*Updated for DECEMBER, 2007* 

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Bunnies Belong INSIDE... Especially During Inclement Winter Weather

by Mary Lou Hendrick  

Pet dogs and cats like to bask in the sun on a rug or on the couch during the long, cold New England winters, right?   House rabbits like it, too!  All pets, rabbits included, love us unconditionally and deserve the warmth and safety a loving, indoor home with us.  Rabbits’ personalities will come out and you’ll enjoy your pet so much more when you and your rabbit don’t have to worry about keeping warm, breaking the ice in the water bowl or hiding from predators.

Rabbits outdoors face all sorts of predators and weather elements 24 hours a day.  Outdoor hutches are not ideal for a rabbit’s needs, behavior or space requirements.  Just like a metal pen warms up in your hand as you write, the cold steel “hardware cloth” wire often found in an outdoor or garage hutch conducts the warmth from a rabbit’s body all winter long.  A nesting box does not block enough of the wet, wind and cold.  A cold rabbit will not be able to keep a proper body temperature and consequently will lose weight and may become sick with pneumonia.  Pet rabbits can easily freeze to death when the temperatures dip and the winds howl.  And the sad thing is, they won’t meow or scratch at the door to ask to come in.  It’s up to us to provide safe indoor homes for all of our pets, including our rabbits.

Rabbits left to exist in hutches during the winter are food to large animals as well for larger birds found in this region.  After all, with food becoming scarce outdoors, a confined rabbit is too hard to pass up.  A hutch provides little if no protection as it is easily tipped over and pried open in just minutes.

Even the strongest outdoor enclosures can be broken into.  A rabbit may be bitten through the wire and left with an open wound that he may not recover from completely.  A stalking predator can scare a rabbit to death or cause it to injure itself from racing back and forth.  I can’t imagine what it would feel like to be scared, alone, cold and injured all at the same time if I survived an attack like that.

Pet rabbits, who are allowed to roam a space in the yard in a safe, covered pen, may dig these deep burrows to keep themselves from predators and out of the elements.  It is certainly not best for domesticated rabbits living in the Northeast as the snow, rain and ice can pile up and block your entryway as well as theirs to the necessities you provide for them everyday like fresh water, food and hay.  Predators may figure out how to enter their enclosure or even if they don’t will circle and taunt a rabbit often scaring the rabbit so much that it has a heart attack.

House rabbits live best indoors with access to a very roomy cage or wire X-pen with several hours a day outside the cage in a rabbit-proof area where the temperature moderates between 50° to 70° Fahrenheit.  Their cage should be at least five times their adult size or larger to accommodate a bonded pair or group.  Cages should also have a solid, safe, wet-proof, cleanable floors and tops, smooth safe corners and open steel wire sides that can be easily cleaned and tall enough for your rabbit to stand up high and beg you for a treat!  You can link to some great websites offering roomy cages or rabbit safe pens through www.rabbit.org.  Wire X-pens without a top clipped together can work great for a single, a pair or groups of neutered, spayed rabbits.  I have used vinyl tablecloths with a batten-type backing on the hard floors with the X-pen sitting right on it.  They’re inexpensive, easy to wipe up, shake outside and replaceable as necessary. A rabbit will appreciate a soft towel to lie on or toss around.  It’s a toy and a bed! 

If your rabbit’s primary housing is an X-pen, get one high enough that he can’t hop over as he could hurt itself or chew on electrical wires, the number one rabbit injury in the home.  Make sure to cover exposed wires in your rabbits’ exercise area with hard plastic tubing, plastic baseboard covers or duct tape.  Keep them away from chewing reach.

Rabbits will use a litter box and neutered and spayed rabbits take to it even easier.  Make it an appropriate size for your rabbits and keep it nice for them to use.  An uncovered litter box, lined with recycled newspaper type pet bedding (untreated, unscented and uncolored) or wood stove pellets (less expensive and safe) topped with fresh, high-quality hay is a nice place for your rabbit to do his business, dig in and munch on hay.  The litter liner makes clean-up much easier.  The local feed store will have timothy or grass hay bales or smaller bags of hay.  There’s also great hay available over the internet. 

Litter boxes should be topped off with a handful of fresh hay at least twice a day and thoroughly washed out with a mild, biodegradable detergent every other day or two.  Soaking the box in distilled vinegar and a baking soda scrub will also help reduce any accumulated stain.  If you can compost, you’ll never regret the effort when you and your house rabbits taste the fresh vegetables and tomatoes you can grow next summer!  Store litter, hay, and food in clean, dry airtight containers indoors and keep it away from other critters.  Food should not be stored where it will freeze.

