You can have difficulties sleeping if your bunny is hyperactive. When all you want to do is get some much-needed shuteye, they could start rattling the bars and even jumping about. Hearing your rabbit rumble in their cage might be irritating.
So, you may be wondering if you should cover your bunny’s cage at night?
Yes, you should cover your rabbit’s cage at night. Even if you have an indoor rabbit that is safe from outside risks, covering your rabbit’s cage might be a smart idea. If you cover your little bunny’s cage, you’ll offer them an added sense of security. It can help keep them warm in the winter.
Many people cover their rabbit’s cage just to keep their pet from seeing everything in the room. They won’t be alarmed if they notice activity, whether it’s from you or another pet.
In this article, we will inform you all about covering your bunny’s cage. So, keep reading!
Do Rabbits Need To Be Covered At Night?
Yes, rabbits need to be covered at night Some rabbits are so sensitive that being quiet in the dark is difficult for them. An extra layer of protection, such as a towel or blanket draped over their cage, can help.
The easiest technique to ensure that your rabbit can relax at night is to cover the cage. They’ll find it simpler to relax when there’s nothing else to do except sleep.
You should cover your bunny’s cage at night for the following reasons:
1. Safe
If you have an anxious or frightened bunny, it’s understandable that you’d want to make them feel as comfortable as possible. One method to do so is to create a cosy environment for them.
Covering the rabbit’s cage at night helps make them feel better. Make sure they have a dark place to hide all of the time.
2. Warm
Rabbits don’t enjoy it when it gets too hot. If you’re worried about your rabbit becoming chilly, you may cover the cage at night. You may also cover the cage with hay.
Our rabbit can curl up inside if they choose.
It’s tough to detect whether your rabbit is chilly if you don’t know what to look for. Because wild rabbits can survive in sub-zero temperatures, it would have to be quite cold for your bun to succumb.
Do Rabbit Hutches Need Covering At Night?
Yes, rabbit hutches should be covered at night. Keeping outside rabbits safe in the cold at night should remain a top priority. If your rabbits spend most of their time outside and you haven’t taken efforts to shield them from the harsh consequences, they may suffer.
Covering the hutch with a tarpaulin will assist to keep the heat in during really cold weather. Keep the front of the hutch exposed during the day for ventilation.
It’s acceptable to cover most of the hutch at night. However, a small part should remain exposed for ventilation.
Make sure your rabbit has enough bedding to cuddle in. For more insulation, a layer of newspaper can be placed below.
Should I Cover My Rabbits Hutch At Night?
It’s a good idea to keep your rabbit’s hutch covered at night because:
1. Protection
At night, wild predators prowl while other pets seek shelter inside. If you have a bunny, keep in mind that they will roam your home at night. They’ll terrify a rabbit. Therefore, cover your rabbit’s hutch to provide them with a sense of protection.
2. Curiosity
Rabbits are naturally curious creatures. They’ll want to explore if something is going on outside their hutch. They’ll nap through activities and enjoy a nice night’s sleep if you cover their hutch.
3. Schedule
If you let your rabbit sleep outside, they should have a normal day and night cycle. However, light pollution in cities might cause a rabbit to become confused.
An outdoor rabbit’s hutch can be covered to give additional weather protection. Bunnies are vulnerable to strong winds, torrential rain and thunder.
Do Bunnies Need Darkness To Sleep?
No, rabbits don’t require darkness to sleep since they sleep from mid-morning until early evening. The energy levels of a rabbit will determine their sleep schedule. They’ll flop down and fall asleep if they’re tired.
Despite this, rabbits require a healthy mix of darkness and light. Rabbits moult and develop fur to keep warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Even tamed rabbits, after all, are motivated by instinct. A rabbit will sleep in the wild by crawling into a dark warren. Pet bunnies want for the same thing.
Whether your rabbit sleeps indoors or outside, make sure they have their own sleeping quarters. A cardboard box placed in their hutch will suffice. Fill this box with hay to give your pet a sense of security.
You should give this dark place even if your rabbit does not sleep in their hutch at night. Rabbits are light sleepers. Any change in lighting will wake them up. Clear a drawer or put a box on the floor for them to sleep in.
Why Should I Not Cover My Rabbit’s Cage At Night?
You should not cover your rabbit’s cage at night due to the following reasons:
1. Anger
Rabbits have a tendency to assert ownership of anything they view. Your rabbit will not appreciate having their vision of their area obstructed by a blanket from a safety standpoint.
They can’t see any new rabbits encroaching on their territory, and they can’t see any predators either. In essence, you are obstructing their vision. This may make them enraged.
2. Respiratory Problems
Covering your bunny’s cage may prevent them from getting enough oxygen. If you have a large pen, this isn’t a major concern. However, if your rabbit’s area isn’t ideal, you’re putting their sensitive respiratory system at risk.
This is particularly critical if the hay you receive is dusty. Covering the cage with a blanket at night might hurt their respiratory systems. This is because it reduces the quantity of air movement.
