popple saving wire

[lissapell]

Expecting our first doe to kindle in 2 wks I am prepping to add baby saving wire to our cages. My ? is how do you attach it to the side and how far up should I add the wire? It would have been a lot easier to do this while I was actually making the cages. I will be adding the wire BEFORE the rabbits from now on.

 

[Frosted Rabbits]

3-4 inches high is the usual for a baby-saver layer. Attach with J-clips, C-rings or even zip ties. Heck, twist wire to hold it in place, making sure all edges, ends are outside the cage.

I have a cage bank here that 'BigBrother' made me, without my input, and every wire part is 1/2x1-- a blessing when Marsha had her kits in November.

 

[lissapell]

Thank you.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

If you want to go to the trouble, you can remove the floor and then attach the strip of baby saver. It will give your cages a little added height, and it will also be more sanitary than two layers of wire sandwiched together.

 

[lissapell]

My cages are 10 ft, 4 hole. Should I put baby wire on the dividers as well or is the exterior sufficient?

 

[Miss M]

If you want to go to the trouble, you can remove the floor and then attach the strip of baby saver. It will give your cages a little added height, and it will also be more sanitary than two layers of wire sandwiched together.

Totally did not think about this when I did mine. Of course, I was cutting up old floors for my baby-saver wire, so I didn't have long strips to go all the way around. I would have had Frankencages. :lol: I J-clipped my baby-saver to the outside of the cage, 4" high.

Should I put baby wire on the dividers as well or is the exterior sufficient?

You could probably get away with leaving it off of the dividers, but a baby wandering into another doe's cage may alarm the doe and get stomped by her. I think it would be safer to put it on the dividers, too.

 

[Secuono]

I only do 2in. Never had babies out of the nest unless the mom was terrible.

 

[Miss M]

For ours, the moms were fine, but the babies hung on when she was finished nursing, and got dragged out of the nest.

I did mine for 4". I've read that a few popples can escape that, and so some do their wire even higher. I don't imagine it's a very common occurrence, though.