Rabbits can survive temperatures falling to 32°F (0°C). However, if the temperature falls below 101°F, they can suffer from hypothermia, according to Research Gate.

As a rabbit owner, you must know that it can be fatal when temperature is too cold for rabbits. It can lead to fatal illness staying outdoors in the cold. 

Rabbits can suffer from hypothermia in freezing weather. They can even die. Be mindful of the ideal temperature for rabbits to stay happy and healthy in extreme weather. Let’s dive into some details. 

Signs Bunnies Show When They Feel Really Cold

When the temperature is too cold for the rabbits, they will show some signs. Immediately protect your bunny against the cold to avoid any severe health issues. Following these steps, You can quickly determine if they feel cold. 

• Cold ears and feet : If they’re too cold, it indicates that they are feeling cold. 
• Trembling & shaking : If you find your bunnies trembling, shaking, or shivering from head to toe. It mostly happens when the temperature has dropped dangerously low for them. It leads to hypothermia.
• Digging hay or straw : If your bunnies try digging into their hay or straw, they feel cold. 
• Paleness on the lips and gums : If you notice paleness on the lips and gums of the rabbits. It also indicates hypothermia in them. 
• Freezing nose : Freezing of the tips of the rabbits’ noses, toes, and ears. Extremely low temperatures can cause frostbite, freezing the tips of the rabbits’ noses, toes, and ears. This could be fatal for the rabbit’s health.
• Stiffness & discomfort : In older rabbits, you might notice the signs of pain, stiffness, and discomfort due to worsening arthritis. Thus, keeping rabbits warm is vital.

How to Keep Your Rabbits Warm When the Temperature is too Cold?

If your rabbit lives outdoors in the cold, make arrangements to keep them warm. Rabbits can fall sick when the cold is too cold. Make sure your rabbit is taken well for weather care in cold winter cold. 

• Make sure the outdoor home of the rabbit is waterproof and drought-proof. It should be solid enough to prevent leakage. There should be no cracks present. However, make sure the hutch is not enclosed completely. There should be some gap left for air and ventilation.  
• Insulate the hutch to keep them stay warm. Add extra bedding like hay, straw, newspapers, pieces of cardboard, block draft blankets, old carpets, tarps, etc.
• Keep the hutch raised or off the ground. On ground level, frostbite can accumulate and penetrate inside the hutch causing cold to rabbits. 
• The rabbit hutch should be free from cold drafts to ensure the comfort and health of the domestic rabbits.
• Put a heating pad or hot water bottle inside the hutch at a too-cold temperature. 
• Keep eye on temperature inside the hutch.
• Keep a watchful eye on the water bowls. In case it freezes, replace it immediately. You don’t want them to fall sick due to dehydration.
• Keep the hutch dry and clean. Dirty living places can lead to infections and other deadly diseases in them.
• Eating plenty of hay will help the rabbits maintain their body temperature and protect against hypothermia. 
• You may also want to shift your bunnies indoors. In this case, avoid providing them with any heat pad or heater since the normal temperature for a rabbit is warm enough.

Hutch for Pet Rabbits in Freezing Weather

You can arrange indoor and outdoor housing for your rabbits in the cold. You need to be more careful while setting up housing rabbits outdoors to keep your rabbit comfortable.

Indoor rabbit hutch to keep your rabbit warm

•  Indoors will prevent access to precipitation, snow, rain, drizzle, etc. which will also help them from getting wet.
• The water bottles and vessels will not freeze inside. 
• You must not keep your rabbit indoors where heaters or fireplaces are switched on because the thick fur of rabbits will make it tough for them to handle the heat. 
• Remember that your rabbits need much space for fresh air and ventilation, even in freezing temperatures.

Outdoor Arrangements in cold winter

• In outdoor arrangements, you must keep your rabbits in a garage, shed, hutch, barn, etc. 
• Rabbits in snow look cute, but it can lead to many health issues. So, make sure that the rabbits are inside the house.
• You will need to keep themselves warm. Keeping their outdoor homes clean and dry will require your constant efforts outside in winter.
•  Moreover, eating in large quantities will help the rabbits maintain their body temperature. Therefore, provide them staying outdoors with sufficient food.