SageHill
Herd Master
ROTFL -- that is funny!
(says the box hoarder queen)
Larsen Poultry Ranch - homesteading journey
- Thread starter Larsen Poultry Ranch
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- homesteading journey
(says the box hoarder queen)
SageHill
Herd Master
HA! That I get!! We did have buns - as pets - when our son was 5 (eons ago) one managed to bite through his finger for no reason. That one should've been stew. I made get this figured out. Time will tell.
Ridgetop
Herd Master
The outer chamber is unnecessary like Bay says. Mother rabbits don't stay with their kts during the day. This is because in the wild it is safer for the kits if she lays up a little away in order to be able to run and draw off predators before they find the nest of kits. They return to the next at night to feed the babies. This is also why some first-time rabbit breeders think the does are not feeding the kits or have abandoned the nest. (45 years ago a friend had a doe that gave birth. Since the doe didn't stay with the kits during the day she thought it had abandoned the babies. She bottle fed the kits every 2 hours day and night! This was before we started breeding rabbits, and also pre-internet so no info there. LOL Surprisingly they all survived!
Instead of a top on the box, try putting a piece of cheap drywall (not treated kind) in the cage. Momma will sit or lie on that during cold weather and to spare her feet and hocks from any sharp points on the wire. Untreated is best since therabbits will chew the drywall. Cut the pieces by scoring with a utility knife and breaking them into 8" wide x 16" long for meat breeds. This will give the rabbits a large enough piece that you will not have to replace it for several weeks (they will chew it smaller). You can often get broken pieces of drywall free at Lowes, etc.
Instead of that very large box with 2 compartments, change out your metal boxes for regular size wooden ones. Wood is a naturally insulator while the metal boxes get icy in the winter. Baymule's design of putting screen on the bottom so they stay dry is a good one. I stopped making my nest boxes with tops because some of the larger does would whack their backs when hoping and out and would decide that they did not want their nest in the box.
Baymule's shop light suspended over the cages - or even sitting on top of the wire - also works in severe winter weather. I used those metal bowl shaped shop/auto lights all the time in the barn - with heat lamps for kids and lambs and with standard 100 watt bulbs for the rabbits. I also used to add broken straw scraps to the boxes in the winter and remove extra bedding in hot summer months. I kept a coffee can on top of the cages and stored the extra fur in it. I replaced it at night when I fed. In the summer I would collect extra fur from overly-enthusiastic nest builders and keep it to use in nests whose moms barely pulled any fur. The rabbits didn't care. If one didn't like strange fur, they would just kick it out onto the cage floor.
Instead of a top on the box, try putting a piece of cheap drywall (not treated kind) in the cage. Momma will sit or lie on that during cold weather and to spare her feet and hocks from any sharp points on the wire. Untreated is best since therabbits will chew the drywall. Cut the pieces by scoring with a utility knife and breaking them into 8" wide x 16" long for meat breeds. This will give the rabbits a large enough piece that you will not have to replace it for several weeks (they will chew it smaller). You can often get broken pieces of drywall free at Lowes, etc.
Instead of that very large box with 2 compartments, change out your metal boxes for regular size wooden ones. Wood is a naturally insulator while the metal boxes get icy in the winter. Baymule's design of putting screen on the bottom so they stay dry is a good one. I stopped making my nest boxes with tops because some of the larger does would whack their backs when hoping and out and would decide that they did not want their nest in the box.
Baymule's shop light suspended over the cages - or even sitting on top of the wire - also works in severe winter weather. I used those metal bowl shaped shop/auto lights all the time in the barn - with heat lamps for kids and lambs and with standard 100 watt bulbs for the rabbits. I also used to add broken straw scraps to the boxes in the winter and remove extra bedding in hot summer months. I kept a coffee can on top of the cages and stored the extra fur in it. I replaced it at night when I fed. In the summer I would collect extra fur from overly-enthusiastic nest builders and keep it to use in nests whose moms barely pulled any fur. The rabbits didn't care. If one didn't like strange fur, they would just kick it out onto the cage floor.
SageHill
Herd Master
... and why as kids we always found little rabbit nests --- were told to "leave them alone" --- and we did, but we also watched for when they ventured out.
Ahhh those were good days.
- Thread starter
- #1,525
Larsen Poultry Ranch
Herd Master
Parsley is pulling fur. And I now have a kit in my bra, one of Willow's.
- Thread starter
- #1,526
Larsen Poultry Ranch
Herd Master
Put the kit back since it was trying to popcorn when I uncovered it; it's an opal.
Parsley is kindling right now.
Parsley is kindling right now.
Youngfarmer2019
True BYH Addict
Lucky! The only rabbit I’ve ever seen kindle was one I had to help give birth, all dead babies
I have 8 rabbits I breed and raise for meat, maybe someday I’ll see it…farmerjan
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From a total clueless rabbit person... what is the meaning of "it was trying to popcorn?"
- Thread starter
- #1,529
Larsen Poultry Ranch
Herd Master
The kits are born blind and deaf, so they feel for movement in the nest (like when mom comes to feed them) and jump up like popcorn popping to make contact with mom and find the milk bar. They start opening their eyes around 10 days to 2 weeks old, I think hearing starts around then as well.
The kit was squeaking and jumping, and felt warm so I took that as a sign it was ready to go back into the nest.
- Thread starter
- #1,530
Larsen Poultry Ranch
Herd Master
Mine usually wait until they are undisturbed to give birth, usually overnight or when I'm at work. Someday I'll have a camera set up so I can record it. I haven't had one with issues during kindling thank goodness, I don't know if I would be able to help much. All of my does are skittish and I think me being there would make it worse.Lucky! The only rabbit I’ve ever seen kindle was one I had to help give birth, all dead babies
