House bunnies at night

[clarebear]

How do you keep your housebuns warm at night, once the heating has gone off?
We give Bungee a heat pad, but I don't think she uses it and I'm worried she's cold.

[doorkeeper]

they are wearing fur coats you know, don't worry about indoor rabbits getting cold

[clarebear]

That's true! I just worry that the heating is on in the evening and then we turn it off when we go to bed. The radiator in her room is turned down very low, but she must feel the difference. Her ears were cold when I got up this morning too.

[Casco]

I never bother, they have their fur coat and each other to snuggle with. I can't have my heating on overnight as the boiler is in the cupboard next to my bedroom and the noise would keep me awake.

[MightyMax]

How do you keep your housebuns warm at night, once the heating has gone off?
We give Bungee a heat pad, but I don't think she uses it and I'm worried she's cold.

For young and middle aged buns I doubt this is a problem. However for elderlies it is a concern (or can be).

I use a 24/7 electric heated pad. Someone here said this wasn't safe, but it's the same heated bed my vet uses all the time for recuperating sick animals, and it's incredibly gentle and good on old bones.

I also put an electric heater on a thermostat very low, all night. It just takes the edge off the room, which can be very cold.

I guess it depends on how much meat there is on them there bones

[doorkeeper]

we have about 30 rabbits over 8 living outside. their hutches are well insulated and they have plenty of hay but no heating. they do really well, even when there is ice on the water bowls. rabbit fur is really warm, especially next to another warm body. cold ears aren't a problem, the rabbit will actually constrict the blood vessels in the ears to keep most of the blood deeper in the body to conserve heat. to see if they are warm enough feel underneath a foreleg.

Not to say I don't worry about them out there in the cold at their ages, we have done lots of extra insulating this year to help them cope. Poor Caroline's fingers nearly froze off today while she draft proofed shed doors and bubble wrapped shed roofs! But indoors, with the heating off for just a few hours, there is no need to worry. Just give them a cozy place to sleep if they choose to, although as often as not they will sleep out in the open as they are fine in thier warm coats. Unlike guinea pigs who always use the warm boxes.

[daphnephoebe]

They have their fur coats and each other to cuddle up to. Heating in the house automatically clicks on gently if it goes below 17/18degc so tend not to worry.

You could offer litter trays of hay to snuggle into

[MightyMax]

They have their fur coats and each other to cuddle up to. Heating in the house automatically clicks on gently if it goes below 17/18degc so tend not to worry.

You could offer litter trays of hay to snuggle into

My home heating only comes on if it's below 16 degrees, and I never have it on overnight, just in the evenings

[Ruthyjones89]

Hi,

I've also started a tread recently as I feel my house bunnies get cold too... But everyone has assured me that they must be warm. Mine also had freezing cold ears and were cold to touch! they have numerous beds, but my bun prefers to sleep on the carpet. We brought a cheap sofa throw last weekend, fold it up and he has started lieing on that.. And they also have plenty of space so they can run around to keep warm! Xx

[joey&boo]

I've also done a thread about my cold inside bunnies ...house bunnies are wusses

[IMG][/IMG] (little Joey is under there being kept warm by his wives)

When I put a blanket over them they just lie there, poor babies