Help...how to give my Mini Rex's winter exercise???

Hi :wave:,

Please help..I am fairly new to rabbits and I am not sure how best to exercise my two mini rex boys during the cold winter months?

Merlin and Arthur live together outside in a large hutch and have a hutch hugger and rain snuggle cover plus a snuggle pad now temperature is dropping. Up until this week, they have gone out daily in to a run on the grass but now the grass is wet and muddy and it is cold and windy, what should I do? I know they need daily exercise but I cannot put them on the patio because of their hocks.

What do other mini rex owners do, any advice please :idea:?

Thanks!

Could you bring your buns indoors for the winter?

Hi. I have two mini rex sisters called Milly and Molly. (noticed your username :shock: ). Molly has sore hocks so all year round, their run is on concrete with foam matting and thick hay (about 1 ft deep). I cover the roof and sides of the run so that it doesn't get wet and they can go out there every day, 365 days a year.

Hi there. I have 2 mini rex boys.

This is my setup


I put the tarp down when it is raining/snowing so they can still play in the run



My mini's fortunately don't suffer from sore hocks. They are on wood chippings from b&q. I have been told about rubber mats. :wave:
Can you attach the run to the hutch?

What rabbitdan said

Rabbits can have access to their run in all weathers providing they have the option to go back to a safe warm place when they want. I'd see if you can attach the run to your hutch, if you cant have it right next to the hutch you could use a runaround tunnel.

Thanks to all of you for your replies, much appreciated!

(I cannot bring them inside as I do not have the space).

The run does not fit to the hutch so I would have to adapt and I have no room on the patio for both. They would have to go on the grass but I don't think that is ideal as it is already so muddy!

I will have to make some hard standing somewhere in the spring or even get a shed for them (as soon as I can afford to), I just wanted to try and sort something out for them over the next few months. As a temporary measure, I have put some tarp over their run but feel guilty putting them in it when it is cold and wet

I like the idea of the bark floor or even the matting, its just an expensive time of year !

Hope you all have a good Christmas!