How to Keep My Outdoor Rabbits' Water Bottle Without Freezing

Winter weather makes it a challenge to keep water for your domesticated rabbit outside without it freezing. Water, like food, is important for your rabbit's survival; check it daily to ensure it does not freeze. Following a few simple methods may help prevent ice buildup in your rabbit's water bottle and keep the water flowing no matter how cold the temperature.

Things You'll Need

  • 2 rabbit water bottles
  • Padding or thick cloth
  • Heated water bottle
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Instructions

    • 1

      Fill the rabbit's water bottle with lukewarm water from inside the house, leaving approximately 1 inch of air space inside the water bottle. Water expands when it freezes; completely filling the water bottle in the winter could cause it to crack if the water freezes.

    • 2

      Wrap the outdoor rabbit's water bottle in padding or thick cloth. The padding or thick cloth serves as an insulator for the water bottle.

    • 3

      Keep a supply of extra water bottles for the rabbit inside the house. If a water bottle freezes outside, bring it into the house to thaw. Replace the frozen water bottle with a replacement water bottle.

    • 4

      Buy a heated water bottle to keep your rabbit's water thawed throughout the winter. Some heated water bottles are thermostatically controlled to heat only in extremely cold temperatures. Using a heated water bottle requires access to a power source and the bottle is usually refillable from the top.