Should I put in nest box?

[PatS]

Our beautiful blue American doe is due at the end of the month. Yesterday she began sporting a "hay mustache," and this morning had taken all the hay from her manger and put it in her hidey-box. Should I just go ahead and put her nest box in several days earlier than recommended? She is a fastidious girl, so I don't think she'll mess in there. Should I remove her hidey-box so she doesn't just steal hay from the nest box and put it in there?

She is GIGANTIC all of a sudden! I hope she fits in the nest box!

 

[Miss M]

First, make SURE you know the due date! If she's "gigantic all of a sudden", that sounds like she's near kindling time. Usually, they don't suddenly get huge unless they're days away or less.

If you think she might be due soon, instead of when you calculated, go ahead and put in a nestbox, just making sure it stays clean, maybe change the hay after a week if it still isn't occupied.

If you are positive about the due date, then there's no need to give her a box more than five or so days before. You can give her one to play house in, but you don't have to.

 

[LindseysWoolies]

My doe started building a nest about a week early so i went ahead and gave her a nest box. It shouldn't hurt anything, just make sure that she doesn't pee and poop in it

 

[MaggieJ]

The advantage of giving her the nest box now is that it may help her to choose the right place for kindling when the time comes. If you wait, she may choose her nesting spot elsewhere and stubbornly ignore the nest box later on.

 

[caroline]

I always give my does their nest box when they start carrying hay. I have had quite a few who do it a week before they are due. It always makes me happy to see it. I think I like it almost as much as seeing that wiggly spot in the nest box

 

[MamaSheepdog]

It always makes me happy to see it.

The "Hay Mustache" never fails to put a smile on my face!

 

[LindseysWoolies]

I keep waiting for my jersey wooly doe to have one. She is due on Sunday.

 

[PatS]

Thanks everyone. I am positive of the due date, her cage was well away from the buck until we introduced them. She was not shy, and let him do his thing a few times in the couple of minutes they were together. I feel better about putting the nest box in now after seeing what you have to say. I don't she she'll mess it up, but I'll keep an eye on it.

Our other doe, who kindled about ten weeks ago or so, kept her nest spotless until the babies outgrew it. Knock wood, I think I just have some clean Mamas!

Thanks for your answers!