Rabbit environment — heat sensitivity; water-bowl intake higher than bottle
The text below is reproduced verbatim from the first-hand source (Merck Veterinary Manual).
> Rabbits are sensitive to heat. Hot, humid weather, along with poorly ventilated hutches or transport in poorly ventilated vehicles, may lead to the death of many rabbits, particularly pregnant does. Affected rabbits stretch out and breathe rapidly. Hutches should be constructed so that they can be sprinkled in hot, humid weather. Free access to cool water should be provided. When the environment can be controlled, optimal conditions are a temperature of 50°–70°F (15.5°–21°C) and a relative humidity of 40%–60%, with 10–20 air changes/hour. > A rabbit drinking readily from a water bowl. Research has shown that the water consumption is significantly higher with this method than if water is only offered through a cage bottle.
Source: pdf-raw/exotic-toxicology/rabbit.txt (first-hand professional veterinary reference, tag-stripped).
Claims (verified C1 substrings of source_file)
Rabbits are sensitive to heat. Hot, humid weather, along with poorly ventilated hutches or transport in poorly ventilated vehicles, may lead to the death of many rabbits, particularly pregnant does. Affected rabbits stretch out and breathe rapidly. Hutches should be constructed so that they can be sprinkled in hot, humid weather. Free access to cool water should be provided. When the environment can be controlled, optimal conditions are a temperature of 50°–70°F (15.5°–21°C) and a relative humidity of 40%–60%, with 10–20 air changes/hour.A rabbit drinking readily from a water bowl. Research has shown that the water consumption is significantly higher with this method than if water is only offered through a cage bottle.