winter bedding - for a rex

I usually line my hutches with lots of newspaper and topped with straw.

The girls only mess in the closed "bedroom" compartment and over winter I thoguht it might keep them toastier if I started lining the other side with either carpet or vetbed or a blanket or similar, with straw on top. (also I don't have enough newspaper!)

One of my rabbits is a rex and I seem to remember they don't do well on carpet cos of their un-hairy feet.

What would be the best thing to hutch with to keep her warm without damaging her feet?

I may be wrong but I thought carpet was good for rabbits with sore hocks?

Hmmm maybe

I have no concrete knowledge of the subject I just remember reading somethign about it on here :?

Maybe if you alter the title to say REX all the rexy owners can help you out. Ive never had one (but would love one) so I dont really know about the ins and outs with regards to their coats.

I've just put down a rubbery exercise mat in the bottom of my hutch (including bed area) for my Rexes as one has sore hocks. It occured to me that this would also insulate it nicely in winter as it's quite a dense material and i just piled there useual bedding on top. So far so good and no chews, plus it's a nice soft springy grey colour so looks pretty and isn't too bad to clean.

Carpet should be fine for rexes, from what i've read they used to think sore hocks was caused by abbrasion from rough surfaces such as carpet so suggested nice hard smooth things to cure it such as Lino. The latest thinking is that this was precisly the wron thing to do as sore hocks is more probably caused by the rabbits being unable to dig there back claws into soft substances (such as grass/earth) which causes pressure sores to form on the base of there heels. Rexes are worse affected because they not only have more prominant claws (so more pressure on the back of the heel) but have much thinner fur covering there heel. Of my 2 rexes the only one affected has much thinner fur on her feet than her husbun which is half the problem. On that theory carpet is actually great for stopping sorehocks developing, especially the thicker stuff as it lets the claws dig and and evens up the weight districution though it would probably agrivate existing sore hocks if your bunnys regularly binked and slid on i.

Personally I dont think carpet is a suitable substrate for Rexes as it is far too abrassive and I have witnessed the damage it can do
Lots of very deep soft hay/straw is the best option IMO
Rubber stable matting is good as a base

Janex

cool, thankyou everyone. can i get stable matting from a pet shop?

I agree with Jane. Floss's hocks started to get bad after she'd been indoors(unplanned) on carpet for about a month. I have my hutch covered with vynyl tiles and vet bed, and her hocks seem to be ok at the moment. Mind you she is on grass every day during daylight hours, so that obviously helps.
There is a hay filled carrier in the top part of their hutch, but quite honestly I'm not sure that they go in it much. I'll see how they are this winter, as last year I had to bring them both indoors when Bournville was poorly. He recovered very quickly but then the weather got so much colder and I was worried how they would both cope with the temperature change indoors to outdoors. Besides which, they were such fun to have inside.
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For stable matting you've got to go to a horse suppliers or there are loads of online places that specialise in them. I've just ordered a big stable mat (6x4ft) to cover my bunnys run (it's currently on concrete) with Rosie having bad sore hocks. It's going to cost me £30 for a bit that big and i've gone for the softest i could find (actually stabel wall covering as this is softer for some reason) as rabbits weigh a lot less than horses. you can find it here http://www.horsemat.co.uk/. I've gone for the eva foam as it's softer and less dense than the rubber but still a nice surface for cleaning and lack of abrasion.

For a cheaper easier option (especially if you ahve to cut it to size and add holes and the like) as mentioned before i've got a rubbery foam exercise mat taped upstairs in there hutch (duck tape is great) this has the bonus of being cheaper and easier to get hold of and most importantly easier to cut and replace when the bunnys decide to remove it, i just cut down a tesco's mat so it cost about £7 for that and they're not interested in eating it at all. So far coupled with her plaster socks Rosie's hocks seem to be getting better but i'll let you know how it gets on

awesome I'm liking this exercise mat idea - i have been toying with the idea of putting poppy's run on concrete sometimes because she has destroyed my lawn, hopefully if i put down some rubber matting she won't be too cross with me!!

I agree with the rubber matting and loads of straw:thumb: :thumb: