18 2010 : 10:16:18 AM
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I would also call the local extension office, but I would put up a wind break too. I used to have one too for our bunny. It works well. We actually built a roof on our row of cages, then attached rubber roofing to that. During sunny beautiful weather the roofing was flipped over the roof. During wind and heavy rain or snow we flipped it down. Now we only coverd the fron not the ends, I think some air flow for bunnies is so very important. The other choice is when I was a kid we raised all sorts of bunnies. We housed them in a shed with slanted plastic or metal sheets under each cage so the droppings ran off and under the cages then weekly we shoveled and cleaned the "barn", we used lime and straw for the floor to keep odors and moisture down. Now if you do this, windows must be present and prop doors open in good weather. I hope these are all some ideas that can help.
God Bless
Angie-amomfly
#1038 |
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grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
Posted - Dec 18 2010 : 11:24:08 AM
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Everyone has given the advise I would have - raised French Angoras for many years and another piece of advise is do not forget the draft that might come also under the cage. When building you wind break I would add a nice bale of straw under my cages - this cut the cold, caught the urine, and the droppings. That way after it was really full I would just take the whole bale to the compost pile and replace with another bale. Also, cut pear slices during the winter gives them plently of fluids incase their bottle freezes (still change as needed) but also simple sugars to aid in keeping them warm. Good luck..
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.artfire.com
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SheilaC
True Blue Farmgirl
1948 Posts
Sheila
Vermont
USA
1948 Posts |
Posted - Dec 18 2010 : 12:06:04 PM
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| OOH--good advice about the pears. The "hutch" he's in is all wood (including the floor and roof, and 2 hardware cloth windows, one of which is covered with plexiglass. So he's kind of draft free. Thanks for the advice and keep it coming! |
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MrsRooster
True Blue Farmgirl
1168 Posts
Amy
Seabrook
TX
USA
1168 Posts |
Posted - Dec 18 2010 : 1:25:21 PM
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We had bunnies in Ohio. I had an old quilt that I would put over the top if it was especially windy and cold. I put a brick on it to keep it in place. I put lots of hay or straw in with them and they were ok.
www.mrsrooster.blogspot.com
Farmgirl #1259
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homsteddinmom
True Blue Farmgirl
441 Posts
Brandee
bullard
tx
USA
441 Posts |
Posted - Dec 19 2010 : 1:59:10 PM
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we take cardboard and put it around the sides of our rabbit hutches! It takes fridge boxes to cover ours..lol.
Homesteading Mom in East Texas. Raising chickens, Rabbits and goats here on my farm! |
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MrsRooster
True Blue Farmgirl
1168 Posts
Amy
Seabrook
TX
USA
1168 Posts |
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FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader
4928 Posts
USA
4928 Posts |
Posted - Dec 20 2010 : 08:32:42 AM
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In Ohio, we kept ours outdoors, and packed the outside with straw. We also wrapped the screens with thick plastic to keep him warm.
Farmgirl #800
http://momzonetakingtimeformom.blogspot.com/ |
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Barnyard Buddies: Bunny question |
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Bunny question
