When should I place a nest box?

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Kingdomrabbitry

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I’m wondering when you all put your nesting box in with your does? The first time around I put her box in at 28 days and it seemed perfect. She delivered 5 babies, 3 healthy and happy and 2 DOA. The next two times we bred her she aborted her litters at 21 days. Should I place her nesting box in sooner? Is she maybe stressed out and aborting early? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
 
I always put them in on day 28 or 29.
21 days is too early. I don't think there is any chance of them living that early, they aren't fully developed. Something else is going on.

Can animals pester the cages/hutches? Dogs, cats, raccoons, rats, mice, etc.
 
I always give it to them a week before their due day
I don't want to give it to them so close in case they have the Kits early
If they don't have them they get to keep the nest box for another week (I've had a Doe have her Kit a couple of days after he was due and he already had fur)
 
It would be a problem if your cages are small, but I keep wooden nest boxes in the cages almost year round. Even give one to my buck. They love their boxes and feel safe in them. It gives them a place to retreat if they are stressed and they are warm in the winter with straw stuffed in them. I do take them out in the hottest part of the summer for better air flow. I remove them for cleaning regularly and of course clean them a couple of days before kindling date. I've always done it this way and have never had any issues.
 
I've found if I do it earlier than 28 days they are likely to use it as a litter box. Though, if a doe is haystaching I will put a nest box in earlier. I had three haystaching today. Two of them are on day 26, the other is day 24. They all got nestboxes after I saw them haystaching.
 
MidwestRabbits2 said:
I've found if I do it earlier than 28 days they are likely to use it as a litter box. Though, if a doe is haystaching I will put a nest box in earlier. I had three haystaching today. Two of them are on day 26, the other is day 24. They all got nestboxes after I saw them haystaching.
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One of the does that is on day 26 pulled fur already. Even though I gave her a nest box to put the fur in, its everywhere.
 
I’m pretty new to raising rabbits, like this is still my first year of raising them. I have two does and two bucks living in a large cage, colony style. Everything I’m reading during my research says I should not leave a nesting box in their cage all the time but I don’t exactly see why? From what they say, it’s just because the rabbits might use the nesting box as a litter box, but I also know what side of the cage they do their business on, so couldn’t I just put the nesting box on the other side? Because I’m new I don’t really know if I have pregnant does or not but I do know the bucks have been going after the does. I really don’t want to loose the first litter because of my ignorance. The temperature here is also getting pretty low at night which was another reason I thought maybe I should leave a nesting box in their cage all the time. I’m not sure if this was the best place to leave my question but if any of you could help that would be great. Thank you so much!
 
Kingdomrabbitry said:
I’m wondering when you all put your nesting box in with your does? The first time around I put her box in at 28 days and it seemed perfect. She delivered 5 babies, 3 healthy and happy and 2 DOA. The next two times we bred her she aborted her litters at 21 days. Should I place her nesting box in sooner? Is she maybe stressed out and aborting early? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Click to expand...
I normally put in the nest box about 3-5 days before their due date.
 
Celeste5 said:
I’m pretty new to raising rabbits, like this is still my first year of raising them. I have two does and two bucks living in a large cage, colony style. Everything I’m reading during my research says I should not leave a nesting box in their cage all the time but I don’t exactly see why? From what they say, it’s just because the rabbits might use the nesting box as a litter box, but I also know what side of the cage they do their business on, so couldn’t I just put the nesting box on the other side? Because I’m new I don’t really know if I have pregnant does or not but I do know the bucks have been going after the does. I really don’t want to loose the first litter because of my ignorance. The temperature here is also getting pretty low at night which was another reason I thought maybe I should leave a nesting box in their cage all the time. I’m not sure if this was the best place to leave my question but if any of you could help that would be great. Thank you so much!
Click to expand...
 
I have colonies and made permanent covered den boxes 12"x20, 12" tall . 2 bucks in one cage may cause problems. I keep only one buck in each family group. And that is in larger group shelters with free yard access and hiding spots. In a cage they can't retreat much. I even found greater peace when there were 4 does with that one buck. It is unusual for bucks not to compete unless it is a large area and lots of females. Mine are fine with young bucks until they get about 12 weeks then the buck starts chasing trying to drive him away. When I waited too long to move the boys out once, I had one with parts bit off... Funny once he was a unich he quit being chased. No longer competition I guess. Can you give the second boy his own space. Or split the couples?
 

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