A temperature of between 10-20°C is recommended as ideal for
However, you should keep rabbits away from cold drafts, and do not allow them to have a wet coat or damp bedding, since this can lead to hypothermia. If you live in an area that is regularly below 15ºF (-10ºC), consider bringing your rabbit indoors during the coldest months.
Very young or old rabbits, or those with medical conditions, should be kept indoors because they may not be able to tolerate cold temperatures even with modifications to their hutches and diets. Temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit may be too cold even for healthy adult rabbits.
Rabbits are naturally insulated by their fur. Nature helps pet rabbits out by thickening their coats as the mercury drops and cold weather blows in. While you might not want to leave your bun out for prolonged periods in very low temperatures, rabbits can usually withstand temperatures as low as 15° Fahrenheit.
The recommended temperature range is 10 to 25°C. Outdoor hutches should be covered with a blanket or carpet on cold nights (taking care not to block ventilation). Indoor living areas should be in a cool, non-drafty room out of direct sunlight. Enclosed buildings should have ventilation.
A temperature of between 10-20°C is recommended as ideal for domestic rabbits, though they can cope with lower temperatures, but tend to suffer from too much heat. If the temperature starts to reach freezing, you may wish to consider moving your rabbits' home indoors or into an outhouse, shed or unused garage.
Heat lamp/self-heating pad
Depending on the outside temperature, rabbits may need a heat lamp. It must however be properly installed and used. Self-heating pads can also provide a good heat source but be aware they must be continually reheated.
Rabbits can live both indoors and outdoors, but they will need some protection and extra bedding to keep them warm during the colder weather. That way, you'll help keep your rabbits warm, happy and safe from danger during the cold spells.
Placing a cardboard box filled with straw in the hutch makes a super-warm and insulated sleeping area and is easy to replace. You can also put a couple of these in the run. The hutch needs to be cleaned out scrupulously and regularly, so your rabbits are never sitting on a damp or soggy surface.
Figuring Out the General Age of a Rabbit
A young rabbit is up to 9 months of age. An adult rabbit is approximately 9 months to 4 - 5 years of age. An elderly rabbit is 4 - 5 years upwards. Some rabbits live to be 10 - 12 years of age.
They should be brought inside overnight. They can only stay outside at night too from mid-May when there is no longer any ground frost. If your rabbits have first been gradually accustomed to being kept outdoors, they can stay outdoors all year round from then. Even the ground frost won't bother them after that.
A rabbit's normal temperature ranges from 101.3-104F (38.3-39.4C). A temperature much below or above that means your rabbit is in danger.
Though rabbits can fare well in cooler temperatures, some can still get cold when the temperature dips at night. Therefore, it's not a good idea to keep your pet outside in temperatures below 30°F as its body heat alone won't provide the warmth it needs.
It's important to ensure your rabbit hutch is free from draughts, but at the same time well ventilated. Placing the hutch in an area sheltered from the elements is the best way to keep your rabbits warm and safe. You should also insulate the hutch with newspaper and hay and remember to change this regularly.
Bunnies have a “freeze” instinct. When danger approaches, the bunny freezes in place to keep from being detected. A rabbit that freezes like this is extremely frightened.
The bunny basics
For example, a rabbit's ideal outdoor temperature is between 12° to 21°C (55° to 70°F) and, while your bunnies can tolerate temperatures as high as 30°C (85°F), anything above that can increase their risk of heatstroke.
Most reference cite optimal temperatures in the 50 - 70 °F (10 - 22 °C) ranges, with some sources allowing as low as 40 °F (5 °C) or as high as 80 °F (25 °F) being acceptable. There is nearly universal recognition that temperatures above 85 °F (29 °C) are hazardous to domestic rabbits.
Beddings for young rabbits are critical to their overall health. Rabbits younger than six months old have their babyfurs and need to be kept warm. Use cozy bedding for baby rabbits until they reach maturity when they can maintain their body temperatures.
Insulate the hutch.
You want to insulate your rabbit's hutch during winter. To do this, place sheets of newspaper and a warm blanket on the roof. Then, cover in an outdoor tarp. Not only will this trap heat and keep the hutch adequately warm, it will prevent snow or rain from falling on your rabbits.
Nope! Another question that people often ask is whether rabbits sleep mostly during the day or at night. And the answer is neither. They are crepuscular, meaning that they are most active at dusk and dawn.
In cold climates, however, during the winter months, grasses and greens become inaccessible. So, what do wild rabbits eat then? The answer is: a rabbit eats whatever it can find. In the winter months, wild rabbits live on sticks, tree bark, pine needles, and other types of vegetation.
If you bury your hand into their fur and hold it there you should feel the bun's heat. It should feel warm. If its lips are not pink and it doesn't feel warm when you try the 'under the fur test', bring it into a warm place (a back porch) with a wrapped hot water bottle.
Rabbits, like humans, are social creatures. They evolved to live in groups. This means that, much like you and I, they can become bored and lonely living alone without the company of fellow rabbits. And this, in turn, can cause not only unhappiness but also a variety of physical and behavioural problems.