Nest Materials?

[irishbunny]

What kind of materials can you use to make kits nest extra snuggly during Winter? Other then hay and straw?

 

[BlueGiants]

I like a nice thick (2"-3") layer of wood shavings in the bottom of the box and I try to spread it up the sides a bit if I can...with a layer of clean straw on top. I prefer wooden boxes during the winter (since the metal conducts coldtoo well!). If I have to use a metal box, I cut corrogated cardboard toline the floor and insides so the babies can't lay up against the cold metal.

The very best insulating material is Momma's fur... nothing beats the warmth. I do keep a bag of fur from brushing and shedding, just incase someone gets a little stingy with their fur.... to suppliment the nest if necessary.

If it's going to be very cold, (below 10 F)I will either use an electric nestbox heater or bring the nestbox inside between feedings (at least until they open their eyes).

 

[irishbunny]

Thanks! The temp is cold but is warming up and hasn't been freezing, the puddles and stuff haven't frozen in a few days.

 

[Flashy]

Do you have babies?

 

[irishbunny]

Nope, not yet due next week

 

[NZminilops]

I'm not sure on this, but I have heard you can use lint from the clothes drier. I have perfume free washing powder, so there is no smell. I've been collecting drier lint lately in case Ceara has bubs. I was actually going to ask someone about the lint thing as I did read it on here.

 

[Sabine]

I sugested Safe Bed to Grace earlier. Has anyone experience with that. i use it for my gerbil and it's like shredded toilet patper.

 

[Flashy]

Was it a deliberate breeding?

Wow, that must have been quick after her lost litter.

 

[Flashy]

Sabine wrote:

I sugested Safe Bed to Grace earlier. Has anyone experience with that. i use it for my gerbil and it's like shredded toilet patper.

I imagine that would get poo and wee stuck on it quite quick and need to be changed very regularly to remain hygeinic for the kits (more regularly than is advised). I think it would keep the soiling surrounding them as opposed to allowing it to drain away.

You can stick things like a Snugglesafe (Polly uses a hot water bottle) to the underside of the hutch (as in on the outside, not in the hutch) underneath the nest to provide some warmth.

 

[Sabine]

Flashy wrote:

Sabine wrote:

I sugested Safe Bed to Grace earlier. Has anyone experience with that. i use it for my gerbil and it's like shredded toilet patper.

I imagine that would get poo and wee stuck on it quite quick and need to be changed very regularly to remain hygeinic for the kits (more regularly than is advised). I think it would keep the soiling surrounding them as opposed to allowing it to drain away.

You can stick things like a Snugglesafe (Polly uses a hot water bottle) to the underside of the hutch (as in on the outside, not in the hutch) underneath the nest to provide some warmth.

I see . Never thought about the pee and poo. Good point.

 

[irishbunny]

Flashy wrote:

Was it a deliberate breeding?

Wow, that must have been quick after her lost litter.

Yup this one was, no not really, I searched the forum about it and the recommended time after is three days.

 

[irishbunny]

Flashy wrote:

Sabine wrote:

I sugested Safe Bed to Grace earlier. Has anyone experience with that. i use it for my gerbil and it's like shredded toilet patper.

I imagine that would get poo and wee stuck on it quite quick and need to be changed very regularly to remain hygeinic for the kits (more regularly than is advised). I think it would keep the soiling surrounding them as opposed to allowing it to drain away.

You can stick things like a Snugglesafe (Polly uses a hot water bottle) to the underside of the hutch (as in on the outside, not in the hutch) underneath the nest to provide some warmth.

Hot water bottle thing sounds good.

 

[BlueGiants]

Most of my Does willclean upany baby poops for the first 2 weeks. (MOST, not all... another good reason to check litters daily!) But that helps keep the nest cleaner.

After 2 weeks, when their eyes open, I find a lot of the babieswill crawl to a front corner of the box to deficate and urinate. Gives me one spot that has to be cleaned out instead of the whole box. One thing I do watch for, especially during the winter, is wettness in thefur lining the nest. Check the nest daily and make sure it's dry. Baby pee can soak the fur and chill the babies. If it does get wet, it HAS to be removed/replaced.

Soft Dryer lint is OK as long as you don't use fabric softeners or dryersheets. (Both can leave a residual chemical that can affect their breathing.)

 

[irishbunny]

BlueGiants wrote:

Most of my Does willclean upany baby poops for the first 2 weeks. (MOST, not all... another good reason to check litters daily!) But that helps keep the nest cleaner.

After 2 weeks, when their eyes open, I find a lot of the babieswill crawl to a front corner of the box to deficate and urinate. Gives me one spot that has to be cleaned out instead of the whole box. One thing I do watch for, especially during the winter, is wettness in thefur lining the nest. Check the nest daily and make sure it's dry. Baby pee can soak the fur and chill the babies. If it does get wet, it HAS to be removed/replaced.

Soft Dryer lint is OK as long as you don't use fabric softeners or dryersheets. (Both can leave a residual chemical that can affect their breathing.)

Thanks alot, I never though of the pee chilling the babies I'll keep it in mind!

 

[paul2641]

Flashy wrote:

Sabine wrote:

I sugested Safe Bed to Grace earlier. Has anyone experience with that. i use it for my gerbil and it's like shredded toilet patper.

I imagine that would get poo and wee stuck on it quite quick and need to be changed very regularly to remain hygeinic for the kits (more regularly than is advised). I think it would keep the soiling surrounding them as opposed to allowing it to drain away.

You can stick things like a Snugglesafe (Polly uses a hot water bottle) to the underside of the hutch (as in on the outside, not in the hutch) underneath the nest to provide some warmth.

Yup I used a hot water bottle when I had my kits and it kept them real warm.

 

[irishbunny]

Would this stuff be safe to give her? I used to use it for my hamster to make a nest with, it's like fluff, it insulates nests really well and is cosy. I would be worried about them getting tangled in it like with Angora fur but I'd shred it up into small pieces, would there be anything bad in it?

 

[Sabine]

irishbunny wrote:

Would this stuff be safe to give her? I used to use it for my hamster to make a nest with, it's like fluff, it insulates nests really well and is cosy. I would be worried about them getting tangled in it like with Angora fur but I'd shred it up into small pieces, would there be anything bad in it?

Is that the safe bed? Maybe I got the name wrong. The stuff \i was thinking of looked different. i must try and check it out

 

[irishbunny]

I didn't even notice the bag said safe bed lol, I just remember using a different brand of this for my hamster, I think it would make the nest snug but I just want to make sure it's safe first.

 

[paul2641]

irishbunny wrote:

I didn't even notice the bag said safe bed lol, I just remember using a different brand of this for my hamster, I think it would make the nest snug but I just want to make sure it's safe first.

We use this for are hamster too and she loves it, we let her make her own nest she spends ages making it, she would be offended if I dared put in a premade nest. Ohh I wouldn't use it just to be on the safe side. Ohh What I think worked a TREAT to keep my kits warm was an ovan mit, When they really wanted to get warm they crawled into one of them. Defo use an ovan mit.

 

[BlueCamasRabbitry]

Oh I didn't even know you'd bred your bunnies :shock:

When is she due?

Emily