This gives me some extra heat when I need it like in the winter months. Put a waterproof tarp over the hutch to prevent any water from getting through.
The heat lamp is partially above the egg laying nests.
When does my rabbit hutch need a heating lamp. While healthy rabbits can do well a bit lower than this older and more fragile rabbits are not best suited to this kind of climate. If temperatures drop to 0 you need to proactively take measures to provide heat. This can include providing heat mats heat lamps and insulating their hutch with hay and blankets.
Install heat lamps either outside the cage or covered with wires so your rabbit cannot touch them. Check lamps frequently for burned-out bulbs. Avoid placing heat lamps close to or shining directly on wood as this can start a fire.
Make sure your rabbit cannot access cords and keep them out of contact with water including rain and snow. Can You Use a Heat Lamp For Rabbits. Yes you can use a heat lamp for rabbits.
The heat lamp is suitable for use in both cages and hutch. But you should be careful that the temperature is at the expected level. Otherwise your bunny will be sick.
Do Baby Bunnies Need a Heat Lamp. Yes the baby bunnies need a heat lamp in the cold winter. One of the ancillary benefits of using a heat lamp to keep your rabbits warm is that it can prevent the water bowls from freezing.
During the winter metal crocks are better than bottles for providing water to your rabbits as they resist freezing longer. Place the crock near the edge of the area heated by the lamp. Firstly they need a power source.
This means cables in your rabbits hutch and the likelihood of these wires being chewed. The second problem is the potential for your rabbit overheating. If a rabbits body temperature rises above 103 degrees Fahrenheit theyll be uncomfortable.
This can lead to stress. One way around this is to place the heating lamp. Add a low wattage heater to your shed but make sure the rabbits cannot get to the electrical cord.
For all the hay your rabbit needs this winter or extra bedding to keep their litter box or hutch clean and protecting against odor longer shop our store. My rabbits are all receptive to breed in the winter without added lights or heat selective breeding for your area works awsome but if you have problems breeding your rabbits in the winter try running lights to extend the light period for 14 to 16 hours a day you could rig up some of the solar path lights. You can add more permanent insulation if your rabbit lives in a shed or playhouse which will create a barrier keeping the heat from your rabbits trapped inside therefore warming the inside on cold days and blocking out the heat from the sun on warm days.
Heat lamps or heat mats are NOT necessarynot even a little bit. If the ambient temperature is over 55 degrees not to worry. If the inside temperature dropped below 65 I would call a heating technician to fix your homes heater.
My Ts are kept at ambient temperature of 65 in winter and around 75-80 in the summer. Keeping a rabbit warm in winter has more to do with keeping her dry rather than placing her inside an insulated or heated structure. Rabbits add fat and grow fur as their natural protection against the elements.
If youre keeping your pet outside during very cold temperatures a snug winter rabbit hutch will ensure she stays warm and dry. As we have already mentioned a heating lamp is the easiest way to keep rabbits warm while outdoors especially during the colder winter months. There are a variety of other ways that you can help to keep your rabbit warm whether alongside the heating lamp or as an alternative.
Lets take a look at them. Heat lamps can be a bit tricky. Its very easy to cook the creature your trying to warm up and they have an increased risk of causing a fire compared to other light bulbs and heating systems.
A heating pad or similar would be better but just giving them a warm house such as one made out of fleece or other fabric would probably be enough. Rabbits need warm beds year-round but especially in the winter. There should be some kind of box in your rabbits hut with an entry hole the rabbit can climb in and out of.
You can buy a rabbit bed at a pet store or online. You can also make your own out of a cardboard box. During winter line the floors and walls of a rabbits bed with newspaper.
If your bunny is old or not in the best of health consider moving their hutch indoors or into a shed. Some people move their rabbits indoors at the start of winter before the first cold snap comes along. Heat pads are a good idea and likely to be welcomed by your rabbits.
Getting wet in the cold is a serious danger to rabbits. They are very likely to develop hypothermia. Put a waterproof tarp over the hutch to prevent any water from getting through.
Check for leaks in both the hutch and the tarp to be extra sure no rain or snow will be able to drip through. Rabbits do not tolerate drafts or dampness. So outside in the winter they must be protected from all directions while still allowing some natural light to enter and having small openings for ventilation.
If you have access to electricity you can use heat lamps with wire cages over them so the rabbit does not touch them during the winter. I never had a heating lamp in my coop. But this year I bought one.
The only purpose for my heat lamp was to hang it over their water source to keep it from freezing inside the coop. Another good outcome from using the heat lamp came about naturally on my farm. The heat lamp is partially above the egg laying nests.
OPTION 1- For Outdoor Rabbits. My bunny hutches are outdoors. We do not have a safe way to use heat lamps to keep our kits warm.
When it is going to get too chilly I put the doe in the nesting area with her kits for the night and close the door so she cant get out. This will give the kits access to their mama for snacks and heat. This gives me some extra heat when I need it like in the winter months.
If you get a lower-wattage bulb for your reptile lamp you might find that it doesnt offer enough heat. Then its just a waste of money. But with a stronger bulb and a rheostat youll able to get the exact heat you need from the lamp.
More Tips for Reptile Heat Lamps.