10 days old today - when to change environment

[Vay]

Hi everyone,

I have 10 days old kits - eyes weren't open this morning - I shelve them.

My husband seems to think bringing mama for feedings once a day is enough, I think twice a day would be better....

They're also in a cardboard box, with a towel lining it... with mom's fur inside it. I change the towel lining the box every day.

I want to put straw or hay in it, hubby says I shouldn't.

When should I give them water? Should it be in a crock or a bottle?

When should I put pellets in there?

I want to wait until they are 2 weeks to put water and pellets, hubby says wait 3 weeks.

 

[promiseacres]

Towel and fur should be ok without straw.
I wouldn't do water or pellets until closer to 3 weeks.
Personally wouldn't shelve much past 2, 3 weeks. Once they're active and furred. Of course my shed usually stays above freezing.

 

[Tale of Tails Rabbitry]

Once eyes are open at 10 to 11 days, I stop shelving, if I had to do shelving at all, which is rare for me. I always use the nesting materials to shelve. I always give them access to the mother twice a day and she is happy to nurse them both times. Since I stop shelving at the eyes open stage, they have access to pellets and water then.

 

[GypsyG]

I have never shelved baby rabbits, but mine are usually crawling out of the nest and nibbling on mom's food and drinking between 16-18 days old.

 

[DutchBunny03]

Keeping the kits with the dam is better, as long as you know the dam will not destroy the nest. Kits grow rapidly, especially at 10 days, so feeding 2x a day may be better. Straw or hay is just fine. Most breeders prefer that over a towel, because chewing on hay is good. Eating a towel is obviously not ideal.

 

[Vay]

Thanks everyone - they eyes were a little fluttery this morning, but not fully open.

I shelved them because the temp is between -20 and -30 celcius... and thought the hutches are insulated and covered from wind and rain/snow, it's still cold enough that I found chilled babies more than once... and it's only going to get colder... so I brought them in.

I'm about 1.5 hours North of New York State.

 

[Tale of Tails Rabbitry]

Vay, that would be a good reason!

 

[Vay]

Eyes are fully open and they're definitely more active. They're in their own little space now, so they're exploring a little bit... but still mostly sleeping. They're 2 weeks now (they were born 2 Monday nights/Tuesday mornings ago)

 

[GypsyG]

Eyes are fully open and they're definitely more active. They're in their own little space now, so they're exploring a little bit... but still mostly sleeping. They're 2 weeks now (they were born 2 Monday nights/Tuesday mornings ago)

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Cuteness overload!!!

 

[B&B Happy goats]

You are making me very excited to see ours when they are bor, but you and @GypsyG have colors.....our will be boring white...but should taste good !