Kits coming out of the nestbox already!?!?!

[ek.blair]

So my first litter is now 12 days old today. Yesterday during my morning chores with the buns I noticed that two had escaped the nestbox and were hudled next to it, so I out them back in. Last night when checking on everybunny when I got home from work there were two out again, so back into the nest box they went. Later that evening when turing off the light non were out. Now, they are JUST starting to open their eyes, infact only the chestnuts in this litter seem to be and the black ones have not started opening them at all yet. This morning there were three out hudled up next to the box again. I know that people have said that putting a brick or something in front of the box will help them get back in, but I am not sure I want them out quite yet. I haven't changed any of the straw out in the nest box yet as everytime I have pulled the kits out and flet around in the next box it has not been wet or had any poop in it. It's been very clean. Could I pull out as much clean hair as I can and put just a little of the shreded paper in the bottom of the nest box with the clean hair on top so they can't get out the front till they are a little bigger? Or should I not be concerned that they are trying to venture out already? They seem to be very appreciative when I put them back in the box and snuggle down imediately with their litter mates.

 

[OneAcreFarm]

So my first litter is now 12 days old today. Yesterday during my morning chores with the buns I noticed that two had escaped the nestbox and were hudled next to it, so I out them back in. Last night when checking on everybunny when I got home from work there were two out again, so back into the nest box they went. Later that evening when turing off the light non were out. Now, they are JUST starting to open their eyes, infact only the chestnuts in this litter seem to be and the black ones have not started opening them at all yet. This morning there were three out hudled up next to the box again. I know that people have said that putting a brick or something in front of the box will help them get back in, but I am not sure I want them out quite yet. I haven't changed any of the straw out in the nest box yet as everytime I have pulled the kits out and flet around in the next box it has not been wet or had any poop in it. It's been very clean. Could I pull out as much clean hair as I can and put just a little of the shreded paper in the bottom of the nest box with the clean hair on top so they can't get out the front till they are a little bigger? Or should I not be concerned that they are trying to venture out already? They seem to be very appreciative when I put them back in the box and snuggle down imediately with their litter mates.

I usually remove the box anyway at 14 days....normally I clean it out around day 7 and replace the hay with clean hay. By the time they are fully furred, they don't need the doe's fur anymore.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Could I pull out as much clean hair as I can and put just a little of the shredded paper in the bottom of the nest box with the clean hair on top so they can't get out the front till they are a little bigger?

I wouldn't count on that to keep them in- they are able to jump a surprising height even when tiny. You might instead put an additional bedded area in the cage for them.

I like to use cat litter jugs zip-tied to the cage wire (so they can't get flipped) to provide a sheltered area off of the wire for kits to huddle in for warmth and hide in if they want to.

 

[ek.blair]

I usually remove the box anyway at 14 days....normally I clean it out around day 7 and replace the hay with clean hay. By the time they are fully furred, they don't need the doe's fur anymore.

So even though all of them don't have their eyes open yet it would be ok to just put some straw in one of the corners, or a container like MamaSheepdog, and pull the nest box completely?

 

[MamaSheepdog]

What's your weather like there, EK? OAF is in Texas where the climate is pretty mild.

The fact that their eyes aren't open wouldn't keep them from finding their littermates- they will "follow their nose" at this point.

That said, most kits open their eyes earlier than that. You might want to moisten a cloth with warm water (or use a tea bag) and press it gently over their eyes to loosen any tissue that is keeping them shut. Don't try to pry their lids open though, let them open on their own.

 

[ek.blair]

Well, the weather has been relatively warm (high 60's) for this time of year for the last month, but it dipped down again the last couple of days. We just had some snow fairly low down on the mountains The forcast is for lows of mid 30's and highs of upper 50's for the next week. I have a thermometer in the bunny shed and it has been staying around 40-45 in there. I might try the warm cloth on the eyes tonight. I thought they should have been starting to open and like I said earlier I have notices that the 4 little chestnut colored ones have been opening up a bit, but maybe it's just harder to see on the blacks?

