10 Tips to Keeping Rabbits Cool in the Summer

Learn how to keep outdoor rabbits cool during the warmer months. Here are 10 tips to keeping rabbits cool throughout the summer.

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Prior to moving to Tennessee we rarely worried about how to keep our outdoor rabbits cool during the summer months. Our Pacific Northwest homestead in the mountains provided our rabbitry enough shade and cool temps, even during the hottest summer days.

In fact, on the rare occasion that the PNW reached 100 degrees caused us no concern for our herd. Again, where we resided played a huge factor in this.

With years of keeping rabbits under our belt, we’ve come to know each member of ours quite well. Any stress, illness, or injury can be detected easily, including potential heat stroke. Temperatures above 85 degrees Fahrenheit, an unequipped rabbitry, and an inexperienced handle can put your herd at risk.

It is best to know how to handle the warmer temperatures of summer prior to bringing on your rabbit herd.

Raising Rabbits

Those who have followed our journey to achieving a sustainable life know that we raise rabbits for meat purposes. They are not our pets, however, during their time with us they are treated very well and are offered the best hay, pellets, and fresh produce.

Here’s a few articles which cover raising rabbits, regardless if you are raising them for meat purposes or as pets.

We utilize two methods for housing rabbits on the farm, and both are designed with the rabbits overall wellbeing in mind. The custom designed cages you see photo’d were gifted to us from a farm in Washington state. However, the cages we utilize from Hostile Hare are incredible and very well built. They not only are durable, they keep outdoor rabbits cool during the warm summer months.

Keep rabbits cool by placing their housing in the shade, for example, in a barn.

10 Tips to Keeping Rabbits Cool in the Summer Months

We all want what’s best for our rabbits, especially during the warm summer days. Wild rabbits have the benefits of residing in the earth to keep cool and stay warm, however, domesticated rabbits do not. This task falls onto the animal’s steward…you.

Here are 10 tips to keeping rabbits cool in the summer months:

Provide shade

Place your rabbitry in a shaded area. This can be within a barn, under a large tree, in the garage, or on the northside of any structure. A rabbitry should never be placed in direct sunlight.

Rabbits which are raised on pasture in a movable tractor must have a space where they can get out of the sunlight. This can be achieved by creating a hut within the tractor or tarping off a section of the tractor.

Provide fresh water throughout the day

Rabbits can be quite picky when it comes to their drinking water. I have found that when their drinking water is too warm, rabbits will not drink enough water. For this reason it is necessary to check their waterers multiple times a day.

Replace the water for any water bottles which are warm to the touch. Keeping the water bottles out of the sun will help ensure the water stays cooler for a longer period of time.

Offer fresh greens

From early Spring through late Fall, in addition to rabbit pellets and hay, fresh greens and edible flowers are added to their diet. A rabbits digestive system is quite delicate, make sure to know which fresh foods are best to offer your herd and how much they should consume daily.

Please note, fresh greens should not replace rabbit pellets or free choice hay.

Provide proper air flow

Proper airflow play an essential role in how to keep outdoor rabbits cool. The photograph below is the wall of our barn. Because the boards have spaces between them this allows air to flow throughout the barn.

Cross ventilation for structures such as a wooden shed, barn, or three walled lean-to receive adequate air flow. Please note, I would not suggest housing livestock in a metal shed as it can become too hot for the animal, especially ones which cannot freely exit the structure.

Our barn is open on both ends, which allows for continual air circulation. However, many do not have a rabbitry set-up as we do. Placing a fan, something as simple as a box fan, will help the air circulate.

Do not over feed rabbits

Rabbits which are overweight due to overfeeding have a tendency to overheat quickly. In addition to this, an overweight rabbit will also have a difficult time reproducing.

It is always best to offer the appropriate amount of pellets, hay at choice, and minimize any treats being offered.

Utilize ceramic tiles as rest pads

Ceramic tiles, used for flooring, do a great job keeping rabbits cool when a rabbit rests on it. In addition to ceramic tiles, plastic rest pads with holes are also efficient. The holes found in the plastic rest pads allows the air to circulate from under the cage, allowing any breeze to go through the pad to the rabbits abdominal area.

Please note, rest pads are needed if a rabbit is housed on wire. The pads, regardless if they are plastic, untreated plywood, or ceramic tiles, help to prevent sore hocks.

Remove all bedding

During the summer months it is best to remove the bedding from the cages. Generally bedding, such as straw, is used to allow rabbits to burrow into it, allowing them to keep warm during the cooler months. However, eliminating it will allow for proper airflow, which in turn allows your rabbits to keep cool.

Plan breeding and birthing schedule accordingly

We plan all mating and birthing schedules accordingly. The breeding season held on our farm, Acorn Creek Farmstead, begins In September and ends in May. This means that all kits are weaned by the middle of May and out to pasture to grow-out.

This strict schedule prevents overheating during –

Mating
Birthing
Prevents the kits from overheating due to being covered by momma’s fur

Manage the fur

Fiber rabbits such as the Angora, long hair rabbits such as the Lollihops, or rabbits which may be molting in the southern states can be brushed to help remove the shedding fur. Removing the fur allows the rabbit to remain cooler in the heat.

Offer an ice water bottle

I am going to be very transparent on this point, I do not offer water bottles which have been frozen to our rabbits. Yes, at that moment it may keep them cooler, however, do you intend to swap the thawed water bottle for a new one each time it melts?

Ice water bottles are a temporary fix for your rabbits, but at the end of day, implementing what was mentioned above will help keep your rabbits cooler on a more consistent level.

What Not to Do

Many of you who are new to raising rabbits will want to do the best for your herd. Keep in mind, you can keep rabbits cool without having to move them to an airconditioned location. In fact, I highly advise against it.

Continually moving rabbits from one extreme temperature to another can shock their system. Instead, it is best to learn how to keep them cool during the hottest part of the summer months.

As you can see, these 10 tips to keeping rabbits cool in the heat of the summer months is achievable. If at all possible, check your herd multiple times a day as heat stroke can strike quickly in rabbits.