when to take out the nest box?

[cottontail]

Just wondering at what age do I take out the nest box. They will be 3 weeks on Monday. If I do should I put in hay for them to lay on? Any suggestions for this newbee would be appreciated. All 9 are doing great even the one that has a broken leg. Don't know how that happened but it doesn't seem to bother her.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

You can take it out anytime now. I would provide another container for them to huddle in for warmth though. There have been cases of weaning enteritis lately (diarrhea in kits) and one of the suspected causes is chilling. Before I take mine out, I give them a cat litter jug with some bedding in it and clean fur from the nest. You can see in the cage behind that I like to put the jug in before removing the nest until I see them using the jug. It also gives me a place to feed them their grain where the doe can't get to it. I ordered creep feeders from Klubertanz, so wont need to feed them in there for much longer, but I will still give them the jugs for warmth and a place to hide if they feel threatened.

 

[wild1slilfarm]

Love the idea about the kitty litter jugs thanks "mamasheepdog"

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Your welcome, Wild 1! I think they really help not only because of the warmth, but because they are less stressed overall... and we all know that stress predisposes us to illness. They feel secure in their little "burrows"- if I forget to announce myself before going into the BunnyBarn, they make a mad dash for their hidey-holes! :lol:

 

[wild1slilfarm]

LOL they sound like my cavey if i forget to say something to them before walking in

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Thank heavens we don't have any neighbors- they'd think I was nuts, with my sing-song "Hi bunny, bunny, bunnies! Hey bunny, hey bunny!" as I approach! God forbid I forget- they act like I teleported into the bunnybarn with a machete!

 

[cottontail]

What a great idea. Ill do that as soon as it warms up a bit

 

[currituckbun]

We have a latch on the gate to the fenced area where the bunny barn is . They hear that, and I hear them ,start the cages a rockin in the morning. Feed time is always a big deal and hay in the pm gets some of them started if they ate all of theirs from the am. I don't think I could sneak up on them. The chickens are now back there too and they start up. If the are out they come running.
I had no idea they would work together so well but I swear they like to hang out and converse.
Back to the subject, the kitty litter containers are the bomb. They love it and gives mom a break. They love going in and out and just chillin in there. I think I may take mine out for the summer. It is rather hot in those plastic containers. There is always one that does not have any sense.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Back to the subject, the kitty litter containers are the bomb. They love it and gives mom a break.

Mine love them too! I am glad you tried it and you and the bunnies like it so much!

I think I may take mine out for the summer. It is rather hot in those plastic containers.

That is a concern. :? I am considering cutting one side off so they will be on wire, but still have a hiding place. Or just putting more "BunnyBuckets" in the cages- several 1 gallon pots would work well.

 

[A&BRabbitry]

Me personally will never leave the nestbox in more than 4 weeks unless extreme temps and then I will check the litter often to see when to change it. When I first began raising and was less experienced I had 2 litters with nextbox eye before I knew it.

 

[skysthelimit]

Mine's are always ready to hop out by a little past two weeks, and when I start finding that I am putting them back in a lot, I take the box away and make them a nest on the wire. Maybe I should put out a CL ad for used kitty litter tubs? This is not a cat safe zone, so none of my own.

 

[SatinsRule]

I just took a box away from a litter at just over 3 weeks, but think it all depends upon the litter. I normally do so at 4 weeks, but in the most recent case it was pulled because the babies weren't really using the box at all, and the mom starting "going" in the box. It might be a bigger challenge with smaller breeds rabbits.

 

[AnnClaire]

You might want to consider replacing the kitty litter bottle with the top of a pet taxi ... mine love those and I put the top and bottom in the grass pen during the day so they will have someplace to hide when they need.

Or, cut a plant thing in half and put it in the cage. They will use that and still be on the wire for coolness