How Do Rabbits Get Through Winter? A Detailed Guide to Winter Feeding and Management

Rabbits are common household pets. They have long ears and a short, fluffy tail that they tuck in, curling up like a ball, which is very cute. So, how do rabbits get through winter?

1. How do rabbits get through winter?

In winter, it is best to keep the rabbit hutch temperature between 12-28 degrees Celsius, and the rabbit cage can be placed next to a heating stove for warmth. At the same time, feed them more and increase the proportion of concentrated feed so they store more fat to resist the cold. If conditions allow, make sure they get exercise at all times and increase their activity level, which can strengthen their constitution. In addition, they need appropriate light exposure and the breeding area must be kept clean.

2. Points to note when raising rabbits

1. The rabbit's living environment should be clean, dry and well ventilated. If the environment is damp and unsanitary, bacteria easily breed and cause skin disease in rabbits;

2. It is recommended that when a young rabbit first arrives home, you take it to the hospital for a stool test to check whether it has coccidia rather than randomly feeding it coccidia medicine. Coccidiosis comes on acutely, and although many young rabbits die of coccidia, no small number of rabbits are poisoned to death by coccidia medicine.

3. If the cage the young rabbit lives in is a dog cage, a wooden board should be added inside the cage for it to rest its feet on. Without a resting board, over time it will develop pododermatitis, and pododermatitis is very difficult to cure;

4. If a rabbit gets diarrhea from eating vegetables, promptly give it 4 tablets of lactasin. If you do not have lactasin at home, you can also feed lactic acid bacteria tablets or probiotics;

5. A rabbit's teeth grow continuously, so you must provide it with a chew stick. Some rabbits like to bite electrical wires and the like, so pay attention;

6. The rabbit's urine and droppings must be cleaned up every day. If not cleaned, they will accumulate over time and produce ammonia gas;

7. Do not bathe young rabbits. Rabbits are very clean animals and groom their fur by licking every day, so bathing them is not recommended. However, if you must bathe them, choose a day with good weather and sunshine, and make sure water does not get into their ears, because if you are not careful they will get otitis media. You also cannot use human products such as body wash or soap on them. After bathing, dry them off immediately, otherwise they will catch a cold;

8. Rabbits do not feel full, so you must control their food intake to avoid overfeeding them to death, and they must not eat too much starch;

9. When picking up a rabbit, never grab it by the ears. The ears are an important organ for rabbits. Rabbits have no sweat glands and must use their ears to dissipate heat. A rabbit's ears are not made for people to grab. If the rabbit's ears are injured by grabbing and the nerves are damaged, the rabbit's ears will not stand up straight and cannot turn. The correct way to pick up a rabbit is: support the rabbit's back with one hand, and lift the rabbit's bottom with the other hand, so that the rabbit's legs and belly both face forward.

In addition, rabbits are timid animals. Sudden loud noises, strangers and unfamiliar animals such as cats and dogs will all make them panic. In feeding and management, try to avoid sounds that startle the rabbits, and at the same time prohibit strangers and cats and dogs from entering the rabbit hutch. Domestic rabbits have sharp hearing and a keen sense of smell, but they are timid and easily startled, and they are good at running.