rabbit lighting

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I've checked through the archives and can't find the answer for how much light rabbits need. Sounds like lots of folks hang the cages in the hen house or barn, but do you guys also provide lighting? OUr barn or shed would only provide indirect lighting and I'm wondering if they would suffer from some vitamin deficiency by not getting direct sunlight. Thanks.

-- glynnis in KY (gabbycab@msn.com), October 09, 2000

Answers

hello Glynnis,

I raised rabbits for 3 years in my garage with no direct sunlight and they did fine. There was a fiberglass door and one small window.

In the winter for breeding purposes I left a light on untill about 10pm. Other then that I did not supply any extra light.

My litters were healthy, my does breed regurlarly and I did well when showing them. I raised statins so fur and meat were what they were judged on.

As long as your feeding them a ballenced feed and they are getting salt I would not say that you need more then the indirect lighting.

Suzanne

-- Suzanne Wilson (mtsuz@hotmail.com), October 09, 2000.

My rabbits are all in "hanging" hutches and most of them can see out of the barn...it keeps them from being bored but I don't know if light is a requirement or not. Sometimes I find them just sitting there gazing out across the pasture...and I wish I knew what they were thinking!

-- Suzy in 'Bama (slgt@yahoo.com), October 10, 2000.

Light isn't a major requirement for rabbits. Wild ones are usually more active starting at dusk and into the night than during the day (though I have seen them out during the day, but it seems like it's usually babies), so presumably don't get a lot of sun. I think they get the vitamins they need from their food. Most animals don't need sunshine, as we do, to make vitamin D.

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), October 10, 2000.

Sounds like my plans will work, then. Thanks for all the help.

-- glynnis in KY (gabbycab@msn.com), October 10, 2000.

I have been raising rabbits for many years. Some Commercial and also show rabbits. If you want your rabbits to breed then you must have light in your barn. Recomend about 16 hours a day. Also I do not think they are that happy in total darkness all of the time.

-- Gary Giles (ggiles@north.nsis.com), October 14, 2000.

-- (squeegeewee@yahoo.com), July 14, 2001