Cool Bunnies

by Marlene
(Texas)



In Texas, we have three seasons: Summer, July & August. It is important to us to try to keep our rabbits cool, since they cannot control their environment that we provide. First pic is a young buck that prefers a block of ice and second is doe that lays against a bottle of ice. I think they like it, whatcha think?

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Jul 07, 2014
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starstarstarstarstar 		Hot & Humid
by: Anonymous

Had another thought... These pic were taken on 100+ temp. day, last summer. It is not in rabbit's nature to lay against ice to cool off, so maybe it is when temps are above 90+ degrees that they become desperate. If your rabbits are in ground-cages in the shade, they may be able to cool themselves at our present heat, thus not taking an interest in your ice bottles.

Another point you may want to consider, is your buck(s). Heat can render them sterile for months. I had a friend that raised rabbits for show that put their bucks in an underground root cellar for this reason.
Jul 05, 2014
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starstarstarstarstar 		Hot & Humid
by: Anonymous

I use 1 liter bottles (larger) or a frozen block for my Californians. Even if they don't lay next to it, it cools the air in their cages &/or cools the ceramic tile that is in their cages. At first, they seem to think it is an invasion of their space, but I keep putting the bottles in cages and eventually they get the idea. I take off any paper wrappings,too. I then wash bottle exterior and refreeze.

Not breeding in our summer is a personal choice. I don't sell commercially. It takes the youth longer to reach harvest size when they have to deal with our heat, thus more food etc.
Jul 04, 2014
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starstarstarstarstar 		Bunny AC
by: Hot and Humid in Houston

This is my first year in keeping and breeding rabbits. My original breed stock came from a small, but commercial style, rabbit barn and did not have a "cooling method."

I prefer to have my rabbits part time in their cages and part time tractors, grazing (maybe because I want more natural rabbits, or maybe because I don't feel like mowing the pasture :oP). Therefore, I sought out another more portable, method vs. fans, and so far, I really like this method. Not to mention the added costs involved in having fans and all that time cleaning and messing with them.

In any case, I have been putting bottles in with all my rabbits, but only my baby bunnies are using them. Some are more attached to their mother and refuse to leave her. In kit cages, I make sure to include anywhere from 2-4 regular sized water bottles so everyone has a chance. Still, the adults stay away.

Do you have any suggestions, besides not breeding in summer, to encourage the adults to "cool off"?

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