stupid question

[happy acres]

I've never heard of ice bottles or frozen tiles. What are they and how needful? I've raised rabbits before, but they were lionheads. Their hutches were in a well shaded area and they got fresh water daily. Was I just lucky?

 

[Pips]

Not a stupid question. Bunnies don't cool well (breed dependent in some cases) so keeping them cool in the summer should be a focus. Giving them a shave early May helps as long as your nights are not too cold. Shade, cool water, misters etc all help. Even read some use Air Cons. I put the cage in coolest part of the yard and have openings on each side of hutch for air flow, that and a shave, with a few ice cubes in their water bottle (prefer this to frozen bottles as seems to last longer), works well. Just watch the heat. Heavier coat breeds need more attention like being put in a cold cellar over the hotter summer months.

 

[Baymule]

I had rabbits many years ago and lived along the Gulf coast where it was Texas hot and extremely humid-both bad for bunnies. I did not breed at all in the summer, kept them on a limited diet (not free feed) so they didn't get too fat when they didn't have kits, built the barn under trees and planned for maximum air flow. I gave them frozen water bottles to start with, but they chewed the bottles up. So I then froze ice in plastic tubs that I could pop out and re-use the tubs. I put the ice blocks in the cages and the rabbits laid up against the ice, nibbled on it and enjoyed the ice.

 

[happy acres]

I get it. So being in Alabama, where summers are both hot and humid, if I got angoras, I need to be sure they have access to ice, and possibly a fan as well?

 

[Pips]

Aye, just keep them cool in some form, whether Ice, AC, Cold Cellar during the hot hours etc...

 

[Hens and Roos]

you could also clip their fur short in the warmer months to help keep them cool unless you are planning to show.

 

[happy acres]

Not planning to show any at all, clipping would be perfect, since I want the hair for spinning.

 

[SweetBun]

We are in a hot area too but I was to afraid to keep ours outside with the 120 temp so we always just have them inside.

 

[happy acres]

Also, are all angoras small, or are there larger breeds? May have to use some as meaties, even though I'd rather just have them for fiber.

 

[Hens and Roos]

We raise French Angora and according to the rabbit standard-sr bucks ideal weight is 8.5 pounds and sr doe ideal weight is 8.5 pounds, they both can range 7.5 to 10.5 pounds.

They can be dual purpose but I think most of their energy goes into producing fiber so not sure how much meat there is