TF3
Well-known member
I have two does kindling (I hope!) next week.
1) When my first doe kindled it was still getting very cold and I used a plastic tote (she is FG) that was quickly outgrown, so I moved them into a built in shelter area in the nursery hutch, it worked well.
They had wire under them, then hay and fur etc.
I planned to do this again, but thinking the plastic may be a little oven if temps get high?
Alternately, could she just kindle in the shelter area with a layer of hay etc over the wire?
(it has three walls and an opening into the main hutch (high enough for mom but not babies until 3 weeks), the 4th 'wall' is a swing open door that gives me full access).
I just liked being able to pull out a box for daily checks.
2) My second doe (rex cross, half the size of my FG doe), I am planning to build a box with some (free) pine from a local business that makes all their scraps (from Muskoka/ Adirondack chair building) free~ the sloping arm cuts are perfect for the sides!
I figured I'd put in a wire bottom for air flow.
But I'm wondering if I would be better to build 'summer' nestboxes out of wire?
I have a roll of 19G (likely too light) but can get 14 and 16 at the local farm store.
I have clips and cutters.
What do you experienced folks think?
1) When my first doe kindled it was still getting very cold and I used a plastic tote (she is FG) that was quickly outgrown, so I moved them into a built in shelter area in the nursery hutch, it worked well.
They had wire under them, then hay and fur etc.
I planned to do this again, but thinking the plastic may be a little oven if temps get high?
Alternately, could she just kindle in the shelter area with a layer of hay etc over the wire?
(it has three walls and an opening into the main hutch (high enough for mom but not babies until 3 weeks), the 4th 'wall' is a swing open door that gives me full access).
I just liked being able to pull out a box for daily checks.
2) My second doe (rex cross, half the size of my FG doe), I am planning to build a box with some (free) pine from a local business that makes all their scraps (from Muskoka/ Adirondack chair building) free~ the sloping arm cuts are perfect for the sides!
I figured I'd put in a wire bottom for air flow.
But I'm wondering if I would be better to build 'summer' nestboxes out of wire?
I have a roll of 19G (likely too light) but can get 14 and 16 at the local farm store.
I have clips and cutters.
What do you experienced folks think?
The plastic tote will be fine for the FG to kindle in as long as the top is removed. Just clean it like you would any other nestbox. 
