Poop!

[Genipher]

When I got our trio of Silver Foxes I slowly started supplimenting their pellets with fresh produce. All three have been doing wonderfully. I keep an eye on the poo to make sure its not watery or showing signs of trouble in the rabbits. All was well for about a month.

Then Honey had a litter of kits. For awhile everything was fine but now her "poop balls" have gotten larger and won't fall through the wire. The plus is she tends to go in one particular spot, whereas before she went wherever she felt like it (dirty rabbit!!). But now, every morning, I have to go out (with gloves) and scrap out all her poo.

The other two (a buck and doe) receive the same ration of greens as Honey and THEIR poo is falling through just fine--no change in size!

The hutch is hard to reach into and no matter how well I clean the wire (and wood), it is still pretty nasty in there. I'm worried that when her kits are big enough to get out of the nesting box they'll be romping in feces.

I have always hated this hutch and now I am seriously considering putting the money out for new cages (whether I build them or buy them ready-made).

Until then...I guess what I'm asking is...could it be her diet that's causing the larger poo pellets? Is this a side effect from having kits? Will the nastiness harm the kits? Any advice?

 

[Queen Mum]

I suspect it has something to do with having babies. Her pelvic floor had to stretch quite a bit to let those babies through and maybe it hasn't shrunk back to normal size yet. I am not an expert on such things, though.

 

[CCourson05]

I suspect it has something to do with having babies. Her pelvic floor had to stretch quite a bit to let those babies through and maybe it hasn't shrunk back to normal size yet. I am not an expert on such things, though.

I'm with Queen Mum. Wait a few weeks. The time it should change is when you take the little ones away. While she is drying up, her pelvis should also shrink. If not before that time!

 

[Genipher]

Thanks everyone!
All this new stuff to learn...!

 

[hoodat]

What size is the floor wire? I find that 1/2X1 takes a lot less cleaning than 1/2X1/2. When I frist started using it I was worried about kits legs going through and getting injured but it doesn't seem to happen.

 

[Genipher]

I'm not sure what size the floor wire is. I didn't build it and I bought the hutch used. Though the holes look smaller than the wire I bought to replace an old cage's floor.

It's gotten a little better these last two days or so. There is still a small pile I have to clear out in the morning, but it's not as huge of a load.

 

[norcal]

Our Chin Mama has poop that often doesn't fit through. Doesn't seem to matter if she currently has kits or not.
Sorry, hope that's not a downer comment.
She's a big bunny though, not sure how big yours are.

 

[autumnprairie]

My does poop is the same way since she has had her kits they are 3 weeks now I think.