What I need to get started???

[JakeM]

Well, the barn mine are in cools down due to the concrete floor and open windows. Also, I have a small industrial fan that I turn on. Before it was just to dry the moisture up on the super humid days, but it really cooled the place down so it stayed. Also, freeze water-filled water bottles and put them in with the rabbits when it starts to get too warm out. They will lay against it keeping them cool. Shade is a big one too.

As for winter, they do better in it, but I've had issues with keeping them warm before (here in Minnesota at least), so I found that using clementine boxes work wonders. It somehow traps heat in them and keeps the rabbit off the wire. If it turn too terrible (-30, a blizzard is coming or worse) I move them into our heated garage where they sit until mid February.

 

[SA Farm]

Well, the barn mine are in cools down due to the concrete floor and open windows. Also, I have a small industrial fan that I turn on. Before it was just to dry the moisture up on the super humid days, but it really cooled the place down so it stayed. Also, freeze water-filled water bottles and put them in with the rabbits when it starts to get too warm out. They will lay against it keeping them cool. Shade is a big one too.

As for winter, they do better in it, but I've had issues with keeping them warm before (here in Minnesota at least), so I found that using clementine boxes work wonders. It somehow traps heat in them and keeps the rabbit off the wire. If it turn too terrible (-30, a blizzard is coming or worse) I move them into our heated garage where they sit until mid February.

x2 Frozen water bottles (or pvc pipe to prevent chewing) works great in summer, we have insulated hutches for winter here.

 

[TylerWaugh]

What do you do to keep water from freezing in winter?

 

[SA Farm]

A friend of mine has heated water bottles. I just use crocks (hard plastic) for water in the winter and fill twice a day.

 

[JakeM]

I use crocks as well, and PVC pipe lids work wonders. I've used them for years and since they are virtually indestructible (broke my first one last year and got super sad as it was a big lid) you can smack them until they are free of ice. I wish I could just have the bunnies in a temperature controlled building.

 

[Citylife]

Heat is a rabbit killer Tyler. Anything over 85 degrees can cause issues. I am in Kansas City and I have my rabbits in hanging cages in an insulated building. For the really hot days I have a small a/c unit in there. I have never needed to use any kind of heat source. I have friends in Indiana who have had to pack straw around outside hutches in blizzards and that makes sense. The need to be protected from drafts in the winter. I do have a couple quarantine hutches outside and I will give them frozen 2 liter bottles a couple times a day if need be. Give them cold water at least morning and night. Warm water in the winter at least morning and night. They do learn when to drink.
I raise two rare breed Meat rabbits and breed all year round. My Does are in 36"x36" cages and have room. They stay nice and fit and are not over fed. Over feeding will slow them down from getting back into condition. I have some rabbits that are bred back when their litters are 4 weeks old! Those are a Texas A&M line that are bred for heavy production and have been for the last 20 some years. Just remember, a fat rabbit is an unproductive rabbit. "Storey's Guide to raising meat rabbits" is a nice rabbit bible to have on hand.
Good luck with your rabbit raising!