Rabbits will also enjoy the cover from a cat litter box as a hideaway.  Cube shaped cat beds may also keep your rabbits cozy, but will not be a good bed for those who chew it as the foam, filler and craft fuzz could block your rabbit’s digestive tract and cause serious health problems, even death.  Some rabbits can be trusted with a bed like this when given lots of hard wood to satisfy chewing needs; others are voracious chewers and may do better with a soft towel or replaceable hay bed underneath a cat box cover.

Rabbits love to play with toys!  These can be as simple as a brown paper grocery bag, brown paper towel rolls, straw mats and some corrugated cardboard without the ink or packing tape removed, just to start.  These types of toys should be rotated out when they become soiled or chewed up.  Old phonebooks are also good.  They like things that jingle and some cat toys that rabbits can pick up with their teeth or infant toys like hard plastic baby keys are perfect.  Just be sure to inspect them, clean and replace them as needed.  There’s a great list at www.rabbit.org.

There are some things you will need to do to keep your rabbit safe indoors.  When you first bring your rabbit in, let him spend a few days to adjust in his new indoor cage before you let him have free roam of the house.  Spaying and neutering your rabbit will reduce or eliminate the normal territorial behavior of leaving droppings or spraying urine. 

You will need to decide where you will allow your rabbit to kick up his haunches and make that place completely safe for him.  Find out how to at www.rabbit.org.  It’s easy and well worth it as you’ll make a well-adjusted happy bunny to enjoy.  Rabbits will be very inquisitive and rambunctious when given their indoor freedom, so they will need supervision at first and then will relax and need less supervision when they settle into a routine.  You may also want to litter train your rabbit in his enclosure prior to litter training him out in his exercise and play area.  Rabbits may dig and chew carpet, so consider removing that temptation by keeping him in an uncarpeted area with the wood door frames, cabinets and furniture protected.  This could be as simple as using a baby gate.  There are many ways to keep the things you love from the rabbit you love and you can do it inexpensively in most cases.

Introducing two rabbits should be done carefully and slowly, but will be rewarding to them and you as rabbits are very socially-oriented.  If you have other pets, you will want to research how to introduce them.  Rabbits and cats may get along just fine right off the bat, but cat nails should be kept trimmed to keep rabbits, especially their eyes, safe from a playful kitty.  Even though rabbits may enjoy a cat chase and appear indestructible, the fact is, they have very fragile bone structure and are delicate creatures that can injure easily.  Video and advice on introducing any pet, including dogs, to a rabbit can be found at www.rabbit.org.  Never introduce a dog and a rabbit without supervision and protection for both.

Make the health of your rabbit a priority by petting him daily, touching him to feel for anything peculiar and finding a rabbit veterinarian in your area for spaying and neutering, an annual exam or medical emergencies.  Signs that your rabbit is sick will include lack of appetite at regular feeding times, diarrhea or no stool, repeated sneezing, head tilt or dirty behind.  These are just a few.  Keep a close watch and get the House Rabbit Handbook or make www.rabbit.org one of your favorite sites and you’ll keep a happy, healthy house rabbit that will bring you years of love.

Mary Lou Hendrick is a contributing writer for All Creatures Exchange.  She can be reached at alvshine@netzero.net

Under Cover...

Boulder Brook Stable in Lee, NH recently constructed a Cover All-style Arena

by Courtney Atherton   

New England’s unpredictable weather and long winters have traditionally meant there were two options for dedicated equestrians.  Either ride outside in the snow and mud, or have regular access to an indoor arena or covered riding ring to accommodate year round riding.  Historically, indoor riding arenas have been built in a variety of shapes, sizes and lengths, but most have been constructed with post and beam wood and metal roofs as the primary structure and form.  However, new technology and innovative construction allow more options for sheltered riding areas.  One such innovation uses durable steel frames covered with fabric membranes.

One new equestrian facility who chose to utilize this structure is located in Lee, New Hampshire.  Boulder Brook Stables at Cornerstone Farm, owned and operated by Amanda Hanson, Scott Gumbling, and Jay Gumbling, built their indoor arena using this technology by Cover-All Building Systems.  A Canadian-based company, Cover-All has regional dealers throughout North America and parts of Europe and Scandinavia.  Boulder Brook Stables worked with Steve Greves in Williston Vermont when discussing options for their facility.  “We wanted a facility that made the most of natural light, minimized dust, and allowed us to be fuel and energy-efficient throughout the rest of the facility,” said Hanson. “The Cover-All system worked well with our barn plans for an insulated building with energy-efficiency.”

“The amount of natural light filtering through the canvas is a strong selling point for equestrian installations,” said Steve Greves, President of GDE Corporation, the authorized dealer for Cover-All Buildings in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.

“In New England, our largest agricultural business is in covered or enclosed riding arenas.  The next largest numbers of installation would be salt storage sheds and hay barns.”

