Babies jumping out of Nesting Box

[MimiMaryland]

Polly’s babies are a little over 2 weeks now and they began getting out of the nesting box, running up the condo ladder chasing Polly to eat. Lol, yes it’s funny to watch but I have a few questions.

1.  I noticed when she was feeding them earlier this morning, one was out of the box so it probably did not get fed.  Should I put a larger box in the condo so they cannot get out and miss a feeding?

2.  Should I move them to the large one level crate I have and put them in a larger box that may fit better since it is higher without obstruction with being bi-leveled.

3. Should I put them in the smaller powder room in a box or should I just put them in a litter box?

4. Do they need to be in a box at all at this point since they are so mobile if they are all in one crate or small room? I thought they do since they are still feeding but boy are they moving around.

I don’t want them to miss a feeding and not sure when I should move them.  Eddie, their dad is separated in another room nearby since their birth.  He’s also since been neutered though I let him in the room when they are caged so they can see each other.

P.S. Last night one of the babies was actually sitting outside the crate altogether with the door latched, don’t know how he/she managed that one.

Please advise.

Thanks

[tanlover14]

Hey there –

Sorry I can’t be much help, hopefully another BB’er will come along who has more experience with newborns.

I just thought I would advise not to let the male in with them at all (even with a cage in between). I’m not sure how long ago you had him neutered but for 4-6 weeks after the neuter they can still impregnate a female.. You do NOT want a second litter on your hands!

[MimiMaryland]

Thanks glad someone responded. Lol

Yes, I am keeping them separated.  When he is in the family room she is in the crate.  

 

[Cochin]

Tip the nest box over. They don’t need it upright, and she doesn’t need to feed in it anymore. At 2 weeks they should be able to reside in it if needed, but they’ll start using it as a litter box, and well.. It goes downhill fast, haha. So set it on its side.

Not sure i understand this one. You’re asking if they should be in a single level vs bi level? How far is the fall in the bi level? Babies are clumsy, and I’d be worried they’d fall off it. So I’d say single level would be better.

Again, a bit confused. You’re asking if they should be in a litter box or a powder room… ? You mean as a nest box? Well (and to answer you’re last question) the nest box should be on its side, though leaving it in there is ideal.

Sorry, I might be missing something, but I answered to the best of my abilities, LOL. And I’m currently going through your issue – got a free ‘buck’ off CL (filthy home, underweight, etc. had to get ‘him’ ) and well… A quick check with the vet – she’s due around the 11th ! All these answers came from my breeder friend, whose helping me with my litter, haha.

[MimiMaryland]

Thanks, I’m just worried about all the kits eating if they’re not in the box with her.  I read that they can start eating hay in addition to being nursed. Do you know if they will come to her to feed if they’re not near her when she starts to feed the litter?

Yes, you are right about keeping them in the one level crate.  The powder room is the bathroom on our main floor which is larger and no one hardly uses it.  I was thinking about putting their box in there with their mom.

I hope things work out easily with your new litter.  i didn’t even know our female was pregnant until I discovered the kits in the crate. (Surprise).  I’m glad you were able to give the buck a good home.  The babies are adorable and jumping around now with eyes fully open now.  Keep us posted to your new litter when they arrive.

[Cochin]

Well, he says that they’ll be fine if they miss a feeding or 2. He also says to offer plain, raw oats – it’s good for milk production and good for the kits

Ah, that makes sense. Keeping them in the activity room (with an area to hide, of course) is best since it’ll make them well socialized

Wow, sounds like a fun surprise, haha. And ya, I was glad I got her. She looks just like my Charlie – same color, same head shape and everything! It’s scary, haha. She’s a bit lighter though.

[MoveDiagonally]

Oats are not the best for bunnies as starch can cause diarrhea and bloat. It’s recommended that nursing mothers have access to hay and unlimited food (hay, pellets, and veggies if they normally eat them). The babies will likely start nibbling on them in the next week or so. The link below says 3 weeks but other sources say you can start offering them as early as 2 weeks. I think for the most part they can have access to what their mother is eating and start to nibble on it when they’re ready.

General diet recommendations for younger rabbits:

http://rabbit.org/faq-diet/

What quantities of food should I feed babies and “teenagers”?
Birth to 3 weeks–mother’s milk
3 to 4 weeks–mother’s milk, nibbles of alfalfa and pellets
4 to 7 weeks–mother’s milk, access to alfalfa and pellets
7 weeks to 7 months–unlimited pellets, unlimited hay (plus see 12 weeks below)
12 weeks–introduce vegetables (one at a time, quantities under 1/2 oz.)

I would turn the nest box on it’s side as CBL recommended. This seems to be what most people recommended when I did a google search. Common consensus seems to be that it can be removed at 3 weeks or so.

[MimiMaryland]

My family love the rabbits and her kits!  My hubby isn’t really a pet person and he comes home and wanders over and chuckles at the lil balls of energy they are emerging into.  Pets add such love and they are great stress breakers because you can relax when with them…. well unless you’re chasing one to put them back in their room or crate.  Eddie I’m happy to say is so much more tame with his house training now that he’s been neutered.  He goes in the box now when he’s out in the house, he just likes jumping up on furniture in his quest for exploration.  

