Unexpected babies-who is the mother??

[hemet dennis]

We were keeping nest boxes in the cages 24/7 but all they do is pee and poop in them and eat the hay out of it. These boxes are wooden so the pee soaks into them. We had to rebuild new nest boxes because they ruined those. That is why we were watching for signs of pregnancy.

I do not appreciate the rudeness helmet dennis. I am learning and was doing the best I can. They did not look pregnant, act pregnant and on top of that they've gone at least a year with no babies so we were pretty sure they weren't going to have any but we were giving it one last go. I found the babies quickly and they are doing fine now. It's a rookie mistake, that's all. If you have helpful advice I am glad to hear it but the capital letters, excessive exclamation marks, head-banging smiley and slap in the face smiley weren't necessary.

When you take an animal and put it in a cage that makes YOU responsible for everything to care for them. You can make nest boxes with wire bottoms for does that pee in them and anytime you put a nest box in to early most will poop and pee in them. To clean nest boxes spray with bleach water and set out in the sun. There are nest boxes with replaceable bottoms. Did you do any research before deciding to get rabbits ?
Where did you get the idea to leave the bucks and does together ? Their are some people that raise rabbits in a colony setting but there is always a kindling spot for them 24/7.
You can change my name to whatever makes you feel better about yourself, but next time you decide to get a new animal do so research not for me or you but for the animal.

 

[KDailey]

The name change was just a mis-read of your name. Nothing was intended by it and I apologize.

And I did do research and my neighbor raised rabbits for a long time. Most of my information came from her and most of it lined up with what I read on the internet. I've never heard of nest boxes with wire bottoms. Excuse me for not happening onto the correct website to read about them. Now I know.

As far as leaving them with the buck, as I mentioned before these does haven't had any kits in the last year no matter how many times they were put in with the bucks so we figured they were infertile or had some other problem that was preventing them from having babies. Leaving them in with the buck was a last ditch effort. They've been in with the bucks for several months and the one doe is just now having babies. All previous breedings we kept track of when they should be due and put nest boxes in accordingly only to have no babies. We had been doing everything right up until this moment. We have now put a nest box in with the other doe just in case.

Some people's attitudes just amaze me. I come here to learn and find help. Yes I made a mistake but everything turned out ok and I'm just trying to get more advice so this doesn't happen again. I'm sure everyone here has had a boo-boo happen some time in their animal-raising career and they probably learned from it and it didn't happen again or they knew what to do if it did. I am more than happy to listen to any advice you have to offer, such as the wire bottomed nest boxes (I really hadn't heard about them or thought of them myself) but the attitude really isn't necessary.

I also have horses, chickens, ducks and geese and I've done research about every single species before I got them. This is the first time I've ever had anything like this happen. I even have a bottle calf we had to take when it's mama couldn't feed it and she is doing wonderfully. I'm not an uncaring person and I didn't do this intentionally. It should be proof enough that I care that I came here and asked questions and for advice. If I didn't care I wouldn't have asked now would I?

 

[PinkFox]

KDailey i wouldnt worry too much, they look nice and healthy, just watch them for growth (assuming this is momma they should grow like little weeds lol, my kits have almost trippled in size in a week there little piggies lol)
poeple are passionate and some people have no tact or manners...
i guess sometimes the "more flies with honey than vinegar" line goes amiss somewhere, just dust it off, you found them in time you know better for the future...there will always be at least one person who not only rains on the parade but stomps all over it too so try not to sweat the petty stuff.

wonder why it took so long for a sucessfull litter though?! how old are the buck and does? and whats your weather been like? (heat effects fertility)

Glad they sem to be doing fine...generally by now if you were ging to loose any due to wrong do/not feeding it would have happend by now so looks like you definatly got the right girl in all.

 

[RPC]

Congrats on the new kits they look nice. I understand what you are saying about leaving the does with the bucks and not keeping a nesting box in there. I think I would have done that same thing and waited to see fur being pulled. Good luck and I hope you have fat, healthy, and happy bunnies.

 

[lastfling]

As far as wire bottom nest boxes - that's what I use and have built. I line the bottom of mine with cardboard cut to fit the inside dimensions of the box. What I find is that normally the doe will scratch, dig it out, but if placed in two layers, she normally doesn't go thru to the wire. The advantage is that for those doe's that like to use the box as a restroom, the cardboard can be easily replaced. Same is true for the kits over time, if/when the bottom gets dirty, just replace the cardboard. In cold weather I also place a piece of sheetrock, again cut to the size of the box, under the box for insulation from the cold, in case the cardboard is dug up.

 

[hemet dennis]

As far as wire bottom nest boxes - that's what I use and have built. I line the bottom of mine with cardboard cut to fit the inside dimensions of the box. What I find is that normally the doe will scratch, dig it out, but if placed in two layers, she normally doesn't go thru to the wire. The advantage is that for those doe's that like to use the box as a restroom, the cardboard can be easily replaced. Same is true for the kits over time, if/when the bottom gets dirty, just replace the cardboard. In cold weather I also place a piece of sheetrock, again cut to the size of the box, under the box for insulation from the cold, in case the cardboard is dug up.

And with nothing under it keeps them cooler in the heat.