They wont stay in the box!!

[MyBabyHasPaws]

The babies are almost 2 weeks (on Sunday) and I cant for the life of me keep them in the nest box! They crawl to the edge, sniff, and then plundge! Then I walk by the cage see them sprawled out and I put them back in, 2 minutes later they're out again! This morning I woke up to pee soaked babies!!!! I dont know who's pee it was, but ive caught Oreo peeing 2 times out of her litter box this week!! So it might be her, or it might be them peeing and then laying and rolling in it, either way its not healthy! I had to clean them this morning and in turn i was late to work and got fussed at *rolls eyes*. Should I line the floor with bedding? Will they eat that?! (right now the floor is bare, I removed the blankie she had because I didnt want them getting stuck and suffocating or something when i'm at work) Is it okay for them to be out of the box already? Will they get fed like that?

The two smoked pearl ones have their eyes open, the runt doesnt.When should I start with the warm damp cloth to the eyes? I read I should help if they dont open their eyes..

This is nerve wrecking, a wonderful experience, but nerve wrecking. No more bunny babies for Maria ever again!!!!!!

 

[LakeCondo]

Could you fasten something to the edge,like cardboard & angled down to the floor, so they would roll or slide down rather than fall? Or would this just made them do it more? So maybe a lip to the edge would be better.

 

[MyBabyHasPaws]

If I did that I think they would get stuck there since it would be at an angle? I could def try and see if it will work. I noticed the gray ones know how to get back in! The runt does not. Since the weekend is here i'm sure I'll be experimenting more. I have a trip to Home Depot in order, maybe I can figure something out.

Also, they're becoming very interested in her Alfalfa hay!

 

[wendymac]

Relax, my child. LOL They're now 2 weeks old. The days of laying in a heap in the nest box are over. Some say you can put the nest box on its side, so they can go in and out. I usually just pull the whole thing out and then put hay in the corner of the cage for them.

This is when the fun starts! They'll start tiptoeing around, nibbling on pellets and hay, and figuring out where Mom is and will try to grab a drink from her whenever she makes the mistake of laying flat on her side or sits up to eat. LOL

Does the runt have tiny slits yet? Or still completely closed?

 

[MyBabyHasPaws]

OHHHHH! Bless you oh wise leader! LOLOL!

So I can remove the box completely? That would be awesome and give way more space! The nest box is huge! I can put a good chunk of hay there too.. what about pee pee? Should I put aspen shavings down? Is that safe?

The runt does have slits! So I think it should happen soon.

Thanks so much Wendy!

 

[MyBabyHasPaws]

Oh if there is no nest box, she will let them nurse while she lays, right? She's pretty nasty about it. Once one drops to the floor and on its back looking for a nipple she freaks out and jumps to the other side of the cage!

 

[MyBabyHasPaws]

Help... please!

 

[DharmaBuns]

They should be fine if, like others have said, you put some straw or hay in one corner. I usually end up taking the nestbox out at around 2 weeks myself too. They barely spend any time in it and after having a really unfortunate accident of a young kit somehow getting UNDERNEATH the nestbox and mama had obviously jumped in the box and crushed it...I don't take chances anymore. I also did learn to zip-tie the nestbox to the side and bottom of the cage so it can't happen again.

They will usually try to grab mom to nurse at a "weak" moment. If she's standing there eating they will probably also try to grab a snack, hehe. Just be sure to have pellets and water that they can reach themselves, as they will start trying to much on them soon when they see how much mommy loves to chew on them.

Sometimes the does can be a little rough when a kit is trying to nurse. I have seen kits that were trying to nurse hang on for dear life while mommy is hopping around the cage. They should all be able to find time to get some milk

 

[DharmaBuns]

As for the shavings, I used kiln dried pine and I've never had a problem. I don't have the same issue since I do have wire-bottomed cages but I think as long as you change it often and make sure that there's not a lot of dust it should be fine.

I actually put it IN my nestboxes underneath the hay in the winter to add some extra warmth and I've never had any issues with it.

 

[MyBabyHasPaws]

Thank you so much! I'm actually looking forward to going home and tossing that thing out now. I also put down a nice layer of aspen shaving in the nest box before mom built her nest. I think i'll lightly line the floor with it, just so they dont get pee soaked (I hate that!).

I'm going to update with pix this weekend

 

[majorv]

If the runt is close to 14 days then you may want to gently see if you can open them after wiping them some with a warm wet cloth. It would just be better if he's going to be loose in the cage,so he can see where he's going. The doe isn't going to let them feed from her whenever they want.That's when you'll see them start to nibble on pellets and hay. The nice thing about does with litters is thatthey require very little intervention on our part.

 

[wendymac]

:yeahthat: She'll still only let them nurse during her regularly scheduled nursing times. The rest of the time they try to sneak in and grab a quick sip. You're going to die laughing the first time you see one take off 100mph, dive-bomb and flip over, and try to nurse. Then Mom jumps off and baby goes about its business...looking for the next opportune time. LOL

 

[MyBabyHasPaws]

No way! Then run up like that??? Lol I can't wait!

When I got home from work the runt had one eye open and one closed. I built the nic cage and was going to wipe his eye after but I didn't need too it was open, not much but it is. I noticed they start out almost looking like they are squinting and open up wider daily, does that sound right?

 

[MyBabyHasPaws]

I didnt use bedding ..decided on a nice soft blankie

 

[woahlookitsme]

Sounds about right so after the eyes open then comes the fluffy baby hair and they just get cuter from there! So excited to watch them grow

 

[DharmaBuns]

woahlookitsme wrote:

Sounds about right so after the eyes open then comes the fluffy baby hair and they just get cuter from there! So excited to watch them grow

Ohhh the fluffy baby hair and just so wonderful. And then..the chubby little cheeks and watching their first steps and hops...it's really such a great thing to watch

 

[wendymac]

Well, how are the munchkins doing?? Are they driving their mother up a wall yet? LOL And where, oh where, are updated pics? *looks around in dismay*

 

[bhoffman]

I wonder the same thing. Where are new pics??

 

[Nancy McClelland]

:yeahthat:

 

[MyBabyHasPaws]

Soooo sorry guys! I have been busy building the bunny palace (NIC cage lol). I took a few shots but didnt upload to my photobucket (shame on me!) I do have one pic though. I will give you all more later!

They are hoping ALL OVER the place! The little runt is the fiesty one, and boy can he jump lol! Their names are changing. I hope the black one is a boy because my husband named him Onyx and he belongs to him, they cuddle so nicely!! They are eating hay and Ive caught them nibbling on pellets here and there.

What are the bonding rates between siblings.. is it possible? I will be getting ALL of them neutered/spayed but I really wanted them to be together.. i guess time will tell..

here's that one pic for now!