How to keep kits from falling out of hutch

[garden lady]

I took the babies out for their pictures and petting today. I have a way of blocking the mother from getting in my way. When I open the back of the box right now the babies are in the nest. I reach in and get them and put in a box and take in the house. Today, they have little slits opening in their eyes. They hop, jump and bounce, I cover them with the towel and carry them back to the hutch. I put the first one back in the nest and BONG bounces out of the nest and I have another in my hand, so have to grab the first and the second BONG bounces out. I finally get all 5 in and shut the door. I can see in a few days I am in trouble. It will be if I open the back door I will not know if they are close to the door and could fall out and then also not staying in the nest when I put them back. I can see that also later when they are bigger I will have 5 plus mama at the door begging for food. How do you keep them in and not fall out? Are your hutches with the babies down lower than mine? In the front is a nest box that she has turned into a litter box. Should I move them later to this when they are moving around more, would she mind? Picture of the door that I am talking about opening.

 

[OneAcreFarm]

Is this the back of the hutch? What about cutting the doors in half side to side? Like those doors that have a top and bottom that can be opened separately? Then, only open the top when you are putting in, taking out kits?

 

[Demamma]

OAF has a good idea. When I first read your subject first thing I thought of was crazy glue. :lol:

 

[garden lady]

Is this the back of the hutch? What about cutting the doors in half side to side? Like those doors that have a top and bottom that can be opened separately? Then, only open the top when you are putting in, taking out kits?

Yes the back. We made it for the adults to sleep/hide, and we were not planning on babies. When we realized they might be pregnant we put nest boxes in the front part. I will tell my husband about cutting the door in half. Not sure even half that tall will be tall enough.<br /><br />__________ Wed Sep 26, 2012 2:33 pm __________<br /><br />

OAF has a good idea. When I first read your subject first thing I thought of was crazy glue. :lol:

:lol:

 

[skysthelimit]

Good idea. I started cutting all of kit cages with the front wire at 6 inches high, to keep kits from falling out when I open the door, which happens a lot in the stacker cages.

 

[a7736100]

Attach a horizontal strip of hardware cloth or chicken wire inside across the lower part of the door openning. When you open the door they will still be behind the wire.

 

[garden lady]

Attach a horizontal strip of hardware cloth or chicken wire inside across the lower part of the door openning. When you open the door they will still be behind the wire.

I like this idea. I think this would work across the front door too. It will be hard to hold back all 5 and the mother when I change water and feed them. I really have not seen any posts about this and with litters of 8 and 12, how do you keep them back from the door?

 

[arachyd]

On most of my hutches the doorway opening is wire to 5" up from the bottom with a wooden strip across it at the 5" mark. The door is hinged on this wooden strip so the door opens from the top and swings downward. The 5" high wire is a barrier to anything bigger than a bunny berry falling out accidentally.

 

[garden lady]

On most of my hutches the doorway opening is wire to 5" up from the bottom with a wooden strip across it at the 5" mark. The door is hinged on this wooden strip so the door opens from the top and swings downward. The 5" high wire is a barrier to anything bigger than a bunny berry falling out accidentally.

I think my husband can change the door without much problem. This will work for up to what age?