Nest box question.

[Kyle@theWintertime]

I plan to make a few new nest boxes this week, and was wondering. I've seen nest boxes with wire bottoms...doesn't everything fall out??? Do you put a liner or something in there? What benefit do you get out of a wire-bottomed nest box?

 

[Maxine]

Ours have wooden bottoms, but we made them in December. I think the benefit of having the mesh bottom is air flow when it is hotter. Maybe we will modify them for summer kindles.

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

Ah, thanks! If that's the only benefit I'll just do solid bottoms. Summers aren't especially bad here (knock on wood) and where I am tends to be several degrees cooler than further inland. The lake keeps it pretty nice here, actually...always a breeze. Or a windstorm, whatever. :lol:

 

[3mina]

Wire bottoms can sometimes have unfortunate consequences if the box gets moved and kits legs are through the wire

 

[SuburbanHomesteader]

I have wire bottoms on all of my nest boxes - actually removed the original peg board and replaced with wire. Solid bottoms were getting too dirty and since we used the pegboard, it was really absorbing moisture.

I put a piece of cardboard in the bottom - cut to size - in the winter. Then straw on top. I pull the cardboard after 8 to 10 days because it, too, starts absorbing all the moisture. The cardboard comes out along with everything else in there. I just put some hay back in the bottom now. The hay and wire bottom lets everything fall through that needs to.

I agree with 3mina that you have to be careful when you move the box - lift rather than drag. Usually, the kits are on the hay and not directly on the wire bottom.

Warmer weather, I don't put the cardboard in. Stuff can and does fall through but it's cooler for the kits.

Hope that helps.

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

Wire bottoms can sometimes have unfortunate consequences if the box gets moved and kits legs are through the wire

Eek, hadn't even thought of that!!! :x

I have wire bottoms on all of my nest boxes - actually removed the original peg board and replaced with wire. Solid bottoms were getting too dirty and since we used the pegboard, it was really absorbing moisture.

I put a piece of cardboard in the bottom - cut to size - in the winter. Then straw on top. I pull the cardboard after 8 to 10 days because it, too, starts absorbing all the moisture. The cardboard comes out along with everything else in there. I just put some hay back in the bottom now. The hay and wire bottom lets everything fall through that needs to.

I agree with 3mina that you have to be careful when you move the box - lift rather than drag. Usually, the kits are on the hay and not directly on the wire bottom.

Warmer weather, I don't put the cardboard in. Stuff can and does fall through but it's cooler for the kits.

Hope that helps.

Yes it does, thanks! The cardboard is a good idea...

I'm a little torn on which way to go but leaning towards a solid bottom.

Thanks guys!

 

[Miss M]

Our first litter was born inside in a cardboard box (apartment porch upstairs was being repaired). In the days that followed, I was amazed at how wet that box got, and had to put a pile of hay under it to provide some air flow under the box to keep the floor from continuously being soaked with baby bunny pee. :shock:

Yep... I have wire bottoms on mine. The nest stays nice and dry! Sometimes, it stays so dry, you'd swear they don't pee at all. But, of course, you know better.

Of course, I also live in the land of 8 - 9 months of high heat and high humidity.

 

[AnnClaire]

For a solid bottom nest box, I put in a pad of folded newspaper when I check the kits the first time. With one doe, that newspaper lasts about 2 hours as she will literally gather up every piece of hay, pull the newspaper and shred that to plug the opening to keep me out I just keep replacing the newspaper each time it gets too small to do its absorption job under the kits.

 

[skysthelimit]

The nests are wire at first, just in case it's too early, like a doe that is due on day 31, but does not have kits till day 35, keeps her from soiling the box. Once the kits are born, I usually move them to a plastic box I take in the house, and when their eye open, they are left outside with mom in the wire nest again. I am very careful how I lift that box, always straight up and out.

 

[Maxine]

Maybe we will go to wire bottoms too. Sounds like you guys have a good system. I like the cardboard cut to cover the bottom. Ginger's babies are always right on the wood. I keep trying to move the nesting material around so they aren't directly on the wood bottom but they like to dig I guess.