Coming indoors to play during the winter...

Hi :wave:

I'm new to the forum and hoping someone can help me with winter advice for my bunnies.

Chianna and D'Argo are continental giants and they live outside in a large hutch but during the day, when I'm at home, which is 5/7 days, they come in when I'm home and laze in/destroy the house. I leave their hutch door open during the day and often leave the back door ajar so they can just let themselves in. They then go outside to wee and hop in and out.

I'm now starting to worry slightly about whether this will be ok during the winter. We're only in Suffolk so it doesn't get as cold as in some places but I'm wondering, if it is very cold, will they be ok to come in still? I'm worrying about the variance in temperature really, if they go from minus temperatures and then come into a nice warm house. I know bunnies can be sensitive to temperature changes.

Thanks for any advice.

No, when there is a large temperature difference they should either stay outside or inside permanently. Perhaps you could build them a larger run or something.

As you said yourself the temperature differences will be much greater and buns don't cope well with this

If want to spend time with them a shed with a Sun attached and a warm coat for you would probably be the best option

Yep, buns don't cope well with significant temperature changes. I continue to have Spenser in for a few hours during the winter, but we have an unheated conservatory. I need my winter coat on in there as much as in the garden!

Thanks everyone for your replies.

I think the kitchen will still be pretty cold so am wondering if I leave the door open, if they can continue to hop and out of there? I thinjk they would be pretty miffed to be banned from the house altogether. Do you reckon that would be ok? Of course we would still be going out to the garden to see with them as well.

Also, Tim, they don't have a run so that's not the problem - they have the whole garden, complete with various bushes and a nice table, which they like lying underneath. It's not the space that bothers me, I know they have plenty, it's the socialising and the fact that the bunnies are used to being inside and outside. I can't have them inside permanently though. They are not fully litter trained and so whilst I have often thought how nice it would be for them to live inside, it would probably not be realistic.

The risk is too much really with the temperature changes. I honestly think they'll cope with being barred from the house-if it's too risky to let them in the house it's a no brainer anyway really-they'll HAVE to cope! They have each othera and you can make a fuss and spend time with them when you visit them but it's just too risky.

Really, bunnies are generally sleeping and quiet in the day and more awake in the evening so I'm sure you'll miss them more that they'll miss you. Don't mean that to sound mean but they love to see you when they can, but are fine when you're not there especially with being a couple. a single rabbit would be different, but a bonded pair can entertain one another well enough.

Watch their feet though in the Winter with the cold and ensure they can get dry if they get wet outside as being cold and wet isn't good.

Thanks.

When do you reckon is best to keep them outside? I mean, it was frosty this morning but it was so much warmer during the day so I left the door open as usual. Or can I let them in as long as I haven't had the heating on? Sorry so many questions but when I've had outdoor pets before, they have usually just stayed outdoors except for a cuddle inside.

I don't know what to do about drying feet though? They have plenty of hay and straw in their hutch and the bottom of the cage is lined with blankets so do you reckon that will be enough?

how lucky your buns have the whole garden! wonderful! Mine have some hutches and a run and free range in the garden occasionally othwerwise they have constant access to indoors too. I have a tunel that runs from their hutches through my dining room wall and inside...so the buns can pretty much decide if they want to be out doors or indoors. I did worry at first about them going from one temperature to another but feel now that because they have the choice its ok - as Im not bringing them indoors to a very warm central heated house from a cold outdoor temp...thats not good. They have the choice to be where they feel most comfortable and they have already started to get their winter coats and I feel that if they choose to lie indoors or out - then thats where they are comfortable. sorry - looong story, but Perhaps you could put a bunny tunnel or cat flap for them to use when they would like?
If you do decide to do this and yu also chose to lock it at times when they are outdoors so they dont come inwhen you are not there...id make sure it has a hideout for them on the outdoor entrance area - so if they get scared and think they will run through the cat-flap - then they wont hit a locked cat-flap - they will enter a hideout thats secure first...that a predator cant enter too.