To begin with, rabbits’ respiratory systems are sensitive. This might aggravate the situation.
Placing a blanket over the cage is unlikely to cause any substantial problems. However, it isn’t going to aid your rabbit in any manner.
If your rabbits are kept in a big cage or pen, they are less prone to develop respiratory issues. However, covering the enclosure is pointless.
You should avoid covering the cage with a blanket if you want to keep your rabbits secure. It does not bring the same level of comfort to your bunnies as you may believe. You don’t want to unintentionally contribute to future health issues like respiratory troubles.
3. Dark
The tapetum lucidum is a layer of tissue in the eye of some mammals that helps them see in the dark. Many animals have the ability to see in the dark. However, rabbits are not one of them.
If you cover the cage with a blanket at night, the rabbits will be unable to see properly. Apart from a small amount of ambient light from other sources, it should be black at night. This makes it much more difficult for your rabbit to traverse the cage.
If your rabbit can’t see or move around in its cage, it will become more agitated. Rabbits don’t necessary require complete darkness to sleep. So, by covering the cage in this manner, you aren’t actually doing your bunnies any favours.
A few rabbit owners have even claimed that their rabbits are scared of the dark. In this case, it could be better to leave your bunnies with a modest light on. This is the polar opposite of covering the rabbit cage with a blanket at night.
What Can I Use To Cover A Rabbit Cage?
To provide warmth, comfort, and prevent your rabbits from developing pressure sores on their feet, the floor of the rabbit cage should be covered with newspaper. A layer of bedding material should be placed on top of the newspaper. This is to allow natural digging behavior.
When the floor and bedding material become filthy, they should be changed. Every week or as needed, the hutch should be properly cleaned.
Please make sure that the place where the rabbits are housed does not get too hot, as rabbits are susceptible to heat stress. To avoid overheating, make sure your rabbits’ enclosure is well-ventilated and has enough shade.
At either end of the hutch, an entry and exit hole should be drilled to let air to flow. Hutches must be well ventilated.
How To Make A Rabbit Hutch Cover?
Hutch covers can be costly to purchase. However, you can easily construct your own rabbit hutch to get the same results. The simplest coverings are simply thrown over the hutch and secured with a couple of bricks on top.
A tarp may be used as a rain cover. Old rugs, blankets, duvet covers, or bubble wrap can be used as insulation for warmth. It’s critical that insulating items, such as blankets, remain dry. However, they won’t work if they’re wet.
It is possible to produce a neater, more fitting solution by using:
- Duct tape
- Foil backed bubble wrap
The foil-backed insulation comes in rolls that are 60cm (2’) broad and 7.5m long. This means that one roll will cover a conventional 6’x2’ hutch with room to spare.
If you need to overlap it for taller or wider hutches, make sure the top portion is higher than the bottom one. This is so the water falls down the exterior rather than between the joints.
Cut the insulation into panels to fit the back, sides, and top of the hutch with scissors. Then use duct tape to connect the parts.
To secure the cover to the hutch, thread reusable cable ties or small strands of rope around the hutch legs. Before cutting a hole in the insulation for the tie, apply a strip of duct tape on both sides to strengthen it and prevent it from ripping.
You may use another sheet of insulation for the front of the hutch. However, only tape it at the top so you can easily raise it up to access the hutch doors. You may also put a piece of clear plastic over the mesh to allow your bunnies to look through.
You’ll need a ventilation gap for free air. Also, do not cover the entire hutch.
Do Rabbits Like Blankets Over Their Cage?
Yes, rabbits like blankets over their cage. Bunnies typically like to sleep with their backs to a blanket. You may have observed that your rabbit likes to hide in the tiniest, coziest spots possible.
They like cardboard boxes, little tunnels that look like natural burrows, and anything else that makes them feel protected.
Because it is a rabbit’s natural desire to hide from predators in a small nest, rabbits like miniature dwellings or cardboard boxes. Adding a blanket to the mix might help your rabbit feel more at ease.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I Put A Blanket Over My Bunnies Cage At Night?
What Do Rabbits Do In Evening?
Do Rabbits Sleep With Their Eyes Closed?
Final Words
If you’re still debating whether or not to cover a rabbit cage at night, it’s a personal preference. However, it frequently works well to keep them peaceful. We recommend covering the cage for outdoor bunnies so you know your pet is safe from the elements.
Rabbits want to sleep in a safe environment, although they are highly sensitive creatures. If you want to cover your rabbit’s cage, make sure they have enough air and a way to look outside. They can worry or possibly develop breathing difficulties if they don’t.
The most essential thing to remember if your bunny makes a lot of noise in their cage is to be calm. Your pet is most likely seeking your attention. Take it as a compliment and make sure you spend enough time with your rabbit during the day.
Drop down your doubts and queries regarding your bunny friend in the comment section below. We will answer them soon!
