What do you cover your hutch with?

.. on a night?

I've just used an old flannel sheet and tarpauline... but I'm worried it's either going to be too much or not enough

Nothing in the summer and Autumn, but a hutch cover with a layer of thick bubble wrap underneath in the winter(around the time that the clocks change)

I'm just really paranoid.

I've moved them outside today, Kayj boarded them for a few days for me and had them outside and she said they were fine and everything, so I thought I'd carry on the trend and put them in their happy hutch.

The hutch floor is covered with hay and i've put a blanket in the bed area with a heat pad underneath. I'm just worried that they'll freeze or i'll suffocate them =[ I'm close to bringing them back in tonight

They'll be too hot. It's not cold out, you've put hay in for them and they have each other to snuggle with so they'll be fine. I'd remove the heat pad though

It's freezing where I am lol, and they both feel quite cold to touch. I've only put the heat pad in the bed area... if they don't want to use it they wont lay on it will they?

I feel really bad that they're outside full stop.

Where are you? Don't forget they have fur coats on!!

They surely dont need a heat pad yet!:shock: If theyre staying outside dont they need to go through the season change ready to grow a winter coat.:?

I'm in Liverpool, so I know not far from where you are Hilda but I'm freezing - I must be ill or something.

I'll take the heatpad out then. It's just they've been in my house since I got them, so I'm just being a worrier

I cover mine with material my step dad gets at his work. Polythene for the rain so that it doesnt wet the hutch or that. In winter i normally put black material under the polythene to make it warmer for them. So its good! xx

:wave: Any outdoor bunnies I've had have coped very well with cold - much better than with heat

Mine never had a heat pad :? (unless they were unwell or convalescing in which case they were inside)

I think I'm just worried cos these have been indoor bunnies for all of their life. They were fine at Kayj's but I'm just a worrier.

Sorry

Try not to worry. It's good that they are out now as they'll have plenty of time to build up their coats for winter, and try not to panic when you see them sitting out in the rain instead of dashing for cover:lol: Mine are driven under cover only by hailstones!!! Floss looked like a drowned rat one afternoon and as i was worried about her getting too damp , I went to bring her in to towel her down, but as I got to the run she stood up and did a sort of nose to tail shake, all the water sprayed from her in a fan shape around her and when I picked her up even the top coat was just slighly damp but her skin was dry. We do worry too much..(all of us!).. bunnies are built for a life al-fresco:lol.

Don't apologise! I'm a worrier too

Much better that you're too concerned about them than not concerned enough :thumb:

Someone on the forum mentioned these hutch covers before -

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180148069094

Rabbits are more at risk from heat than from cold...that is not saying you should let them freeze...
Summer heat kills more unprotected bunnies than the winter chills.
Keeping bunnies out of wind is very important so a cover that keeps draughts from the hutch is a good idea...when it gets really cold lots more hay and if bun is under the weather or we have ice then a heat pad can be added.

Also make sure rain cannot blow into the hutch so again a cover to stop that is advised..but with all covers make sure there is adeqaute ventilation .

Aslong as the rabbit has time in the milder months to build up a winter coat and adjust to the gradual cooling of the seasons..with a front cover and lots of warm bedding..and hopefully a partner to snuggle up to..they should be fine.

I use a tarpaulin...or you can buy a cheap shower curtain from Asda or similar for 99p..keep in place with some bricks..works well for rain and wind..you can put soem old carpet or a blanket under for extra insulation when the winter does arrive

We use tarps too, £2.99 for a large sheet with eyeholes in Wilkinsons.

When I was younger we used to put an old duvet under Rowans tarp to keep him insulated during the winter.