Normal?

[ek.blair]

I have two first timer does that I put nestboxes in with on friday(day28) and plenty of straw in the boxes as it is still below freezing up here in AK. It is now day 30 and both does have made cute little holes into the straw. I have not noticed any fur pulling and both does seem to be staying in the boxes... Should I be worried if they have kits and continue to stay in the nests with them? If they stay in there how will I know they have kits? I don't want to pull the does out and risk hurting the kits if they are in there. And I don't know that the does are comfortable enough or me to reach under them.

 

[Miss M]

I had a doe who, especially her first litter, didn't pull fur until it was time for her to kindle.

Some first-timers, though, don't get everything right, and don't pull fur. Make sure you have some cotton balls you can tease and put in there or something... maybe even put some in there before they kindle, just in case they don't pull fur, at least there's something, as long as they use the nests.

I wouldn't worry too much yet about them staying in the boxes. As long as they aren't urinating in the boxes, there's a very good chance they won't continue to stay in the boxes once they kindle. If they do, there is a chance they could injure the kits, so you might have to bring the nests inside except for feeding twice a day, for the first few days.

I would think you should still be able to tell they have kits, as long as they pull fur. You'll see random wisps of pulled fur around.

 

[BlueMoods]

I often have forst timers that don't pull until they are actually having the kits and, rarely one never pulls. I save extra fur for that, or use cotton and, once the doe comes out of the nest, I brush her and put that bit of her fur in there, give them the idea that it's supposed to be like that. I've never had one want to stay in the nest with the kits, it's instinct for them not to so they don't lead predators to the nest. If one ever did, I'd take the kits and only give them to the doe for feeding. Might not be a bad idea with it still being that cold anyway.

 

[Zass]

Certainly keep an eye on them, but my girls sometimes do the same thing, make a nest ahead of time and pull fur right before they kindle, often within the same hour.

 

[ckcs]

I put the box in at day 29, often they build a nest right away. Most of mine don't pull fur until they were ready to deliver. My most recent delivery (today) the doe pulled fur about 2am and then didn't deliver until 5 pm today. Usually when I see fur, I have babies within a couple of hours.

 

[ek.blair]

Thank you all for the replies!! It makes me feel better. I will just keep watching and waiting... I have been saving my dryer lint for if the don't pull fur and I also have cotton balls on hand. I have felt inside when they come of to make sure they are not urinating in the nest boxes and so far I don't think they are. Thanks again for putting my mind at ease

 

[michaels4gardens]

if your cages are big enough--- Dood made a suggestion on another thred-- about puting a second box in if the doe wants to stay in the box after the kits arrive.-- I thought it was a good idea--as it would sure beat the bring them in and take them back out at least once / day option

 

[ek.blair]

So how many days past 31 would you leave the nestboxes in if they haven't kindled and when would you rebreed? Starting to get bummed thinking they might not be pregnant after all