I placed ten nest boxes with does today. It was very exciting to see most of the does show interest in the boxes. I had a nice group of kits in December, but since then, I haven't had many. Part of that was because I'm trying to cut down. But I also had some bad luck with does that missed and dead litters.
I have two types of nest boxes. The first type is made from plywood with a hardware cloth bottom. There were made according to the nest box plans available on my website. The second type is made from dimensional lumber (1 x 8 and 1 x 4). This second type also has a hardware cloth bottom.
Here are the advantages of the plywood nest boxes:
- They are very inexpensive to build - less than $3 each
- They resist cracking
- They withstand gnawing pretty well
- They withstand being soaked in disinfectant
Here are some disadvantages to the plywood nest boxes:
- It is more difficult to cut up a sheet of plywood than to cut dimensional lumber
- The plywood nest boxes are heavy
Below are some advantages of the lumber nest boxes:
- They are more attractive than plywood nest boxes (important if they are given as awards)
- They are lightweight
- They clean easily because of the smoother surface
Some disadvantages of lumber nest boxes include:
- They cost almost twice as much to build as the plywood nest boxes
- They float when soaked in a disinfectant solution
- The pieces crack more easily both while being built (pre-drilling is beneficial) and after
- The does can do more damage more easily if they decide to gnaw on them
Both types of nest box are serviceable. I am adding dimensional lumber boxes to my collection because the weight of the boxes is a big issue to me. I am a bit of a "hover mother" when it comes to my babies, so that means a lot of taking boxes in and out of the cages. Having lighter boxes, even if they don't last as many years, will mean a lot to me in terms of the energy it takes to raise my babies the way I like to. If I had just a litter or two at a time, it probably wouldn't make as much difference, but it is not unusual for me to breed a dozen does at one time.
Laurie StroupeThe Nature Trail Rabbitry
Holland Lops Of Distinction
Precious Pet Rabbits
Pet Rabbit Care Information, Quality Pet Rabbit Breeders, and Rabbit Fun
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