Wow, that sounds amazing! I did think about getting a cat flap but my husband went spare - the back door is glass and he said it is not possible to get a cat flap put in. I don't mind going and letting them in anyway - if I shut the door, they paw at it.

Think that's half the problem, we kind of forget they are bunnies - because they are so large (much bigger than cats), and so playful (Peppa Pig toys fly across the lounge on a regular basis!) it seems odd to shut them out.

Our house isn't generally that hot anyway. So I guess, if I just let them into the kitchen if the heating hasn't been on but don't let them snuggle by the radiator in the lounge might be ok?

Going to take them to the vets next week for a check up and nail cut anyway so maybe will mention to them?

I think it depends on how cold it is outdoors...if they came in and got all snug...it would be abit much to take them out again....the air is just so much colder even if the heating is off. Wouldnt want them to catch a cold....you can fit cat flaps to glass doors...but I know what you mean.
If the kitchen is cold and the flooring is cold - like tiles...and you can open a window to keep temps similar to outdoors..it should be fine...I know my OH would also go spare if i started opening all the windows for the buns and he froze to death!:lol::lol::lol::lol:

Here is my setup...it does look alot more interesting now in the run!

http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/s...-be-in-housing...was-nt-sure!....Check-it-out!

Wow that is an impressive set up. I'll have to take some photos. Mine is not that clever - they have a six foot hutch outside and then the garden, which isn't massive but not a bad size either. And then when they want to come in, they stand on their hind legs and paw at the door.

I think I'll go for the 'leave back door and window open' option and just shut kitchen door. I've ordered us all those slankets so we can keep warm whilst the door is wide open

I like the bunny in cupboard idea. Think my bunnies would break it though. I do wonder whether I over feed them sometimes cos they are always hungry and pinching food. The vet just said they weren't overweight so guess it's ok. They have a bowl full of food morning and night to share (about 6 handfuls of pellets) and then they have some carrots and veg each, plus they eat the grass and some hay (although they don't like it much). I'll probably give them an extra feed during the very cold days to help them keep their energy up.

Your bunnies are very beautiful.

Thats a nice set up... i dont have a garden i can let my bunny lose in but i do have 2 runs. one that is for the grass and one that i brought to have her indoors but reading this and you all saying its not good to have them switching between hot and cold all the time im not sure what to do now, during winter when i have to clean her out i was going to put her in the dinning room and then back in her hutch afterwards. How am i going to do this now as i dont want to give Whisky a cold bringing her in and out once to twice a week...

Could she not go in the outside run whilst you clean her out? If not, maybe in a cooler room for a little while should be ok.

Mattie_G said:

Could she not go in the outside run whilst you clean her out? If not, maybe in a cooler room for a little while should be ok.

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she can but i was told by someone not to leave her on wet or cold grass is this not correct x

It's so hard to know what to do...

I worry about my bunnies being out running around in the snow and ice but I can't just shut them up all winter either. We've got an appointment on Thursday so will seek further advice then.

Mattie_G said:

It's so hard to know what to do...

I worry about my bunnies being out running around in the snow and ice but I can't just shut them up all winter either. We've got an appointment on Thursday so will seek further advice then.

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thank you x

Will let you know what they recommend

Your rabbit is adorable.

Hello, I'm in Suffolk too. My bun is outside, he seems to love sitting in wet grass and often sits out in the rain!!! When it gets really cold I think I will move him in the green house. Its well ventilated, and still fairly chilly in there in the winter, but he will be kept dry and free from cold winds. Then we can still go and play with him when its freezing and raining. I havent bought him in the house much, he didnt seem to like it very much and prefers the saftey of his run and hutch.

Hi :wave:

I remember when we had the really bad rain in early August, my bunnies were quite happy sitting out in it although they had plenty of shelter. Of course they then come in and cover the kitchen floor with bunny prints (seem to be permanently cleaning them up!)

I daresay they'll like snow as well.

Sounds like they have a great set up being able to come in and out as they please!