Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Yesterday I got two males and two female breeder rabbits for my burm. I think one of the females is already pregnant! She was pretty big when I bought her and her pervious owner had been breeding her as well. I live in Seattle, WA and the temps are dropping in to the low 40's at night. Is that too cold for these rabbits to be living outside? THey are in my room right now, but I was thinking about moving them onto my deck. I've read rabbits can live fine into the low 20's?? True false?? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!

when i lived in new york i kept all my rabbits out side year round. when it gets could add more hay and have a covered part of the cage so that there is a little "box" (roof, walls and floor) to kept the rabbit directly out of the elements. in a couple days with the ways rabbits stink you'll be throwing them outside lol.

lol It is a little musky in my room! lol Its been staying in the mid 40's at night here, and my deck is covered so I won't have to worry about rain! Thanks for the help again. I'll get them some hide boxes and stuff them good with hay. One last question if you could help. What about the pregnant female?? Is she ok to be outside? Can she give birth at those temps and will the babies survive if she has them during the night?? Thanks alot

mine breed through winters with so much snow you would not think anything would survive. i just always kept fresh water and food and a healthy supply of hay in the winter this is the best i could remember. this is going back 10 years. i know i did not do any thing special, like bring inside in winter. the rabbits were always left outside in the cage. infact every year during hunting season the same group of hunters would come by the property to buy the rabbits for stew. just like rats feed them well and nature will do the rest.

Absolutelty! My bunnies were show rabbits and the bunny that had 3 legs towards grand champion was born on a cold and snowy Christmas Eve in Nebraska. I would hang cardboard over the fronts of the cages. They were in a little fenced in area protected from the wind and under an apple tree. Other than that they were outside. I used fiberglass roofing material for roofs on the cage stacks and as floors between the cages for easy cleaning. You must give fresh water several times a day since the water will freeze. With the pregnant doe make sure she has a hay filled nest box and she will keep the kits warm after she gives birth.

If you plan to breed I recommend that you go out and get a basic rabbit breeding book from a farm supply store near you. They are cheap and you will find a lot of great information that will help you get started. The book will be talking about meat production with lots of animals but you can scale it down to 4 animals. Also, 1 buck can take care of 5 or 6 does so you really didn't need 2! Whoever sold them to you was just looking to unload an extra buck!!
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Marcia - FroggieB Dragons
www.froggieb.com/MHDHome.html

>>Yesterday I got two males and two female breeder rabbits for my burm. I think one of the females is already pregnant! She was pretty big when I bought her and her pervious owner had been breeding her as well. I live in Seattle, WA and the temps are dropping in to the low 40's at night. Is that too cold for these rabbits to be living outside? THey are in my room right now, but I was thinking about moving them onto my deck. I've read rabbits can live fine into the low 20's?? True false?? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!

Biggest thing is where were they kept before you got them? If they were kept outside then putting them there, with correct shelter, will be fine. If they were raised inside they need to stay in until next summer when you can work them into acclimating to outside and grow an appropriate coat and fat store. Also, be aware that heat will kill bunnies faster than cold. You need a plan for shelter from heat too.
I would recommend a good "Raising Rabbits for Fun and Profit" book.
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Sonya

Haven't we warned you about tampering with the structure of a chaotic system?
Mrs. Neutron

40's is great for rabbits........they love cool weather.....

heat will kill them fast

NEVER EVER WRAP A RABBIT CAGE COMPLETELY ON ALL FOUR SIDES.....THEY WILL DIE FROM LACK OF AIR FLOW AND GET PNEUMONIA.......

they need air......even in 20 degree weather it will be fine.......

they grow thicker under fur if it gets cold.......

only problem is water...make sure you get them fresh water more than once a day in freezing weather...they will lick the ice for water and it is fine for awhile......but they drink alot in summer and winter ......

heat stress is worse.......

have fun........

use rabbit droppings for plant fertilizer.......it can be mixed with water for a "fertilizer tea" for plants.I used to mix it and let it warm in the sun and dump it all over my tomatoe plants.......they love it....rabbit droppings cannot really "burn" plants like chicken manure....

.......LOL
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..................gottaLuvIt!!