I plan on getting Polly fixed this spring or summer to hopefully prevent any possible health conditions I’ve been reading about.  She’s neater in her pet condo with house training than outside, but they both are still young despite being new parents at 5 months.  The funny thing is she’s black and white and he’s brown and none of the kits are brown… three black with thin strips of white and two grey, although one looks like its turning white, but that could be an illusion. lol

Your rabbits sound adorable, it sounds like you are enjoying them as well! 

[MimiMaryland]

Thank you MoveDiagonally,

There is so much help and information on a good forum and I’m happy to have found this one.  Being educated is so important to the pets as well as the household in caring properly for our pets.  Although I’m from the country in Tennessee and raised pets all my life, there is still so much I still am learning.  I’ve got to look at their hay again, I’m not sure if its Timothy Hay or Alfafa, assuming its different.  I’m grateful for the nearby Walmart because they definitely make it easier for me and is affordable for their food supplies.  The adults have been eating the hay, pellets and I sprinkle in lettuce and pieces of an apple occasionally, I want to try some broccoli and celery too. Yesterday I did notice the kits munching a little on the hay, which should help fill their lil bellies and takes the total stress off of mommy.

I did read that the wire flooring is not good for the rabbits feet and the condo has this type of flooring on the lower level, although I do have a couple of ceramic tiles in there which the parents love because it is cool to their skin. They both love to hang out in the fireplace.  I jokingly told the kids I should have named Polly Cinderella since she first took to going in there.  I did have to close up the shoot since she tried to climb up there at first. 

Thank you both!

[Cochin]

MoveDiagonolly – Actually, oats are great for new tummies and do the mom wonders, as I believe it adds extra calcium to her, taking some stress off her bones and such (making milk takes a whole lotta calcium). So adding oats is wonderful, and is a good ‘starter food’. It also prevents things like weaning enteris (which, unless you choose to wean young, you won’t have issues with)

And yes, rabbits have been very enjoyable. I’m looking forward really to my litter – not sure where they’ll end up if I get 12, but I have a few homes listed already. I’m just waiting for her to pull fur now!

[MoveDiagonally]

CBL – My information on oats being bad for bunnies comes from articles written by biologists and vets (and my own vet). Alfalfa is much higher in calcium and provides extra calories for growing/nursing bunnies. I think alfalfa is preferable as it doesn’t usually cause the same intestinal issues that oats can. 

MM –

There is definitely a learning curve with bunnies. A lot of us come into bunny ownership knowing very little about them! I know I sure didn’t. Alfalfa and Timothy hay are different. Timothy is a grass hay and alfalfa is a legume hay. Alfalfa is great for young/growing bunnies or nursing mothers but usually too rich/caloric for non-nursing adult rabbits. If you live somewhere with a local feed store/farms then you might be able to find great deals on local hay. If you have room to store a bale of hay you can save even more money. I spend about $13 for a bale of hay that lasts my 5 about 2-3 months. 

My bunnies are total pigs with their daily salads… Well… They’re piggies with everything I feed them really.

[tanlover14]

Do you know how big your bale is, MD? I’m popping in with curiosity as my bale only costs $5 but lasts my five less than a month. It’s around 40-50 lbs. But they eat so much more than they used to with the Oxbow Orchard Grass. That used to last about a month and a half to two months. I’m EXTREMELY lucky if I get it to last three weeks now. Oy!

Mimi, I’m curious as to what brand of pellets you are feeding? The one time I was at a Wal-Mart near us I wasn’t too impressed as their foods had some not so healthy treats mixed in. I can’t remember if they had one without the mix-ins or not.

I consulted with a breeder (the one I got my Tans from) and she also said, no oats – but give her unlimited alfalfa pellets along with lots of hay and daily veggies. She also said the babies will begin nibbling on moms food as they become more curious about the good stuff she’s got, ahaha!    I was curious and asked her opinion since there seemed to be a difference of opinion on oats and wanted to know if it were perhaps a breeder preference.  Unfortunately, a lot of breeders will stick with whatever is the cheapest and easiest, even if its not the best for their health.  (No offense to anyone but after being involved with rescue work, it’s a hard truth many need to accept).

[Cochin]

Ok, can I say I’m officially jealous? I’ve never seen a $5 bale. Ever. Let alone a 50lb $5 bale. More like $30 for a 50lb bale.

So, I was getting confused since MD, I DO trust you however I’m gonna disagree with you, and I asked on a breeder forum what the general opinion on oats was. Well, it seems that oats – like Quaker, ground, non instant, thicker oats, plain- is a wonderful thing to feed youngins. It doesn’t cause bloat nor enteris, in fact, it helps cure both things. Breeders will also give oats to the kits while they’ll in the box to encourage them eating solids sooner, and take some stress of the doe, and encourages weight gain (so they can be weaned earlier with less stress on their bodies).
So oats is a good food for the babies to nibble on. Each to their though, and I don’t mean disrespect or a debate or anything.

