doe soiling nest box

[cottontail]

My 1st time Californian had a litter of 9 and is soiling the nest box. I clean it 2 X per day now she is peeing in it. How do I teach her not to do it in there? They are only 1 week old. I am worried for them.

 

[MaggieJ]

Did you perhaps put the nestbox over her chosen potty corner? This is a common mistake leading to this behaviour. If so, transfer the kits to a different nest box (so no urine odours remain) and put it in a different spot in the cage.

If this it not the case, the problem is more difficult. You are right to be concerned for the kits, as they can get chilled if wet. You could remove the nestbox at night and put it back in the daytime. That might help. You could also try giving her a litter box (a dollar store plastic dishpan will do with some shavings or straw in it). If you add a bit of her urine (soak it up with a paper towel) then she may start using the dishpan instead.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Sometimes they will soil in the box if it is too large- she should only have a few inches of clearance when she is in the box.

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

I lost kits because of that. If she continues after you move it to the other corner. Then take out the box and put back in the morning wait a hour and take it back out and put it back in before you call it a night. Then take it back out. Do this for about 3 days and then leave the box in. She should stop.

 

[cottontail]

Thanks I will try removing the nest box and just leave it in there 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour at night. It is amazing that they grow so fast on just 2 feedings per day. I am learning so much.

 

[ladysown]

that's what I would do. Just remove it. OR remove her.

My son's rabbit, this past litter, did not want to leave the nestbox. She was bound and determined to sit in it (not so good for the kits). I put her on the grass for a day and that solved the problem.