Keep Those Bunnies Cool!
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The weather prediction for Thursday, July 5, 2007, was for a high between 105 – 110 degrees. Not sure where the temperature topped out at. At 2:00 PM it was over 100, and when I got home from work at 9:30 pm it was still 99.

The European wild rabbits, from which our domestic rabbits descend, are burrowing animals. When the temperature gets hot, they dig a little deeper into their burrows, and only come out to forage at night. We have taken them, put them in wire cages about three feet, or so, off the ground, not because it is good for the rabbit, but because it is more convenient for us; therefore, this time of year keeping them from overheating is a must.

There are some simple things that will help the rabbit during hot temperatures.

  • Unlike humans, rabbits don’t sweat; the rabbits’ heat exchangers are those long ears. Check their ears, make sure they are clean. Rabbits also do not pant like a dog, when it is hot, unless they are very overheated. If a rabbit is panting from the heat, get it somewhere cool immediately.
  • Never ever never expose the rabbit to direct sunlight. If you have outside hutches, position the hutches so the open side is facing north, and if at all possible, put the hutches under shade trees.
  • Provide an abundance of water. During hot months you can not give too much water. I have heard of folks that freeze or put ice cubes in the rabbits water dish. I’m not sure of the value of doing so; I am convinced that, again, during hot months you can not give too much water.
Beyond the simple things, there are other methods that have been used to keep bunnies cool. What a person decides to use would depend on the number of rabbits, how the Rabbitry is set up, the individual’s financial resources, and the amount of time a person has.
  • If you have only a handful of holes, and sufficient freezer space, a frozen 2 liter soda bottle, per hole, works well. I have used this method at various times – can be time consuming.
  • Running a soaker hose over the roof of the hutches, or the barn. I have not done this; however, I have heard that it will lower the temperature by about 20 degrees.
  • Use a misting system. I have heard that this type of system will reduce the temperature by 10 to 20 degrees. If you have an open setup, with dirt floor this may work well for you; however, from what I’ve heard it can be costly to setup.
  • Evaporative cooler (swamp cooler) works well given your setup. Thirty years ago, when people were switching from swamp coolers to widow refrigerated units, swamp coolers could be picked up for fifty to a hundred bucks. On a recent trip to one of the “big box stores” found new swamp coolers were between four to five hundred dollars.
  • Refrigerated air conditioner works well given your setup. Problem with these type of systems is the filter will plug up with hair and dust. Depending on the type of filter this can be a problem.
My rabbits are housed in an 8 X 20 enclosed room, in my barn. Last summer I purchased a “room” evaporative cooler. It worked well for about a month then it stopped pumping the water over the pads. If you use an evaporative cooler, spend the extra and get the type that mounts outside the building. This year, I got a refrigerated window unit. All refrigerated units are rated for square footage. It is important to remember that the rating is based on an insulated house. Since my Rabbitry is not insulated, I got one rated for more than twice the square footage. The unit I got has a removable washable filter screen. Only takes a couple minutes to clean it every morning. Yesterday, when it was over 100 degrees outside, my rabbits were a cool 75 degrees.

Problem I found with refrigerated unit is that it will last about a year, and then will get junk around the coils. In 2016 bought a window evaporative (swamp) cooler. Need to check belts, pumps, and water lines before the weather gets hot; cheaper than buying a new refrigerated unit every year!

Your rabbits give you a lot. Repay them by keeping them cool