How to Keep Rabbits and Guinea Pigs Warm in Winter
A hutch-kept rabbit or guinea pig stays warm through a combination of things done together: thick, dry bedding, a sheltered spot out of the wind and rain, the company of another rabbit or guinea pig, and an owner who checks on them daily rather than assuming they’re fine because they’re used to being outside.
How cold is too cold for a hutch pet?
Wild rabbits and guinea pigs’ ancestors burrow underground in winter, which a hutch can’t replicate on its own. A pet that’s cold tends to sit hunched with its fur fluffed up, move less than usual, and feel cold to the touch at the ears or feet. Any of those is worth acting on the same day, not waiting to see if it passes.
The RWAF’s guidance on outdoor housing in cold weather is a good general reference here, and it makes the same point: it’s the combination of shelter, bedding and company that matters, not any one fix by itself.
Company matters as much as bedding
Rabbits kept in bonded pairs, and guinea pigs kept in same-sex pairs or small groups, huddle together for warmth on cold nights, on top of the everyday welfare benefit of not being on their own. This isn’t a decision to make on a whim during a cold snap, pairing needs proper introductions done carefully, but if your pets are already bonded, winter is one more reason to keep them together rather than separating them.
What actually keeps the hutch warm
A deep layer of dry bedding, hay especially, gives rabbits and guinea pigs something to burrow into, and a cardboard box with a hole cut in it makes a simple hideaway inside the hutch. A hutch cover (or the guinea pig version) blocks wind and rain from driving in through the mesh, and on the coldest nights a Cosy Pod pet warmer wrapped in a blanket gives extra warmth without the choking risk of loose bedding in the hutch itself. Position the hutch out of the prevailing wind, ideally against a house wall or in a sheltered corner, rather than out in the open.
When to bring pets indoors
During a hard frost or a prolonged freeze, moving the hutch into an unheated shed, garage or porch is safer than leaving it fully exposed, provided there’s still fresh air and no draught. Try to keep the change consistent rather than moving pets in and out night to night, since a sudden swing in temperature is its own risk. The PDSA’s advice on keeping guinea pigs warm in winter covers this in more detail and applies just as well to rabbits.
Newton’s last word on it
Check on your rabbits and guinea pigs daily through the cold months, top up the hay, and keep the routine steady. For the practical side of setting a hutch up for winter, our companion guide, Newton’s Top Tips for Toasty Pets, goes through bedding, water bottles and daily checks in more detail. And, PS: make sure they get plenty of cuddles too.
Updated 2026
