Last crazy question for the day, maybe

[garden lady]

I have been taking the babies out each day and checking and I have a board where I lock Lulu out of the nest area so I can get them out and she has been fine. I go fast and get them back in and she goes to check them, but today since I had to clean the nest box out she heard us making noise and took awhile, so when went around to let her in she kind of jumped at me, breathing hard and thinks I am going to eat her and her babies. I had to go around and push the board from the other side to let her in and she saw them and calmed down. When will she quit acting like this? When they are coming out of the nest? Since they are so far from the front, would they be better off up in the nest box that is on the wire or would she really be upset? Picture is what my husband built, but she did not use. In the picture you see a hole and so they are back in there in the box on the back of the hutch. I think this would be neat for her to have to get up away from them, but it is taking up a bunch of room too. Keep it in or just get rid of it and let the babies stay in the back and come out when ready?<br /><br />__________ Thu Sep 27, 2012 8:13 pm __________<br /><br />I was talking to my husband about this and putting the babies up in the nest box in the picture. They will get daylight and hear and see things, but they are only a week old, should I worry about this yet. Since their eyes are open, then they are suppose to be 9 or 10 days, but they are pretty much just snuggled up together and I do not see them moving and doing anything much, so should I worry about water yet and would they be better off back there? I worry they will just get where they run back and hide in the hole. I have looked at a lot of the nest box pictures and none seem to be so hidden as mine are.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Soon enough they will venture out into the big wide world, and in the meantime your protective mama doe will be happiest with having them where they are.

 

[garden lady]

Soon enough they will venture out into the big wide world, and in the meantime your protective mama doe will be happiest with having them where they are.

Sounds good to me. Thank you!

 

[Miss M]

Those who raise them in colonies, in which they actually dig burrows for their babies, usually don't get to see the babies at all until they are leaving the nest. So they should be okay back there. They won't be back there much longer, anyway.

You can move a nest if it's built improperly or in a bad spot, but if it's okay where it is, it's fine to leave it there.

One advantage to a nest box is that it can be completely removed and taken elsewhere for inspection/playing. It may cause the doe less anxiety if she can't hear the babies than if she can. Be sure to carry appropriate bribing material, like raisins.

 

[ZRabbits]

Sounds like Lulu is being a very good Mom. I would think that that protectiveness will fade as the babies get older. Wait until those babies are 4 weeks old and very active. Lulu will then know her job is almost done and her anxiety will start to fade. She'll be looking for her own space from those active kits.

Karen

 

[garden lady]

Sounds like Lulu is being a very good Mom. I would think that that protectiveness will fade as the babies get older. Wait until those babies are 4 weeks old and very active. Lulu will then know her job is almost done and her anxiety will start to fade. She'll be looking for her own space from those active kits.

Karen

I sure hope so. They are 9 days old today, so they are not coming out, but by pictures I have seen at 3 weeks they would be causing her some trouble.

 

[ZRabbits]

Sounds like Lulu is being a very good Mom. I would think that that protectiveness will fade as the babies get older. Wait until those babies are 4 weeks old and very active. Lulu will then know her job is almost done and her anxiety will start to fade. She'll be looking for her own space from those active kits.

Karen

I sure hope so. They are 9 days old today, so they are not coming out, but by pictures I have seen at 3 weeks they would be causing her some trouble.

I've read that by two weeks they are starting to get curious of the outside world and will start venturing out of the nest box. By three weeks, watch out, they are raring to go, lol. Absolutely adorable at that age.

Karen

 

[garden lady]

Sounds like Lulu is being a very good Mom. I would think that that protectiveness will fade as the babies get older. Wait until those babies are 4 weeks old and very active. Lulu will then know her job is almost done and her anxiety will start to fade. She'll be looking for her own space from those active kits.

Karen

I sure hope so. They are 9 days old today, so they are not coming out, but by pictures I have seen at 3 weeks they would be causing her some trouble.

I've read that by two weeks they are starting to get curious of the outside world and will start venturing out of the nest box. By three weeks, watch out, they are raring to go, lol. Absolutely adorable at that age.

Karen

The picture in my avatar is what I see when I open the back of the box to see them. lol. Today, I looked in and saw them awake with their heads up and I can see trouble coming for Lulu. I took this yesterday trying to get a picture of them in the nest. They were sleepy. I will take them out today and check them.

 

[Piper]

Looking at front feed planted, eyes wide open, ears at the alert
Is she saying "and you want to do, what?"
You should post that picture on the "Caption It" thread!

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

garden lady they look so cozy in there. i like your avatar

 

[ZRabbits]

Lulu is on guard is right! Thanks for sharing the pic. Love seeing "Mom on a Mission" and her charges starting to stir.

Karen

 

[garden lady]

Looking at front feed planted, eyes wide open, ears at the alert
Is she saying "and you want to do, what?"
You should post that picture on the "Caption It" thread!

:lol:<br /><br />__________ Sun Sep 30, 2012 5:40 pm __________<br /><br />

garden lady they look so cozy in there. i like your avatar

I like yours too. Your rabbits are beautiful and your hutch. Could you post pictures of how it looks under the trees? My husband and I are trying to figure out what to build for the 5 kits. Oh, I like your name. My name is Mary Ann too. Most call me Mary, but my parents called me Mary Ann and I think of myself as Mary Ann.