Our Nest Box Routine
There are many types of nest boxes to choose from; the two most common types are wood and metal. Regardless of which type of nest box you choose, you will need to prepare the box with some absorbent materials before giving it to the doe. I’ve tried out a few different materials and methods, and we now have a nest box routine that works very well for us!
Some nest boxes have a wire floor. These should be lined with a piece of cardboard or several pieces of newspaper before filling. Other boxes have solid wood or metal floors, and can be filled as they are.
The first type of material that I use to line our nest boxes is pelletized pine bedding. (This is actually what I regularly use to line our cage trays.) I just put down a small layer, 1/2” to 1” deep. I have found this step to be extremely beneficial, as pine pellets absorb a huge amount of moisture. This keeps the box cleaner and dryer than a sole layer of pine shavings do, allowing the kits to reach 10-12 days of age before I have to clean the box out again.
Some nest boxes have a wire floor. These should be lined with a piece of cardboard or several pieces of newspaper before filling. Other boxes have solid wood or metal floors, and can be filled as they are.
The first type of material that I use to line our nest boxes is pelletized pine bedding. (This is actually what I regularly use to line our cage trays.) I just put down a small layer, 1/2” to 1” deep. I have found this step to be extremely beneficial, as pine pellets absorb a huge amount of moisture. This keeps the box cleaner and dryer than a sole layer of pine shavings do, allowing the kits to reach 10-12 days of age before I have to clean the box out again.
Next, I put down about a 3” layer of fine pine shavings. The shavings are somewhat absorbent, and provide a soft surface for the kits to rest on. Since I use a layer of absorbent pellets under the shavings, the shavings tend to stay pretty dry.
Finally, I fill the box with several large handfuls of hay and use my fist to form a small burrow. Some breeders omit this step and allow the doe to add hay to the box herself, but I have found that providing hay in the box encourages her to continue adding hay and building her nest.
When I give the box to the doe, I also add a large pile of hay to her cage so that she is free to build her nest as she chooses. Some does are content with the nest I have made, some will rearrange it a bit, and others will remove every single piece of hay and start all over! It’s quite entertaining to watch as a doe creates her masterpiece!
Anywhere from days to minutes before the kits arrive, the doe will pull soft fur from her belly and sides. She places the fur in her nest to create a soft, warm lining for her kits.
When you remove the nest box from a litter of kits, it’s usually pretty gross! Nest boxes (especially wooden ones) provide the perfect environment for bacteria to grow and thrive, making it essential that you properly clean and sanitize nest boxes in between litters. This is one of the easiest ways to keep your rabbits healthy. For this, I use a 5:1 water to bleach mixture to thoroughly soak and scrub my boxes. When the boxes have been sanitized, I rinse with water and allow them to dry in the sun, which kills any remaining bacteria.
Finally, I fill the box with several large handfuls of hay and use my fist to form a small burrow. Some breeders omit this step and allow the doe to add hay to the box herself, but I have found that providing hay in the box encourages her to continue adding hay and building her nest.
When I give the box to the doe, I also add a large pile of hay to her cage so that she is free to build her nest as she chooses. Some does are content with the nest I have made, some will rearrange it a bit, and others will remove every single piece of hay and start all over! It’s quite entertaining to watch as a doe creates her masterpiece!
Anywhere from days to minutes before the kits arrive, the doe will pull soft fur from her belly and sides. She places the fur in her nest to create a soft, warm lining for her kits.
When you remove the nest box from a litter of kits, it’s usually pretty gross! Nest boxes (especially wooden ones) provide the perfect environment for bacteria to grow and thrive, making it essential that you properly clean and sanitize nest boxes in between litters. This is one of the easiest ways to keep your rabbits healthy. For this, I use a 5:1 water to bleach mixture to thoroughly soak and scrub my boxes. When the boxes have been sanitized, I rinse with water and allow them to dry in the sun, which kills any remaining bacteria.
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