Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Heat Wave
Is there anything else on the mind of a rabbit breeder in the south and midwest today besides the current heat wave? Okay, I'm not talking to those of you who have A/C in your barn. In fact, I am working hard on this envy-thing I have going on right now. I hope to be over it by the time the next show rolls around! If the heat breaks as it should, there's a good chance I'll be cured of A/C envy by the weekend, at least temporarily.
I got out to the barn early to turn on the sprinkler stationed on top of the barn and to get the water flowing on a make-shift mister I attached to one of my fans. Also, I turned off the lights in the barn (every degree helps in heat like this). I decided to water first. I normally check every cage first, then feed, then water, then everything else. But water was on my mind.
I got a little bit of a shock by doing things in that order. In one cage, I found the water crock upside down. Now that's not unusual. But when I picked it up, out popped a three-week old kit! I don't know how long he'd been under there--perhaps all night. Had I checked cages as usual, I probably would have been looking all over the barn for that squirt.
After watering and feeding, I checked the temperature--almost 90 degrees and not yet 10:00 a.m. I went into the house and set the timer for one hour. I cancelled my appointments for the day, had breakfast, and then went to the neighborhood store for ice. I was hoping for blocks, but had to settle for crushed.
Just before 11:00 a.m., I checked the rabbits again and placed a bag of ice behind each fan. The temperature was just at 90 degrees in the barn.
In preparation for the heat, I brushed the fans very well, especially the vents to the motor. Now is not the time for reduced airflow or, worse, a malfunctioning fan. I also filled up empty plastic jugs and commercial size food cans with water and put them into the freezer. I did not do that soon enough, unfortunately, and they won't be frozen solid today. But they will be pleasant and will probably provide most of the relief the bunnies need.
The cans and jugs will go out when the temperature reaches 93 degrees in the barn. Since I'm checking hourly, I'll know when to take them. I don't want to take them too soon so that they melt before the hottest part of the day.
I will also go down the rows and wet the ears of any rabbit that looks like an old car running with a very rough idle. You know the look--like they are wiggling their noses so hard it shakes their whole bodies.
If I feel like I'm losing the battle, I will put the chosen ones in to carriers and bring them in the house. I don't want to do that if I can help it because they would then have to re-acclimate to hot weather again in a few days. Plus they just don't have much room in a carrier. But better scrunched than dead.
As you can tell, I'm not taking this weather lightly. After losing one of my favorite bunnies last week, I'm not inclined to lose any more without a fight.
I hope all of you win the battle of the heat, too.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
"Hollland Lops of Distinction"
www.thenaturetrail.com/
www.thenaturetrail.com/blog/BLOG ¶ 9:54 AM
I got out to the barn early to turn on the sprinkler stationed on top of the barn and to get the water flowing on a make-shift mister I attached to one of my fans. Also, I turned off the lights in the barn (every degree helps in heat like this). I decided to water first. I normally check every cage first, then feed, then water, then everything else. But water was on my mind.
I got a little bit of a shock by doing things in that order. In one cage, I found the water crock upside down. Now that's not unusual. But when I picked it up, out popped a three-week old kit! I don't know how long he'd been under there--perhaps all night. Had I checked cages as usual, I probably would have been looking all over the barn for that squirt.
After watering and feeding, I checked the temperature--almost 90 degrees and not yet 10:00 a.m. I went into the house and set the timer for one hour. I cancelled my appointments for the day, had breakfast, and then went to the neighborhood store for ice. I was hoping for blocks, but had to settle for crushed.
Just before 11:00 a.m., I checked the rabbits again and placed a bag of ice behind each fan. The temperature was just at 90 degrees in the barn.
In preparation for the heat, I brushed the fans very well, especially the vents to the motor. Now is not the time for reduced airflow or, worse, a malfunctioning fan. I also filled up empty plastic jugs and commercial size food cans with water and put them into the freezer. I did not do that soon enough, unfortunately, and they won't be frozen solid today. But they will be pleasant and will probably provide most of the relief the bunnies need.
The cans and jugs will go out when the temperature reaches 93 degrees in the barn. Since I'm checking hourly, I'll know when to take them. I don't want to take them too soon so that they melt before the hottest part of the day.
I will also go down the rows and wet the ears of any rabbit that looks like an old car running with a very rough idle. You know the look--like they are wiggling their noses so hard it shakes their whole bodies.
If I feel like I'm losing the battle, I will put the chosen ones in to carriers and bring them in the house. I don't want to do that if I can help it because they would then have to re-acclimate to hot weather again in a few days. Plus they just don't have much room in a carrier. But better scrunched than dead.
As you can tell, I'm not taking this weather lightly. After losing one of my favorite bunnies last week, I'm not inclined to lose any more without a fight.
I hope all of you win the battle of the heat, too.
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
"Hollland Lops of Distinction"
www.thenaturetrail.com/
www.thenaturetrail.com/blog/BLOG ¶ 9:54 AM
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I love reading your Blog (and your site), it is very helpful even for a Netherland Dwarf breeder. Another way to keep bunnies cool in the summer heat is to buy ceramic tiles from Home Depot. These can go on the bottom of the cages and stay cool for a long time.
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