First babies--questions related to nest box.

[Brass]

I've got my first rabbit due to kindle at the end of the month. She's one of my first rabbits, first litter, etc. She was bred a couple days before I bought her so I don't even know TECHNICALLY if she's 'bred.'

I will do a search on how to palpate…

I need to buy or make a nest box for her. She looks pretty big and I can try to measure her, but she gets upset when I reach into her cage with anything other than my hand (like a cup to fill her water dish or whatever). She's a polite but cranky doe so far. I get it. I'm cranky when pregnant too! LOL! So what size should I be getting? Can I just get the biggest that will fit in the cage, or is there a 'too big' option as well?

She's a Palomino Doe… and my cages from a cage supply company STILL AREN'T IN so she's still in a 24x24 TSC cage. She has a poop corner at the back left and her food supplies are at the front right. So can I put the box in the back right with the "opening" to the left?

I can give her hay to line it entirely or should I put something in the bottom? I have the pine pellets that I use in their trays or some paper litter bedding my husband picked up for their transportation boxes.

Thanks!

 

[MamaSheepdog]

So what size should I be getting?

She should have about an inch or two clearance front to back and side to side.

is there a 'too big' option as well?

Yes. Some does will become "nestbox loungers" and lay in it if it is too roomy, or they will decide to use it as a litter box.

I can give her hay to line it entirely or should I put something in the bottom? I have the pine pellets that I use in their trays or some paper litter bedding my husband picked up for their transportation boxes.

I would use the shredded paper on the bottom and then stuff it with hay. I like to put hay elsewhere in the cage for them to gather as well, just because it is fun to watch.

You will want to do a nestbox check shortly after she kindles to remove any uneaten placentas, stillborn kits, and wet or soiled bedding. At that point I like to add a handful of pine pellets to the "nest hollow" covered with some bedding and pulled fur.

I find that this keeps the nest dry (kits pee a LOT!) and I rarely need to change out the bedding in a nest like so many people do... many of our members make it a practice to freshen the bedding at around the nine day mark in the hope of preventing "nestbox eye", but I find that unnecessary in most cases because of the absorbency of the pellets.

She's a polite but cranky doe so far. I get it. I'm cranky when pregnant too! LOL!

:lol: Well, at least you can relate!

Good luck with the litter! :clover:

 

[Dood]

With such a small cage I highly recommend you hook a nest box over the door opening like this ....

 

[Brass]

With such a small cage I highly recommend you hook a nest box over the door opening like this ....

THIS IS GENIUS.

I could zip tie the cage door open (flips up and in) and then clip that on the door? Do you have plans as to how to build that? I could remove it to feed/water the doe, correct, and VERY easy to check kits… Think she'll use this type of box?

I'm so very intrigued. <br /><br /> -- Wed Jun 04, 2014 2:31 pm -- <br /><br /> So I was thinking, I could get some sort of plastic box with clip on lid, cut a hole for her to enter and smooth the sides? And then add hangers or clips… It would be lighter weight than the wood for hanging purposes?

Provided I can find a box the right size….