Winter Care for Outdoor Rabbits: Keeping Bunnies Warm

Healthy adult rabbits are surprisingly well suited to cold weather, and most cope perfectly well outdoors through a British winter, as long as their home is dry, draught-free and packed with bedding. Damp and wind are the real enemies, far more than cold itself. Work through the checklist below before the first frost.

Move or shelter the hutch

Wind and rain do more harm than low temperatures, so location is your first job.

• Move the hutch against a wall, into a shed, or into an unused garage (never one used for cars, due to exhaust fumes).
• Turn the open front away from prevailing wind and driving rain.
• Raise the hutch off the ground on legs or bricks so cold and damp don't seep up from below.
• Cover the front at night with a tarpaulin or purpose-made cover, leaving a gap for airflow so condensation doesn't build up.

Good, roomy rabbit hutches with a solid sleeping compartment make all of this far easier than trying to weatherproof a flimsy one.

Pile on the bedding

Rabbits keep warm by burrowing into deep, dry bedding, so generosity here pays off.

• Use a thick layer of dust-extracted straw in the sleeping area. Straw insulates better than hay because it's hollow.
• Keep hay topped up too, since eating more fibre helps generate body heat.
• Check bedding daily and replace anything damp immediately. Wet bedding is worse than no bedding.
• Add extra on the coldest nights and pack it into corners so your rabbit can nest.

Stop the water freezing

Frozen water is one of the biggest winter risks because a dehydrated rabbit quickly goes off its food.

• Check bottles and bowls at least twice a day and break any ice.
• Bottles freeze faster than bowls, so a heavy ceramic bowl can be a useful backup.
• Wrap a bottle in an insulating sleeve or an old sock to slow freezing.
• Top up with slightly warm (not hot) water on icy mornings.

Keep them moving and fed

Rabbits still need daily exercise in winter, and movement keeps them warm.

• Let them stretch out in a dry, sheltered rabbit run when the weather allows.
• Clear snow from the run floor first and avoid letting them out in driving rain.
• Slightly increase food in very cold spells, as keeping warm burns more energy.
• Make sure both members of a bonded pair are eating; companionship also helps them stay warm by huddling together.

Watch their health closely

Winter masks problems, so a daily hands-on check matters more than ever.

• Feel the body under the fur for weight loss; a thick coat can hide a thinning rabbit.
• Check the back end daily, as soiling and flystrike can still occur on milder days.
• Watch for any drop in appetite or droppings, which is always urgent in a rabbit.

A rabbit that goes quiet, stops eating or feels cold and floppy needs help fast. This is general husbandry guidance rather than veterinary advice, so please see a vet for any sudden change in your rabbit's health.

A quick word on very cold snaps

In extreme cold, very young, elderly or unwell rabbits are best brought into a cool indoor space such as a porch or utility room. Avoid a warm living room, as the swing between heat and cold is stressful and can do more harm than good. Keep their housing and routine as familiar as possible.

For more on safe outdoor setups, see our guide to rabbit run setup and predator-proofing and the welfare-based sizing advice in rabbit hutch size. If you also keep guinea pigs, note they are far less cold-hardy; our guinea pig housing guide explains why most need to come indoors over winter. You'll find more seasonal advice in our Small Pets hub and the full small pets range.