I tried using stuff out of a pillow for mine and this morning one was almost being chocked to death. Baby bunny was so swelled i had to cut it off its neck and so i will never use stuffing again.I imagine it would, if it's clean. The rags will work too.
Can you pull some fur from the belly and sides of the doe? It should come rather easily.
Rabbits Dying in Nest Box (immediate issue)
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Hello Biancaf1 and welcome to RabbitTalk. This is a very old thread but your post illustrates why some substances are not good choices to replace the doe's own fur. If you used the polyester-type stuffing from the pillow, it can indeed become wrapped around the kit's neck and tighten like a snare. The more the kit struggles, the worse the situation becomes. I'm glad you were able to rescue the kit in time!
In future, you could try feathers from a pillow, natural cotton batting that has been teased out, dryer lint -- something that will not tangle. Best of all is to keep a reserve of fur from times when a doe pulls more fur than needed or the nest goes unused.
I saved all the half-downy short feathers from a mean gander we culled, and used some of those whenever a nest needed extra materials. They worked very well.
In future, you could try feathers from a pillow, natural cotton batting that has been teased out, dryer lint -- something that will not tangle. Best of all is to keep a reserve of fur from times when a doe pulls more fur than needed or the nest goes unused.
I saved all the half-downy short feathers from a mean gander we culled, and used some of those whenever a nest needed extra materials. They worked very well.
Hey @MaggieJ, what are your thoughts on sheep wool? I just grabbed a bunch from a local sheep farmer to add into my chronic under-puller doe who is due in a few days. I've cleaned it already and put it into her nest she's preparing, but hadn't considered it could become a tangle/choking hazard. Do you think I should remove wool or would you expect no issues? It's relatively short, from Black Welsh sheep. Some is even from lambs.
Hi Mariah. I knew I was forgetting something that could be used. Sheep's wool is an excellent choice if the strands are short. If there is any possibility of longer wool tangling around a kit's neck or leg, maybe snip a handful of the wool at a time into short strands. It should only take a few cuts.
I've even heard of people using the combings from their dogs or cats. I'd suggest if anyone tries that it would be a good idea to wash the fur first to remove the dog or cat scent from it.
The important thing is to have a supply of something safe in reserve and to keep it handy. Kits can chill quickly.
A bottle with a tight lid full of hot water and with a sock pulled over it makes a good hot water bottle for kits. Lay it along one side of the nest box so the kits can move towards or away from it according to their need for extra warmth.
Thanks for the quick response! The strands seem pretty short, but I'll see if I can get in there to snip them even shorter. What a relief that wool should be good and safe!
I actually use my pet fur as extra nesting material as well! My Pembroke Welsh Corgi provides me with more than enough when he blows his coat
I've never washed it, though, and the does seem okay with it. I want to encourage everyone being comfortable around cats and dogs (or at least mine), though I suppose it could be scary for newborn kits. I always mix it with the mother's fur, but maybe I'll be better off washing them. I grabbed a ton of fleeces from that farmer, so I could just wash the wool and fur all together come summer. It was not fun cleaning inside for this time LOL.We also grabbed a heated pet mat, but I measured wrong and it's too big for her enclosure. Got lots of building projects planned once it's warm again
The newborn kits would not be aware enough to be frightened. If your does are okay with it unwashed then that's great. Some does are easily upset just after kindling, so I was speaking from an abundance of caution when I suggested washing it.I actually use my pet fur as extra nesting material as well! My Pembroke Welsh Corgi provides me with more than enough when he blows his coat
Scoring all that sheep's wool was super! If you wind up with too much you could make some awesome felt with some of it.
MuddyFarms
Well-known member
This is another option for nests:
https://www.kwcages.com/accessories/nests/litter-saver-nest-filler.html
It's very lightweight, so you get a ton in the packages. It is made from a natural plant fiber and does a good job every time I use it. I bought it to have on hand in case I didn't have anything else suitable.
https://www.kwcages.com/accessories/nests/litter-saver-nest-filler.html
It's very lightweight, so you get a ton in the packages. It is made from a natural plant fiber and does a good job every time I use it. I bought it to have on hand in case I didn't have anything else suitable.
Ah, makes sense. Glad to know it won't scare the kits! Some does were more grumpy than others to receive the extra fluff, but I think they'll all used to it now.
I was so lucky! Grabbed 18lbs of it because I have no sense of how dense wool actually is LOL. So I definitely am gonna have some for projects!
Wow, that looks awesome! I would have just bought a bag of that before the wool, but I'm still happy. Adding this to my "things to buy" list! Thank you for sharing!
Jackrabbit
Well-known member
I just take all the fur from the does that pull, and end up with dead kits. And when they shed I also take they’re fur I have about 3 pounds of fur! So when I clean them out I just use that fur.
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RabbitsOfTheCreek
Netherland Dwarf Breeder & Well-known Member
Jackrabbit
Well-known member
I’m sorry I made a mistake on that post
. I do CLEAN them I take everything out put hay and the fur.
i don't understand why people don't just save all the fur when rabbits blow their coats once or twice a year. That will provide more than enough fur to top up litters. perhaps not with angoras, but with all the non-wooled breeds....
Well, only one of my outdoor rabbits needs a little brushing or cutting out knots when shedding and the others would be a lot less happy about being handled that way, my stock of fur comes from my two indoor rabbits and nests from false pregnancies. Although they look pretty similiar the way their fur sheds is quite different.
One thing that comes to mind is shaving fur off fryer pelts if there is not enough to gather otherwise.
MsTemeraire
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Ah, that looks like Kapok! It is a natural vegetable fibre, and I've used that before. It's often used for stuffing toys etc so you can get it from craft supplies. It won't tangle and behaves a little like fur. I did try using the nesting bedding sold for hamsters, also said to be a vegetable fibre but it clumped together in lumps and didn't keep the babies warm - the kapok did.
northernnevadahollandlops
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I have seen people put cold kits in an open ziplock bag and submerge them in warm water, so the kit stays dry and can still breathe, but gets warmed up at the same time.
https://lovinrabbits.com/save-cold-...illed kits can often be,not to burn the kits.
I understand and agree about being a good steward. It can be disheartening to see so many kits die when there is more that we, as their humans, can do. But as with anything, with rabbits there is a learning curve, and I think God's grace allows space for that.
