Exterior nestboxes?

[Secuono]

Has anyone bought or made nestboxes that are hooked on to the outside?

I'd prefer that vs putting a box in & reducing space for 2-3wks.

They're usually hooked onto the door hole.

If you have, can you share pictures & links where you got them? Are there any places for cheap?
I'm thinking of buying wire mesh and making them, as that may be easiest.

 

[Secuono]

Found some possible baskets to modify for nestboxes. Would need tops & liners.

Two I can cut a side for mom to jump in to the side, pic altered to show it.
Other two would have to jump into center.

 

[ladysown]

I think it would depend on the size and weight of your does to ensure they are sturdy enough that they wouldn't break off and tumble doe and litter down to the ground.

Could you not just have larger cages that you transfer your does into while they need nestboxes and then put them back in their original cages when nestboxes are no longer needed?

 

[Secuono]

I think it would depend on the size and weight of your does to ensure they are sturdy enough that they wouldn't break off and tumble doe and litter down to the ground.

Could you not just have larger cages that you transfer your does into while they need nestboxes and then put them back in their original cages when nestboxes are no longer needed?

These aren't flimsy wire baskets, much thicker wire than rabbit cages are made of. And I'd be using dog leash clips to secure them, so they won't accidentally come off and can't be pulled off.

 

[Secuono]

Posted in wrong place before.

Made a prototype, lol, to see if I like how it'll work.
They'll walk in from one side to not squish babies. Used some cardboard to show rough top to it.

Still don't have the doe cages, so used this one to demo.

 

[Rabbits by Accident]

I would be more likely to cut a hole at the back or side of the cage and mount the nest box with a hinged top. You could either close it off when not in use, or make it removable with a door to seal the hole in the cage.

The last time I had rabbits (in Callaway, VA), I built hutches with exterior nest boxes at the back and really liked them.

For one thing, when the kits get older, you will have the possibility of one hopping out of the box while you have the door open and landing on the ground.

 

[Secuono]

Hinged top will be floor wire, basket lined in plastic, heavy clips to secure it.

 

[Rabbits by Accident]

Will the weight on the door make the door sag or the hinge fail? Just something to consider. I have very heavy cages (metal dog crates) and hanging their 1/2 gallon water jugs on the door makes some of them more difficult to open/close.

 

[Secuono]

Will the weight on the door make the door sag or the hinge fail? Just something to consider. I have very heavy cages (metal dog crates) and hanging their 1/2 gallon water jugs on the door makes some of them more difficult to open/close.

It's over the opening, not the door.
Adding an update in next post.

 

[Secuono]

Don't have an adult to test with, so I have to wait for one to grow up...
Need to buy n trim plastic for the basket & get clips.

 

[Rabbits by Accident]

Don't have an adult to test with, so I have to wait for one to grow up...
Need to buy n trim plastic for the basket & get clips.

Does this mean you have no access to the inside of the cage unless you take the basket off? Am I missing something? Do you have a second door? I would not like to be unable to access the interior of the cage. I handle my kits a lot it's the biggest perk of raising rabbits LOL. I must be missing something about this design. 'Splain please. Thanks!

 

[Secuono]

Does this mean you have no access to the inside of the cage unless you take the basket off? Am I missing something? Do you have a second door? I would not like to be unable to access the interior of the cage. I handle my kits a lot it's the biggest perk of raising rabbits LOL. I must be missing something about this design. 'Splain please. Thanks!

That's correct.
First 3wks or so, no access unless nest is removed or top is unclipped and flipped down.

I'm considering some kind of hook that's easy to attach to the nest and can allow it to hook onto the cage. But I haven't really seen any that would be easy to attach yet.
If I do find them, it would make it super easy to lift nest up and off vs fiddling with clips.

 

[Rabbits by Accident]

I'm interested to hear of your experience with this setup. I wouldn't like not being able to get into the cage. One of the things I love about my dog crate cages is the doors are huge and I can practically crawl inside if I need to.

Just in case you don't end up liking the set-up, you can easily patch any hole you cut in the side neatly and professional looking with a piece of metal flashing with some holes drilled around the edges so that you can wire it to the cage. I like a 'label' made of metal flashing attached to the cages to write info like bred date/kindle date, etc.

 

[Secuono]

Worked on the nests a bit more.

 

[Shea]

Worked on the nests a bit more.
View attachment 30954View attachment 30955View attachment 30956

Are you putting a latch/hook at the top to leave you a door?
Also you may need to cover the top of the nest box to block the view. A few of my does absolutely refuse to have a nest out in the open like that.

 

[Secuono]

Are you putting a latch/hook at the top to leave you a door?
Also you may need to cover the top of the nest box to block the view. A few of my does absolutely refuse to have a nest out in the open like that.

The silver wire? Yeah, gotta dig up some little bolt snaps for that.

I can toss something on top if any decide they prefer darker nests.

 

[Secuono]

Nest in action.
Could use a curve at the top for a bit more room, but otherwise working great!

 

[hotzcatz]

Good job thinking through the project. As well as sharing so the rest of us will be able to use your ideas with our own rabbits as well. I've found wire bottomed nest boxes stay nicer than solid bottomed ones when the kits are about two to three weeks old. A solid bottomed nest box can get pretty damp at that time and the wire bottomed ones work better.

Is the nest below the floor level so little ones can fall back in if they get out?

 

[ivybearfarms]

So, I really like your set up idea on this~! I have a 6 hole stacker cage - if I get exterior nest boxes I wouldn't have to move them.... Im also a little on the lazy side when it comes to nest boxes... I use 5 gallon plastic tubs with half of the lid cut off and a door cut part of the side down (this is for mini lops and it works great) - Zip tied to the side and bottom of a cage. Lined with cardboard. It works great if you ever have to shelve kits...

 

[user 8990]

These are such great ideas. I know that putting the nest box in the cage is barely working.