Rabbit Web Discussion Board

Hello,

I was looking for some information about how to keep water from freezing.
We have 2 Jersey Woolies and 2 Holland Lop Ears. They are living outside now in a nice size hutch with lots of room and appear to be very happy. My concern is that now that the weather is getting colder how do I keep them properly watered. The hutch is divided in half and they are seperated by breed and in fact are all girls. I have a bowl type water (including their water bottles, which more often than not are frozen), container and when the water freezes it is easy to pop the cube out and refil. The thing that worries me is that the water can freeze up in a few hours. I give them fresh water around 5:45AM , I have someone give them fresh water again around 3-3:30PM and I give them fresh water again around 8:00PM. I worry that may not be enough I know it is very important for them to have plenty of water. What else can I do? Is there a winter process. I admittedly can not afford the $200+ watering system.
We keep the hutch covered when it is windy. snowing or raining. To be sure they stay dry, the back of the hutch is enclosed but I think it iis important to provided a little extra.

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Pat

Pat,

Although you have provided a nice sized hutch and fresh water three times a day. Have you considered that if their water freezes...that\'s an indicator that it\'s too cold outside for them? One morning you may find not only frozen water but rabbit pops too! Hope you can find a better solution to benefit your rabbits overall.

I find a small drop of vegtable oil in the water will stop the water from freezing. Rabbits are very hardy and are ok outside you are doing the right thing by coverring at night to keep out the cold winds. val [uk breeder]

Pat,

Be careful when tainting your rabbits drinking water with anything. Often times they will not drink the water because there is something in it. Then you may be opening a can of worms- like dehydration or worse-GI stasis.

Hi-I have a suggestion.My 1 yr old rex rabbit is a in/out one.In the spring and Autum she is outside unless the weather is too hot/cold.Than in the winter and terible heat of the summer she is litter trained and lives in a semi large area in our bacement-it works well

I have dealt with the frozen water issue both in \"civilization\" (Utah) and under very primitive conditions (hauling water, no electricity on 40 acres in Northern Arizona). It was a chore, but up to three times a day, I would provide warm water for the rabbits.

I feel the water intake was adequate as my rabbits continued to breed, kindle, milk and wean healthy bunnies; all which would have been unlikely if their fluid intake was substandard.

Rabbits tolerate cold weather very well as long as they are kept out of drafts. Dealing with heat has always been the biggest concern.

Charlcie Gill
Zodiac Rabbitry
Astoria, OR
http://www.zodiacsatins.com

I live where the weather gets -20 F in the winter and my rabbits stay in their hutch all winter long. I have a long extention cord pluged into the garage in a ground fault circut interupter, to guard again electrical problems. I use a heated dog bowl and it keeps the water from freezing, except on the coldest days. I also made a nesting box using a small dog bed heater, because I worried my Rex might have a problem because of his delicate feet, although he seems to get plenty of hair on the bottom of his feet in the winter. I also made an upper level in their cage that I fill it with at least 3 inches of hay. The first year I had my rabbits, I did not use the dog bed heater and my rabbits were just fine. On the coldest day, I looked out my window to see my rabbits chasing each other up and down the ramps and popcorning, so I know they were feeling fine with the weather. I made sure my hutch was very large because I there are many days in the winter that they will not be able to play in the yard and get exercise, and I think exercise plays a big part in keeping them healthy. I hope this helps.

Hi there rabbits are hardy we fighters in the winter they can handle it ok if you have room say in a garage or a hut get a small hutch and keep it in there and if you think it,s too cold then put them in there smaller hutch for the nioght and let them out as normall at daytime it will solve the frozen water problem as well
but if you cant manage that i really would,nt worry too much about the rabbit,s being out in the cold they will huddle up and keep warm but try and keep them from geing a constant draft blowing in at them sorry i would take out the water bowl you have inside the hutch.

bye for now diane442