Looking after outdoor pets in the winter

Whether you have one fluffy rabbit or several different animals it is important to consider what they need through the winter months. Depending on where you live depends on how cold it is likely to get but these are some ideas for helping out your pets through the winter.

When you notice that your garden is lacking in grass or the fresh green colour it had earlier in the year has gone supplement your animals forage with hay. You can buy a bale of hay for a few pounds of a local farmer which will see you right through the winter provided you can store it somewhere dry. Or you can get smaller bags from the pet shop which often have added herbs to tempt you to buy. I personally go for the farm bale as it means I am unlikely to run out and find that I can't get to the shop to get more because of the weather.

I also buy a bale of straw at the same time to give the animals a warm thick bed. I buy both because I don't want to bed the animals on the same thing that they eat and I often put up a rack in the hutch specifically to keep the hay off the bedding so that it stays clean. Straw is very good at allowing urine to drain through it, thus keeping the bedding dry around the animal which will help prevent it from freezing. But remember you still need a bedding material beneath such as paper or shavings to soak up any liquids.

If you move your hutch around the garden to allow your animals to eat the grass in their run then keep doing this until it either gets quite cold or your grass needs resting. Remember the best feed for them is the grass and it will help to build up their fat stores for the winter months. If however your hutch is stationary and you transport the rabbit or guinea pig to the run then make sure you have the hutch in a sheltered spot.

Try not to keep your hutches in the same place all year round as this increases the likelihood of rodents nesting behind boxes or frequenting the garden. If your hutch is normally at the bottom of the garden during the summer consider moving it to hard standing nearer to the house for the winter. This will have the added bonus of reducing the distance you have to go, if there is lots of snow or ice, to clean out and feed your animals.

If it gets very cold you could consider a cover for the hutch which can be bought in most pet stores. Alternatively an old bit of carpet over the hutch and then covered by a tarpaulin works well also. Covers for your water bottles are a good idea too as the water freezing can cause your pets to dehydrate. And very cold water can give them stomach pains and make them uncomfortable. If you can afford these then their are a variety on offer, the neoprene ones being particularly effective. However if all your money is going on Christmas a couple of old socks over the bottle and a a plastic cover such as plastic wrap or a carrier bag works too.

For animals such as chickens you can add warmth to their home with a red light bulb or create a box for them to nest in with lots of bedding. They are very good at keeping themselves and each other warm with their feathers, however if you have a chicken with only a few feathers you may want to consider a chicken coat. If you have windows in your coop try covering them with an old curtain on a night, this prevents the cold getting through them on a night, and remember that their water freezes to and they will appreciate a little warm water in their drinker. A little Vaseline on legs and combs can help prevent them being damaged by the cold and keeping plenty of food about for them is great. I like to give mine warm porridge when it is very cold and other warm treats.

If your chicken shed or coop is big enough you may be able to fit your rabbit hutch inside for extra warmth and protection from the wet, snow and ice.