OP – what protein % is your food? 12% is usually what HRS suggests, but a nursing doe should have 18%.

[MoveDiagonally]

TL – I had to ask my husband because he’s the main hay buyer (heavy and awkward for me to carry). He told me they are 80lbs and he buys them every 1.5-2 months so I over estimated on that. O.o I don’t even know what’s going on in my own house, lol.

On pellets at Wal-Mart, I think they usually have Purina Fiber3 which is an alright pellet. The ingredients and analysis are fairly similar to Oxbow Adult Essentials. It’s 1% higher in protein, 4-5% lower in fiber (but still within recs), and less than 1% higher in calcium. It’s a plain pellet and one of the better low cost options out there, imo. For a nursing doe and babies though Purina Show (more fat and protein, less fiber but still within recs) wouldn’t be bad either I think especially if they eat a bunch of hay (which is the main fiber source for a bunny anyway). I’m not sure if they have these at MM’s local Wal-Mart though. I have way too many spreadsheets about bunnies >.< I need a new hobby!

[MoveDiagonally]

So, I was getting confused since MD, I DO trust you however I’m gonna disagree with you, and I asked on a breeder forum what the general opinion on oats was. Well, it seems that oats – like Quaker, ground, non instant, thicker oats, plain- is a wonderful thing to feed youngins. It doesn’t cause bloat nor enteris, in fact, it helps cure both things. Breeders will also give oats to the kits while they’ll in the box to encourage them eating solids sooner, and take some stress of the doe, and encourages weight gain (so they can be weaned earlier with less stress on their bodies).
So oats is a good food for the babies to nibble on. Each to their though, and I don’t mean disrespect or a debate or anything.

It’s up to MimiMaryland to choose what she thinks is best for her bunnies at this point. Let’s just agree to disagree on the subject. No worries, I’m not offended or anything.  

[MimiMaryland]

Ohh, I thought as long as it’s Timothy Hay it would be ok.  Today I did purchase some Alfafa for the babies in a neat box that they are enjoying knocking over.  I did see oats in the pet store for rabbits but they seem to be striving with their current diet their on right now.  I do like to keep it interesting for them.  I will pay closer attention to the pellets since I don’t think I knew there was a big difference last time I purchased.  

I haven’t purchased hay by the bulk yet but that may be the next move.  I’m not a breeder so getting the cheapest isn’t my objective tho price is a consideration.  It was great to see the babies and mum nibble away at the Alfafa today.  Funny thing is the pet store workers do not always know the right answers so I come here to the web to try and make sure I’m doing the best for our lil bunnies!

I will look for the Oxbow Orchard next time. The bunnies are such a joy to watch they can be super active one minute then immediately fall asleep in your hand or gather together in a pile.  I have a water dish in the condo for mum and they like to skinny dip in it.  I may take it up at night when it gets cooler since their condo is in front of a window and I keep it cracked jus a tad for a lil ventilation and fresh air. 

[Cochin]

Oh, I just looked up purina show only has 15% min protien, where a nursing rabbit needs ~18%. I’d reccommend going to a local feed store (like TSC, or some sort of store that sells goat feed, chicken feed, etc.) and look at the protien %. Usually the bags are like #50, but you’ll probably find some smaller ones. I like the buy the big ones so that I go shopping less often, though if you don’t want to, then when picking out food make sure the min protien is 17% or 18%

[MimiMaryland]

Lol, i have to admit the rabbits have stolen my heart.  Everyday they are the first things I want to check on.  My kids love them too, but I do the main overseeing since they can become distracted easily.

Thanks for the information on th food and the nutrients that they get from it.  Both bunnies and mum need the right stuff so strive.  I was wondering how much fresh veggies should I give her.  They seem to eat ceaselessly so I never know when she’s had enough lettuce tho I give her a small hand of it twice a day.  

Today I took the top off of an extra crate and put it down over some newspaper and put the bunnies there on in front of fireplace on the slate so we could watch them and allow them to run around without getting into anything.  We let Polly out too and even opened up the gate in case she wanted to feed them but she wasn’t really interested in doing anything but eating their Alfafa, drinking the water and then retreating to the top of the chew hut we put in there for them to escape the lil kits who wanted to be fed by mum. 

Eddie gets out everyday as well and it was sweet to see him come up to the crate and look at his kits. Don’t know if he has a clue but cute just the same.  Of course Polly was seperate in her condo while he was out.

[BB Administrator]

Please note that in this forum our focus is on individual rabbit health, we are not fully equipped to deal with newborn litter education. Our focus is on the bunny someone adopted, bought or acquired, but not on pregnant or nursing does and their kits. This can require a different kind of knowledge and advice. We may have some bits and pieces that are helpful, and there are some here that do have first hand experience with accidental oops litters, but in general BinkyBunny.com is not the best resource for pregnant and/or nursing does and their kits. We can offer some links (and check out our resource page and scroll down to oops litter) but I would suggest that along with the advice you receive here regarding this matter, you find resources dedicated to helping you with nursing does and kits.

Helloworld!!

[Author]

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