Thumperina
Well-Known Member
We have 2 young rabbits, born inJanuary, so they should be about 5 months old. Not sure about the breed, but femaly looks like brown rabbit under letters "it" in the word "rabbit" in the header (with ears up). They have a hutch where they go for a night. Otherwise they have fenced backyard to run around where they spend a day. We live in Kansas, it will begetting really hot soon. In the hot daysin the past I was taking them inside when I saw they didnot do very well.
We have several problems with habitat. I would love to have the hutch in the backyard as well, butbackyard faces west and there is absolutely no trees so it gets miserably hot in the afternoon. There is a large deckon the backso the rabbits like to sit under it on the cooler cement. The hutch is located at the side of the house. Another problem is that rabbits can't get in and out of it by themselves --- it has opening only on the top. So I take them out and in every day (have to pick them up).
The male has been mounting the female during the last month. I don't know if she is pregnant or not but she is acting strange. We have AC unit on the back that stands on the piece of cement. She digged a long hole going underground under that cement. Strange thing is that she is opening and closing the hole with the dirt back and forth. If I take a shovel and open the hole, in a little bit I will find the entrance covered with dirt. So I left it along. Today she spent a day bringing hay and grass in her mouth into that long underground hole. Is she making a nest? I haven't noticed any hair pulling so far. Are babies going to survive in that tunnel if she constantly covering the entrance with dirt? How should we use AC unit? it makes a lot of noise. We haven't been using it for the last week as it was cool.
I know it is cooler underground. But otherwise that spot is under direct sunlight. Forecast shows 85F for the next 10 days. I will try to provide shade in that area making a canopy.
The main question is: should I keep taking her to thehutch for a night? We are trying to modify the hutch so they can get in and out without being picked up. The fence is also needed around the hutch, this is a question of time.
Should I let her have babies in that underground hole? How to use AC then? Should I restrict the male from that area? Does mama rabbit need privacy? Is there any way to say how soon the babies are coming? I am desperate. I don't want to harm my dear Thumperina, she is so smart. And I don't want her children to die. Thanks God, semester at the college is over so I can contribute more time to this problem.
Please help me with advise!
We have several problems with habitat. I would love to have the hutch in the backyard as well, butbackyard faces west and there is absolutely no trees so it gets miserably hot in the afternoon. There is a large deckon the backso the rabbits like to sit under it on the cooler cement. The hutch is located at the side of the house. Another problem is that rabbits can't get in and out of it by themselves --- it has opening only on the top. So I take them out and in every day (have to pick them up).
The male has been mounting the female during the last month. I don't know if she is pregnant or not but she is acting strange. We have AC unit on the back that stands on the piece of cement. She digged a long hole going underground under that cement. Strange thing is that she is opening and closing the hole with the dirt back and forth. If I take a shovel and open the hole, in a little bit I will find the entrance covered with dirt. So I left it along. Today she spent a day bringing hay and grass in her mouth into that long underground hole. Is she making a nest? I haven't noticed any hair pulling so far. Are babies going to survive in that tunnel if she constantly covering the entrance with dirt? How should we use AC unit? it makes a lot of noise. We haven't been using it for the last week as it was cool.
I know it is cooler underground. But otherwise that spot is under direct sunlight. Forecast shows 85F for the next 10 days. I will try to provide shade in that area making a canopy.
The main question is: should I keep taking her to thehutch for a night? We are trying to modify the hutch so they can get in and out without being picked up. The fence is also needed around the hutch, this is a question of time.
Should I let her have babies in that underground hole? How to use AC then? Should I restrict the male from that area? Does mama rabbit need privacy? Is there any way to say how soon the babies are coming? I am desperate. I don't want to harm my dear Thumperina, she is so smart. And I don't want her children to die. Thanks God, semester at the college is over so I can contribute more time to this problem.
Please help me with advise!