Rabbits in heat.

[poiuytrewq]

I have two rabbits, an elderly girl and younger bouncier boy.
They generally have lived in a huge pen in a concrete floored stone shed so never really experience extremes of weather.
For a while now they have been out on grass in a run with access to a hutch for shelter, however the old one is always flat out in a trug bucket.
Ive put an old horse rug over the top for shade but am wondering if I should bring them back inside (bit of a hassle as I used the panels for the indoor pen to make the outside run!)
I do have a smaller one they could go in.
Do rabbits handle real heat ok? Not sure if I’m worried over nothing! Obviously wild rabbits are out but can dig down to keep cool.

 

[moosea]

Do rabbits handle real heat ok?

No - they are a lot like horses - designed to break!
Have you tried putting frozen bottles of water in the pen for them to lie next to?

 

[Lynnfigaro]

Rabbits can suffer from heat stroke in very warm weather so you will need to take steps to keep them cool.
Also,remember, they can suffer from fly strike, which is horrid, so you need to keep their rear ends clean.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I think I’ll bring them back in. The boy I’m not worried about, sure he’ll be fine but she really is starting to get old. If she’d lie in the hutch it wouldn’t be so bad but a plastic bucket must be hot!
Good idea with the water bottles, will try that.

 

[Lynnfigaro]

What age is she? Mine was 10 when she died.
If you have access to an outdoor plug you could set up a fan for when things got really hot which I believe they are to be later in the week.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Um, I’m not totally sure. I’ve had her 5 years but she was I’m sure 7 when we got her. She’s a blue cross rabbit so that age may not be exact!

 

[poiuytrewq]

Um, I’m not totally sure. I’ve had her 5 years but she was I’m sure 7 when we got her. She’s a blue cross rabbit so that age may not be exact!

* I’m not to have to look this up! That’s sounds crazy old!

 

[Lynnfigaro]

My last one was a rescue too
I am retiring soon and the hutch is still in the garden so I will consider getting another one. A rescue of course.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Just checked. She’s 11 and actually the “young” one is 6!

 

[Lynnfigaro]

That is excellent. You must be looking after her well
They can live to a good age if well cared for.

 

[poiuytrewq]

My last one was a rescue too
I am retiring soon and the hutch is still in the garden so I will consider getting another one. A rescue of course.

I think they are great to watch!

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

My last one was a rescue too
I am retiring soon and the hutch is still in the garden so I will consider getting another one. A rescue of course.

Please, please don't put bunnies in a hutch. They need a huge amount of space to move about xx

 

[Lynnfigaro]

I know re the size of hutches and the ones you buy in pet shops are very small and not at all suitable. This one was home made and very large. It had reinforced wire and a heavy waterproof cover. She was a large rabbit and had plenty of room in it. She also had a large run to hop around in
I would never have put her in a small pet shop hutch.
She also was indoors in the winter.
XXX