My Nestboxes

[MuddyFarms]

Does wood nest boxes keep in heat more or less than metal nest boxes?

From what I have read, kits in metal nest boxes can get chilled if they get up next to the sides of the boxes, and the metal boxes can collect moisture/condensation on the insides that can get the kits wet. If the kits get up next to a wooden nest they will not get chilled, and having a thick wooden floor keeps them from getting chilled if they go all the way to the bottom. I noticed that a number of breeders in Canada were really liking their wooden nest boxes in the deep cold, so I decided to use that for my winter boxes. I think these things are mostly applicable to outside temperatures and conditions, though.

Anyone can correct me if I am missing something about this. It seems like there might be another factor that I can't remember.

 

[RabbitsOfTheCreek]

From what I have read, kits in metal nest boxes can get chilled if they get up next to the sides of the boxes, and the metal boxes can collect moisture/condensation on the insides that can get the kits wet. If the kits get up next to a wooden nest they will not get chilled, and having a thick wooden floor keeps them from getting chilled if they go all the way to the bottom. I noticed that a number of breeders in Canada were really liking their wooden nest boxes in the deep cold, so I decided to use that for my winter boxes. I think these things are mostly applicable to outside temperatures and conditions, though.

Anyone can correct me if I am missing something about this. It seems like there might be another factor that I can't remember.

Ok thank you
Im not the most worried about it though because all of my rabbits are inside

The only problem I've had with these nest boxes is the kits somehow escaping, which make no sense at all

 

[MuddyFarms]

Ok thank you
Im not the most worried about it though because all of my rabbits are inside

The only problem I've had with these nest boxes is the kits somehow escaping, which make no sense at all

Yeah, metal ones seem just fine for your situation! What do you mean by escaping?

 

[RabbitsOfTheCreek]

Yeah, metal ones seem just fine for your situation! What do you mean by escaping?

So I'll try and make the story as short as I can, but when Jasper and Pearl were babies, my grandma was with me and my parents were off on a trip. When my grandma woke up one morning, one of the kits was in the middle of the living room (A cat probably took it upstairs) and the other was on the middle of the basement floor
A few days later (Maybe like two) they somehow got into the cage under them. The only way I could think of them getting out of the box would be Natzumi tool them out.
In-between the living room day and the other cage day I had to block off the open parts of the cage with tape but not even that worked apparently. They had to be moved to the hutch and even then I caught Pearl trying to escape (I had put tape on the front of the hutch too)
I don't think either of them had their eyes open during this

I got one picture from the hutch day:

 

[Rabbits by Accident]

So I'll try and make the story as short as I can, but when Jasper and Pearl were babies, my grandma was with me and my parents were off on a trip. When my grandma woke up one morning, one of the kits was in the middle of the living room (A cat probably took it upstairs) and the other was on the middle of the basement floor
A few days later (Maybe like two) they somehow got into the cage under them. The only way I could think of them getting out of the box would be Natzumi tool them out.
In-between the living room day and the other cage day I had to block off the open parts of the cage with tape but not even that worked apparently. They had to be moved to the hutch and even then I caught Pearl trying to escape (I had put tape on the front of the hutch too)
I don't think either of them had their eyes open during this

I got one picture from the hutch day: View attachment 28991

LOL tape! Instead of 'flypaper' you had 'kitpaper' LOL

My large rabbit Gertie, has very small kits. The first litter she had, one fell out of the cage (unfortunately the chickens killed it) I wrapped 1/4" hardware cloth about 2" up the side, then I put some chicken wire up above that. Works fine now.

 

[RabbitsOfTheCreek]

LOL tape! Instead of 'flypaper' you had 'kitpaper' LOL

My large rabbit Gertie, has very small kits. The first litter she had, one fell out of the cage (unfortunately the chickens killed it) I wrapped 1/4" hardware cloth about 2" up the side, then I put some chicken wire up above that. Works fine now.

What I find really wierd about the situation is that it has never happened before

But I guess it can be excused because it's the first time using those nest boxes

Also nice pun lol

 

[MuddyFarms]

So, they got out of their nest box and then out of the cage itself? Silly little things! It never ceases to amaze me, all the stories of kits getting out of places and exploring. I have watched kits climb out of nest boxes with their eyes closed still, but I always have them in regular hanging wire cages, so they never get out of the cage. Maybe the bedding was deep enough that it was easy for them to climb out?

 

[MuddyFarms]

That kit with its face up against the tape and walls is so funny!

 

[RabbitsOfTheCreek]

That kit with its face up against the tape and walls is so funny!

