Winter Tips for Small Pets

It’s only natural to worry about our pets when the months grow colder, but what about those who live outside? Here, we explain how you can keep your small pets warm and safe during colder months, including how to insulate a rabbit hutch for winter. 

If you usually have your rabbits housed outside the rest of the year, and they’re in good health, then you can also keep them outside during the winter. However, there are a number of precautions you need to take to ensure they stay warm during this time. 

Rabbits who live outside in a hutch should have begun growing a nice winter coat as the temperature began to drop, but there are still things you can do to keep them nice and snug:

1. Keep them dry — Rabbits don’t do well in damp conditions, so make sure their hutch is dry, clean, and protected from the elements with water and wind-proof hutch cover. You can even buy insulated ones that keep your bunnies cosy and protect your hutch from the elements. 
2. Move their hutch — You want to protect your rabbit’s hutch from the elements and ensure it isn’t easily accessed by predators, especially hungry during winter when food is scarce.
3. Feed them more hay — All pets can benefit from a little extra food in the winter, but rabbit hay can also be used as extra bedding, offering extra warmth as well as something to nibble on. 
4. Check their water regularly — Rabbit water bottles can freeze quickly in the winter, and the little ball in the mouthpiece can easily become stuck. Make sure to check the ball is still working and deposit water every few hours.
5. Give them space to exercise — Exercise can help your rabbit stay warm, so there’s no need to pack up their run. Make sure their run is connected to their hutch so have access as and when they need it, and make sure it’s sturdy and tough to stand against predators.
6. Keep them together — Rabbits are social animals by nature, and in the cold winter months, having another warm body to snuggle with can make all the difference.

As with rabbits, guinea pigs can also stay outside in the winter if you choose, given they are young and healthy. Just make sure to follow the same steps as above to ensure they are safe, dry, and warm. 

Guinea pigs are more temperature-sensitive than rabbits, so if you choose to bring them in to protect them from the cold, ensure you don’t put them back outside until it’s consistently warm outside.

Much like with rabbits, it’s important to ensure your guinea pig's hutch is protected from wind and rain, and that it’s robust enough to stop any predators from getting inside. You should also ensure they always have plenty of bedding and that their water isn’t frozen. 

On top of that, you should also: 

1. Move your guinea pig’s hutch — if possible, try and put their hutch in a shed or garage if possible for optimum protection. 
2. Try not to let them out on cold, wet days — Guinea pigs are very low to the ground and can get cold very easily. Try and let them get their exercise indoors, or put their run in a shed or garage instead 
3. Give them more hay — Not only does this offer more bedding and warmth, but also extra calories to help them stay warm. You can even card boxes full of hay to give them more insulation and places to snuggle.

By being proactive with your outdoor pet’s enclosures, you can make sure they spend the winter months nice and snug, ready for when spring returns. If you’re looking to find the best bedding for your bunnies, then check out our great range of bedding and bedding hay fr rabbits.

This post is an opinion and should only be used as a guide. You should discuss any change to your pet’s care or lifestyle thoroughly with your vet before starting any program or treatment.