DharmaBuns
Well-Known Member
Pardon me, but this is going to be a bit long!
As the Starks like to say (Game of Thrones) "Winter is coming." In beautiful Northern Michigan, it seems to be coming much more quickly than normal. My concern for the well-being of my buns is growing. This is my first year breeding/showing Tans, so I'm really trying to figure out the best way to keep them warm. I realize that rabbits do much better in the cold than they do in the heat, but winter can get pretty nasty up here. I live in the northern part of the lower peninsula (confusing, eh?) and we get really really bad storms/cold coming in from the lake.
My bunnies (currently 3, but hopefully my does are pregnant!) are in a side of my garage. It's become the designated "bunny area", so they're free from any sort of draft. My concern is that it will just get SO COLD. My wonderful husband has already thought ahead and set up a heated watering system, so at least I won't have to worry about THAT. It's been getting down into the lower 40's each night, and it's been absolutely miserable (rainy and windy) the last few days.
They've got lots of hay, and each bun actually has one of these:
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753302
Are these suitable? My dad actually bought them for me as a present after my doe won Best of Breed. I thought it was very thoughtful that he thought of me and my 3 buns, and I obviously couldn't turn them down, but will these work? If I stuff them full of hay each night?
Any tips would be greatly appreciated. I'm also concerned for the well-being of the babies once they're born (if pregnant, should be between Nov 10th - 13th for both does.) Have any of you done the 'bring the babies out to moms once/twice a day' method with any success?
Sorry that this has gotten so long!
As the Starks like to say (Game of Thrones) "Winter is coming." In beautiful Northern Michigan, it seems to be coming much more quickly than normal. My concern for the well-being of my buns is growing. This is my first year breeding/showing Tans, so I'm really trying to figure out the best way to keep them warm. I realize that rabbits do much better in the cold than they do in the heat, but winter can get pretty nasty up here. I live in the northern part of the lower peninsula (confusing, eh?) and we get really really bad storms/cold coming in from the lake.
My bunnies (currently 3, but hopefully my does are pregnant!) are in a side of my garage. It's become the designated "bunny area", so they're free from any sort of draft. My concern is that it will just get SO COLD. My wonderful husband has already thought ahead and set up a heated watering system, so at least I won't have to worry about THAT. It's been getting down into the lower 40's each night, and it's been absolutely miserable (rainy and windy) the last few days.
They've got lots of hay, and each bun actually has one of these:
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753302
Are these suitable? My dad actually bought them for me as a present after my doe won Best of Breed. I thought it was very thoughtful that he thought of me and my 3 buns, and I obviously couldn't turn them down, but will these work? If I stuff them full of hay each night?
Any tips would be greatly appreciated. I'm also concerned for the well-being of the babies once they're born (if pregnant, should be between Nov 10th - 13th for both does.) Have any of you done the 'bring the babies out to moms once/twice a day' method with any success?
Sorry that this has gotten so long!