Contemplating moving due doe to new cage?

[shumes]

I recently posted a thread about one of my does having had her 1st litter on the wire (lost all of them). It was her first litter so I didn't think too much of it. She is now carrying her second litter and they are due this Friday. This is my favorite little doe (chestnut agouti Lionhead) bred to my favorite little buck (black banded Dwarf Hotot) and I reallllllly don't want to lose another litter. At the same time I don't want bad mamas who I have to give unnecessary TLC to in order for them to carry a litter.

Her mom is one of our best breeders and I'm hoping (and guessing) her 1st litter was a fluke. She did try making them a nest on the wire so that shows she has instinct. I think she was just confused. As we get closer to the due date I have considered moving her to a solid bottom cage in hopes that if she doesn't have them in the nest box at least we won't lose the babies. Should I try this out or leave her be in her wire cage?

Thank guys

 

[Secuono]

No, latest you should move them is a full 7 days. Many does loose their first litter in one way or another, they just don't understand what is going on. By the second time, they usually get it, but some will loose them until the 3rd try. But if they loose that litter, you need to loose the doe from your herd altogether.

 

[jessie15273]

I would leave her in the same pen, i wouldnt want her to get stressed out. can you put cardboard down? That would keep it warm for a few days, and not cause any problems if she chews it.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

You could move her if she is an easygoing doe- or better yet, just line the cage with cardboard or a towel just in case she doesn't use the nest again.

I recently had a doe give birth to her second litter on the wire even though there was a nestbox in there. She wanted to build her nest by the door, which swings in so I couldn't move the box to her chosen location. She had four kits, and all were ice cold when found, but I was able to revive one of them. I fostered some kits from another litter to her, and they are well fed. I may give her one more chance if I have room for her, but I have other does that kindle without issue, and young does that are promising, so she will probably be culled.

I don't have time to be playing nursemaid and midwife to my rabbits- I'll give them a couple of chances, but if they don't figure it out they have to go. I expect my herd to "breed like rabbits", and if they don't live up to that reputation they can't stay and take up cage space.

 

[curlysue]

I dont like too move them that late either.sometimes i line the floor with old wood paneling.

 

[AnnClaire]

Brown paper grocery sacks make a good floor liner too. I use that in the winter and spread hay all over it, leaving an opening in the potty corner.

 

[shumes]

Thanks for the help guys! I decided it would be best to leave her be. Though she is a calm rabbit she is a new mom and I wouldn't want to stress her out. She has been moving some of her straw around (and taste testing ) and has been more comfortable with the nest box this time around. Tomorrow evening I am going to line her cage just in case.

On another note, my black NZ cross doe is due on Friday as well. She is a psycho rabbit thanks to a past owner (didn't know much about rabbits and handled them very badly). The morning after I gave her the nestbox she already created a nest and pulled hair. Now she is laying in front of it looking quite pleased with herself

 

[ladysown]

i'd have no issues moving her, but my rabbits are quite used to be moved around from place to place.

A good stop gap is to put hay everywhere on the floor. She can make a nest wherever she chooses.