i have pretty good luck in the summer with my two primary older does. i have been doing this for almost 2 years now and my rabbitry is small. its purpose is for meat for my family. i have learned a lot so far and have had some good litters (all during good weather). I haven't had much success in the winter, so for now I decided not to breed in the winter.
i just has three new does at 8 months have litters. one had 6 kits all born in a nest box, but they were not nestled together, but instead all mixed in with the bedding i provided. this bad litter could have been my fault because the morning before she kindled I added about 2 inches of pine shavings to the bottom of the next box and i messed up her nest just slightly. it was going to be below freezing the next morning and the nest box is a metal one and didn't have much hay in it. I take this as my fault and lesson learned.
the following day (today), i had two other does who both didn't even bother to use the next box at all. both had the entire litter on the cage floor and all froze to death. I gave plenty of hay on the cage floor like I usually do for these two does to make a nest. then I added the shavings and lightly packed hay in the nest box like i did the other doe, but these two does kindled a day later and they had nothing in the nest box before I added the materials.
usually i never add pine shavings or hay in the nest box myself and let the doe do her thing. this is what i did with my other older does, but i dont have much luck with them during the winter so i decided to try it. the nest boxes i gave these young does are all metal and never been used before. i usually use the bass equipment all wire ones with cardboard inside.
i would normally blame this as them being younger does and not experienced yet. but they are all 8 months and older and i cant help to be at fault since i lost all 3 litters.
little more info:
I breed NZR and all are outside and not in a building. they are away from any drafts and are in hanging cages inside of 3 sided enclosures.
here is the metal nest box i used:
https://www.kwcages.com/accessories/nests/rabbit-nest-box.html
here is what i normally use for my older does (only during good weather):
https://bassequipment.com/usn/
i just has three new does at 8 months have litters. one had 6 kits all born in a nest box, but they were not nestled together, but instead all mixed in with the bedding i provided. this bad litter could have been my fault because the morning before she kindled I added about 2 inches of pine shavings to the bottom of the next box and i messed up her nest just slightly. it was going to be below freezing the next morning and the nest box is a metal one and didn't have much hay in it. I take this as my fault and lesson learned.
the following day (today), i had two other does who both didn't even bother to use the next box at all. both had the entire litter on the cage floor and all froze to death. I gave plenty of hay on the cage floor like I usually do for these two does to make a nest. then I added the shavings and lightly packed hay in the nest box like i did the other doe, but these two does kindled a day later and they had nothing in the nest box before I added the materials.
usually i never add pine shavings or hay in the nest box myself and let the doe do her thing. this is what i did with my other older does, but i dont have much luck with them during the winter so i decided to try it. the nest boxes i gave these young does are all metal and never been used before. i usually use the bass equipment all wire ones with cardboard inside.
i would normally blame this as them being younger does and not experienced yet. but they are all 8 months and older and i cant help to be at fault since i lost all 3 litters.
little more info:
I breed NZR and all are outside and not in a building. they are away from any drafts and are in hanging cages inside of 3 sided enclosures.
here is the metal nest box i used:
https://www.kwcages.com/accessories/nests/rabbit-nest-box.html
here is what i normally use for my older does (only during good weather):
https://bassequipment.com/usn/