While being used in many different agricultural industries, the Cover-All structures are versatile, allowing for a wide variety of uses.  They are presently in use as commercial storage facilities, machinery sheds, and sports facilities.  “We have many hockey teams in Canada that use our structures,” said Greves, “but there are also some sports facilities here in the States.  The New England Patriots have one of our structures for their practice field.”

This versatility also played a large part in the decision to build Cornerstone Farm’s Boulder Brook Stable facility using this structure. Its durability and portability gave it possibilities not found in traditional wood frame indoor arenas.  But also the uniqueness of this form of structure within the seacoast area of New Hampshire was part of the appeal.   “There are many wood arenas within a twenty-mile radius of our facility,” says Hanson, “We wanted to offer something unique. After looking into options, we decided to go with Cover-All.”

The frame of the Cover-All structure is made of steel, coated with a corrosion barrier.  The steel frame is then covered by a polymer-coated canvas, capable of withstanding wind, rain, and snow.  “All the structures we build, especially in New England, are rated for snow and ice,” reports Greves. “We have carefully engineered the structures to allow for the weight of snow, depending on the rated snowfall accumulations expected for the individual areas where the structures are built. We work with insurance companies and our clients to ensure the buildings will hold up with what New England weather can offer.” Hanson says that Greves worked closely with her to determine their facility needs and to discuss building structure options. “We work closely with the clients to design what they want,” says Greves. “We have the flexibility to engineer their building to suit their needs.”  As a result, structures can have “curtained” sides that can be opened and closed as needed, or they can be solid with designated openings only. Structures can come with eaves, or rolled sides, or any form the client wants.”

Once ordered, the actual construction for Cornerstone Farm was completed in stages.  The initial foundation was completed first before any construction began, which needed to include laying cement and installing anchors to stabilize the structure. Once the foundation was set, the assembly of the frame took the expected minimum of three to four weeks.  Erecting the frame required two large cranes and several workmen to raise the frame into place. Another week to two weeks was then necessary to custom install the fabric covers, ensuring each panel was fitted by hand to secure the canvas tightly. 

As the canvas was set in sections, it will allow individual sections to be removed separately, should any repairs be necessary, and it can be cleaned with a pressure hose. The polymer-coated canvas fabric is strong and it “breathes,” allowing moisture to evaporate through the membranes.  The fabric cover contributes to energy efficiency by allowing light to filter through the structure.  So much so, in fact, Hanson reports, that it is not necessary to turn on any interior lighting until after dusk, even on cloudy days. 

But while the canvas offers many benefits, there are some things one should consider.  Snow and ice do not accumulate for more than a half of an inch on the top of the structure. Snow then slides off more frequently than traditional roofs, and ice tends to separate in large sections, making loud noises when it slides off the roof.  Hanson reports the transparence of the canvas membranes means the horses see snow and ice, as well as hear it, when it slides off  (“Makes for an interesting ride,” she laughes).  She also notes that it is important to frequently remove the snow from the base of the building, as too much snow puts pressure on the sides of the structure, which could compromise the integrity of the base. 

Other unique issues that come with these structures are side-effects of the increase light filtering through the canvas.  Since moisture may cling to the fabric membranes when there is such a large open air mass, humid conditions within the arena can create unique “weather zones.”  Hanson reports unused areas inside the arena need to be mowed during the summer, as the increased light causes grass to grow on the floor of the indoor arena.  When it is warmer inside the arena than outside, it is also possible for it to rain and fog indoors. 

Canvas covered structures are not new, but the general acceptance and wider use of the structures is relatively recent.  Greves states there are many equestrian facilities utilizing their structures.  In New Hampshire, Silhouette Farm in Raymond, NH, and Barbara Irofino of Chocorua, NH utilized these structures for their facilities before Cornerstone Farm.  Maine and Vermont also have many of these arenas, including Pease Farm, in Middlesex, Vermont, and Whispering Pines Training Center in Newbury, Maine.  And Greves reports working with Forbes Dairy Farm, in Lancaster New Hampshire, for all three of their barn structures for the housing, milking and care of their herd of dairy cattle. 

While Boulder Brook Stables at Cornerstone Farm’s installation is relatively new, Hanson reports the structure has been a success.  Presently operating at full capacity, she reports that she, her students and her boarders are happy with the building.  The versatility of the structure, combined with the open, airy feel to the space inside, make canvas-covered structures a unique alternative to traditional structures.

Boulder Brook Stables is located on 596 Calef Highway (Route 125), in Lee, NH; www.boulderbrookstables.com; 603-659-9907.  Steve Greves, of GDE Corporation, the authorized dealer for Cover-All Buildings in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, can be reached at 802-533-2508.  Cover-All Building Systems can be reached at 800-268-3768, or on their website at www.Cover-All.net.