Caring for your rabbits during Winter

​Living in what is known as the coldest spot in the Nation, in the upper northern part of Montana, we get temperatures of -30 degrees during the winter months. That does not include the windchill factor! I have learned a few tricks along the way to keep my rabbits warm during these horrible months of snow and cold.


The ultimate, ideal situation would have a fully insulated barn with a regulated heat source. Of course, I dont have that.....yet. Living in this area, I have had two separate set ups for my rabbitry. The first one being a wooden shed, un-insulated. During the winter, I would run two regular sized space heaters. This kept the temperature inside the barn about 10-15 degrees warmer than what it was outside. I kept them running on low, until the temp dropped into the negatives, then they were turned on high. Which it brought the temp up out of the negative, still freezing cold....but at least warmer than what it was outside the shed. The second set up is quite simple, and the one I find the best, the wall tent. I used a dog kennel to keep predators, and unwanted people out of my rabbits. The dog kennel is wrapped in a triple layer tarp on three sides. The front side is a black screen mesh tarp to allow the best air flow, and to keep them shaded on sunny days. Over the top we have a pitched roof, one with a triple layer tarp. Over the pitched roof and tarp we placed yet another double tarp to cover the gaps from the roof to the walls. Finally....one more tarp, this one goes from the back, over the roof, and back down again over the front. This tarp is two sided. Silver on one side (used for summer), and black on the other (used for winter). On the front of the rabbitry, the overlay tarp can be rolled up to allow fresh air on days which are not freezing. The black side of the tarp attracts the sun, therefore heating the top and sides of the rabbitry. There is about an 1" gap along the bottom of the rabbitry allowing plenty of fresh ventilation. Inside, during the winter after fall herd reduction, I most as many rabbits as I can into the top cages. Heat rises. In addition I have one space heater running in there, as well as two heat lamps. Using this method has kept the rabbitry 25 degrees warmer inside than it is outdoors.


Frozen water bottles are always a hassle and a huge pet peeve. Many breeders will switch to dishes during the winter, we dont. We continue to use the water bottles. Water bottles are brought in at night to defrost overnight. We refill them in the morning, but only about half way. This will prevent the bottle itself from breaking when water turns to ice. On super cold days, we will exchange bottles. For example, with most water bottles using a black capped valve, you can use 20 soda bottles. These are exchanged in the afternoon. If the valve itself is frozen, a few minutes in the house under some warm water will fix that. We also put out small 4 oz bottles, used for show carriers at night. Again, these all are halfway filled. This will help provide the rabbits with maximum water intake. One could also add a crock dish with water, this will give the rabbit some water by being able to lick the ice. Or, your rabbit could simply think its a toy!


We also use hay quite a bit more in the winter than we do in the summer months. I prefer to use hay, rather than straw as it will serve two functions: a nice snack and warmth. We use about a flake of hay in each cage as needed, and shove that to the very back of the cage, up against the wall. The rabbit can not only munch on it, but burrow inside it as well.
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For smaller rabbits or young rabbits, we allow them to have a nest box, also filled with hay. Young juniors are usually kept in pairs or trios for added body warmth.


I would not recommend bringing your rabbit indoors and then taking him/her back out into the cold. This will shock the rabbits system, break down their immunity to cold temperatures, and your could be facing a rabbit with a cold. If you intend to bring your rabbit indoors, plan on keeping it inside through the winter months.