 

[MamaSheepdog]

With lows in the 30s I wouldn't pull the box, at least not without providing other shelter.

 

[ek.blair]

Ok, I think I will clean out the nestbox and add just fresh hay, and use the warm water/tea bags on some of their eyes and place something in front of the nestbox for them to use to get back in. Thanks!

 

[MaggieJ]

I don't understand your objection to the brick. It doesn't help them get out of the box, just helps them to be able to get back in so they don't get chilled.

 

[ek.blair]

I don't understand your objection to the brick. It doesn't help them get out of the box, just helps them to be able to get back in so they don't get chilled.

I don't have one really, other than that I don't have any bricks lying around so I will have to come up with something else... :? Also the bottom of our cages aren't super steady and when mama bunny moves around the nestbox bounces a little and I think it might move the brick around a bit so I will have to find something that I can attach to the front of the nestbox.

 

[skysthelimit]

Your kits are so ambitious. Mine were born 4/28, and I have seen barely hide nor hare

 

[ek.blair]

Your kits are so ambitious. Mine were born 4/28, and I have seen barely hide nor hare

I GUESS!! This is my first litter so I wasn't really sure what to expect but it seemed a wee bit early to me! :shock:

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I don't have any bricks lying around so I will have to come up with something else... :?

Any chunks of 4" x 4" posts? Or even a couple of short lengths of 2" x 4" that you could sandwich together?

 

[ek.blair]

I don't have any bricks lying around so I will have to come up with something else... :?

Any chunks of 4" x 4" posts? Or even a couple of short lengths of 2" x 4" that you could sandwich together?

That's what I was thinking... I will get my husband on it tonight :mrgreen: <br /><br /> -- Thu May 22, 2014 6:26 am -- <br /><br /> ok... well, even after adding a step for them ALL 9 kits were outside the nestbox this morning :shock: I guess it's just time to pull the nestbox and I will give them some straw in the corner to hudle on. I think it just might be getting kind of tight quarters in the nest box for when Mama bunny goes in to feed them. And the weather doesn't seem like it's going to get as chilly as they were calling for so they should be ok

 

[MamaSheepdog]

ok... well, even after adding a step for them ALL 9 kits were outside the nestbox this morning :shock:

Better all nine than just a couple! :lol: At least they can keep each other warm that way.

Is there a shelf or raised area where the doe can get away from the kits? The mamas tend to get a little irritated with the kits when they first come out because they will mob her constantly to nurse.

If not, you might want to tip the nestbox on its side so she can hop up on that to escape the ravening horde.

 

[ek.blair]

Is there a shelf or raised area where the doe can get away from the kits?

No there isn't so I guess I will leave the nest box in there for a bit so she can get on top of it still, or just build her a shelf... or find a bucket to hang... hmmm...

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Don't worry too much about it- the majority of rabbits are raised in cages with no "accessories", and they don't go on homicidal killing sprees. (Well, filicidal, to be accurate :roll: )

If you can't get anything set up for her, she will adjust to them in a day or two. If she seems to mind them at all, that is.

 

[ek.blair]

If you can't get anything set up for her, she will adjust to them in a day or two. If she seems to mind them at all, that is.

This morning she didn't seem to have a problem with them, but then again they were all in a pile and not "bothering" her either! :lol:

Last night i watched one crawl out of the box and over to her and nurse, and she licked it and was generally being a good mama

 

[mystang89]

I normally just turn the nesting box on it's side so they can get in and out when they want and the doe can hop on top when they start to annoy her.

 

[ek.blair]

I normally just turn the nesting box on it's side so they can get in and out when they want and the doe can hop on top when they start to annoy her.

Do you find that the kits make a huge mess on the side of the nestbox? I have 1/4" wire on the bottom so the "waste" can fall through, but if it's on the side it would just collect