Smumsh

 

[northernnevadahollandlops]

that's the board they use for hanging up tools with a specialized hanger. Can't recall the name of it.

Pegboard

 

[northernnevadahollandlops]

I recently made one of teal stone's boxes and I really like it. The wire mesh bottom makes it easy to clean and the lip keeps kits inside longer. I have dwarf Holland lops and Soni made it a little smaller and works great.

 

[Rabbits by Accident]

Does anyone know how to cut the plastic that the plastic bins are made from - I mean the normal plastic bins you buy at Walmart, etc. I am mentally designing a nestbox with a very simple removable bottom and I think plastic would be a good idea for the bottom panel. I have a lot of old mismatched plastic bins. If I could cut them up into panels, they would work, but the last time I tried, they shattered. Probably because I used a table saw LOL. @Zee-Man any ideas? Razor knife works, but very slow. Ditto soldering iron.

 

[ladysown]

Plastic holds in moisture....

And a hot knife cuts plastic

 

[Rabbits by Accident]

Plastic holds in moisture....

And a hot knife cuts plastic

Well, I don't own a hot knife

Plastic/moisture - GOOD point. I could drill holes in it to simulate the peg board stuff. . . I have a litter of six kits in a plastic bucket, they don't seem to mind LOL. I should probably drill some holes in the side that lays down. It seems a lot of people use those plastic tubs for nestboxes.

Thanks @ladysown

 

[ladysown]

Not hard to Heat a knife, just takes time....

 

[Rabbits by Accident]

Not hard to Heat a knife, just takes time....

oh duh! a 'hot' knife hahaha - I thought you meant those electric 'hot knives' LOL

 

[ladysown]

oh duh! a 'hot' knife hahaha - I thought you meant those electric 'hot knives' LOL

electric hot knives are quicker, but sometimes you need to use what you have at hand.

 

[Zee-Man]

Does anyone know how to cut the plastic that the plastic bins are made from - I mean the normal plastic bins you buy at Walmart, etc. I am mentally designing a nestbox with a very simple removable bottom and I think plastic would be a good idea for the bottom panel. I have a lot of old mismatched plastic bins. If I could cut them up into panels, they would work, but the last time I tried, they shattered. Probably because I used a table saw LOL. @Zee-Man any ideas? Razor knife works, but very slow. Ditto soldering iron.

The best tool would be an oscillating saw with a semi-cirular blade. Put the plastic onto a piece of plywood or any board of similar size. That board keeps the blade from sinking in too far which would lose control. Now if the plastic is thin enough, you could use tin snips. Use a twist bit to drill a starting hole in each corner. If the plastic is even thinner, you could use scissors instead. With any method, make sure the plastic is at room temperature. Cold plastic is much more brittle.

If you want to perforate the plastic instead, I would use a 16D (16 Penny, 8D would work also) nail. Heat the nail with a torch, on a cook top burner (gas or electric) or even a candle. It need only get hot, not glowing. Use a vice grips to hold the hot nail. You can have nails heating while you pierce the plastic. You should be able to get a few holes with each nail.

 

[Rabbits by Accident]

The best tool would be an oscillating saw with a semi-cirular blade. Put the plastic onto a piece of plywood or any board of similar size. That board keeps the blade from sinking in too far which would lose control. Now if the plastic is thin enough, you could use tin snips. Use a twist bit to drill a starting hole in each corner. If the plastic is even thinner, you could use scissors instead. With any method, make sure the plastic is at room temperature. Cold plastic is much more brittle.

If you want to perforate the plastic instead, I would use a 16D (16 Penny, 8D would work also) nail. Heat the nail with a torch, on a cook top burner (gas or electric) or even a candle. It need only get hot, not glowing. Use a vice grips to hold the hot nail. You can have nails heating while you pierce the plastic. You should be able to get a few holes with each nail.

Oscillating tool! That I have! also a roto-zip, which also might work - but is much harder to control. hmmm, I could set up a straight edge of some sort. I don't think tin snips or scissors would work, the plastic is kind of brittle.

Thanks @Zee-Man I knew you would have some ideas.

 

[Zee-Man]

Oscillating tool! That I have! also a roto-zip, which also might work - but is much harder to control. hmmm, I could set up a straight edge of some sort. I don't think tin snips or scissors would work, the plastic is kind of brittle.

Thanks @Zee-Man I knew you would have some ideas.

Roto zip is another excellent tool for job. Right on! Use a stip of luan or other thin wood to give you a straight edge to run it along. Tin snips work on rubbermaid products and soda/juice bottles. The thick PET used in "shoeboxes" is pretty hard for snip of any kind.