Adult rabbits with a good coat tolerate frost better than dampness, draughts and heat. In winter the main tasks are to keep the water from freezing, to provide enough feed for the animals to keep warm and to keep the cages dry.
Preparing the farm
- Shield the cages from wind and snow on the windward side, but do not seal them: ventilation is needed in winter too.
- Check the roof and gutters: dripping water and ice inside the cages are unacceptable.
- Insulate the nesting boxes. If you have electricity, prepare nest heating for winter kindling.
- Stock up on hay and grain until spring, taking the size of the herd into account.
Water
In winter rabbits eat more dry feed, so they need water at all times. Icy or frozen water is a common cause of reduced appetite and problems in does. Heated drinkers work best (they are included in our mini-farms). If there is no heating, pour in warm water several times a day.
Winter diet
- Hay — unlimited, of good quality, free of dust and mould.
- Grain and pellets — energy requirements are higher in winter, so rations are increased.
- Succulent feed — carrots, fodder beet, pumpkin, a little good-quality silage. Do not give frozen or rotten root crops.
- Branches — willow, apple, birch and other safe species: enrichment and for wearing down teeth.
Winter kindling
Winter kindling is possible with a warm nest and plenty of water. Kits born in winter often grow up strong. The key is a warm nesting box, a thick layer of bedding and daily checks.
What to avoid
- Damp bedding and wet floors.
- Closed rooms with an ammonia smell: it damages the respiratory tract.
- Abrupt changes of diet when switching from summer to winter feed — make the transition over 1–2 weeks.
