Caring For Rabbits In Outside Hutches
A hutch is simply a home for a rabbit or several rabbits that live outdoors. However, rabbits that live outside will not be as good pets as rabbits that live inside. Not matter how well made and safe a rabbit hutch can be, they will never prevent persistent predators, including dogs and foxes, from attacking your pet. Even if a predator does not successfully gain entry, your rabbit may succumb to stress and injuries in protecting itself by trying to evade the attack, which could possibly kill it. A rabbit living outdoors will survive but owners must provide additional protection for their pets when temperatures drop below 5 degrees Celsius or rise above 29 degrees Celsius. Every rabbit owner should provide food and water on a daily basis and make visual inspections of their pet for any indications of illness or injuries.
Rabbit Care In Winter
During the winter period, rabbits use more calories to provide extra warmth when compared to a rabbit living indoors. Consequently, rabbits in outside hutches should be fed more to compensate for this. It would not be wise to a rabbit from indoors to the outdoors in winter since they have not had time to adapt to the external climate. Extra bedding will also be needed to provide insulation to help prevent heat escaping and keeping the cold out. If you have sufficient space, consider purchasing several bales of straw to surround the hutch and place one on top of the roof to give your rabbit’s home a degree of protection from penetrating winds and frost. Or alternatively, move your pet into a garage, shed or porch to provide further protection from the elements. During the winter, some parts of the UK never see temperatures drop below 10 degrees Celsius, however, a responsible pet owner should always make the necessary precautions in the event of any unpredicted cold spells.
Rabbit Care In Summer
Unfortunately, rabbits also suffer in very warm weather. Rabbits become very distressed when they are unable to cool that could then quickly lead to heat stroke and without the necessary medical care, may prove fatal. Look for tell tale signs of rabbit heat stress including rapid breathing and flaring of nostrils. Brush any loose hair off the your pet daily as this will provide better heat dissipation. Placing a rabbit hutch in the shade will help lower temperatures within the hutch but this should not be taken as the only precautionary measure. If necessary, consider adding ice packs to the bedding area of the hutch, which your pet may appreciate and help reduce their body temperature and/or place a guarded electric fan to provide additional ventilation. If possible place a piece of marble, or similar, large enough for the rabbit to lie on, as this type of material remains cooler during warm periods. Naturally, all living animals perspire and dehydrate in warm weather and therefore additional care must be taken to ensure that your pet rabbit has sufficient drinking water.
Simple Daily And Weekly Health Checks For Your Rabbit
To ensure your rabbit remains healthy within their rabbit hutch, you need to examine him or her on a regular basis. A good time to make an examination is when you feed your pet. Should you find any problems with your rabbit or signs of ill health then a visit to your veterinary must be made immediately.
Here are some simple daily checks that you can carry out:
- Ensure your rabbit is drinking properly by checking the contents of the water bottle.
- If your rabbit does not come to welcome you then investigate why not. If he or she is hiding in their sleeping quarters within the hutch or sat huddled up at the back of the rabbit hutch then this may suggest they are poorly.
- Check the amount of food left in your rabbit’s feed bowl. If there is more food than usual then this could indicate that he or she is feeling unwell.
- Inspect your rabbit’s droppings for signs of diarrhoea. Soft droppings, which are named caecotroph, are eaten by rabbits and is quite normal and not usually a health concern. Should your pet stop eating their soft droppings then it is highly recommended that a veterinary is consulted.
During an extensive clean of your rabbit hutch that is often on a weekly basis, further health checks can be made and are listed below:
- Carefully inspect your rabbit’s nose is clean and clear of any discharge and he or she is not sneezing.
- Brush the fur of your rabbit to release loose hair. Whilst grooming your pet, check for skin infections, lumps, abrasions and fleas.
- Weigh your rabbit weekly and record it in a notebook. Any considerable increase or decrease in weight should be immediately investigated by a veterinary.
- Check the condition of your rabbit’s claws and feet. Living in a rabbit hutch and roaming on soft ground, such as a garden, is not sufficient to keep their claws short and will require trimming by a veterinary otherwise you rabbit may find it painful walking.
- Examine your pet’s eyes to ensure they are not producing any discharge and are sparkling and clear.
- Ears should be inspected both internally and externally. The colour of the skin on the inside of the rabbit’s ear should be pink. Ears should also be clean, wax free and not inflamed.
- Throughout the life of your rabbit, his or her teeth continue to grow and must be checked regularly. If your pet does not have sufficient items like fruit tree branches and hay to chew on, then their teeth will become overgrown preventing them from eating and will become painful. A veterinary must be consulted immediately if this happens to your rabbit.