Essential Winter Care Measures for Rabbits
Essential Measures for Raising Rabbits in Winter
1. Keep Warm and Protected
During the cold winter months, it's crucial for rabbit owners to keep their rabbits indoors in their cages, ensuring the shelter and cage temperatures are comfortable. If necessary, wrap the cage with cotton or wool blankets or place it inside a cardboard box. However, it's important to avoid overheating the cage and to ensure there is adequate ventilation to prevent rabbits from feeling stuffy.
2. Increase Feeding Intake
With the scarcity of fresh greens in winter, rabbits consume more energy to stay warm. Therefore, owners should provide more highprotein and highenergy pellets and fresh greens, increasing the feeding amount by about onethird compared to other seasons. In cases of limited fresh greens, substitute with willow or poplar branches. Additionally, offer soaked hay softened with warm water and ensure fresh, 35°C water is always available.
3. Ventilation and Disinfection
While it's important to protect rabbits from drafts, good ventilation is still necessary. On sunny days with mild temperatures, owners can let rabbits out to bask in the sun, which can help with disinfection.
4. Timely Shearing
Winter is the prime season for rabbits to produce premium fur. Once the fur meets the top standard, shearing can be done on sunny days, avoiding rainy, snowy, or cold weather. Generally, only longer fur is sheared, leaving shorter fur and minimizing the removal of belly fur to prevent the rabbit from feeling the cold. After shearing, rabbits are more susceptible to catching a cold, so extra care in maintaining warmth should be taken for at least a week postshearing.
5. Enhance Physical Activity
Even rabbits in cages need regular exercise, especially during winter. Exercise boosts their immune system. Thus, owners should release rabbits into a sunny, sheltered, and freshair area at least twice a week during clear and calm weather. Allow rabbits to play for about two hours each time to maintain their activity levels.
Pet Doctor's Tip: During winter, rabbit owners must not overlook their rabbits' diet and exercise. Providing warm water and ensuring regular physical activity can prevent rabbits from catching a cold or suffering from constipation.
