THIS is a link to a photobucket album of various bunnies in the colony. And
this is a link to the picture of the nesttunnels in the colony. There used to be some ceramic chimney tunnels in the colony for them to play on, run through. but the nest tunnels turned into a playground after the kits emerged.
Telling the whose is whose. Difficult if you don't catch them early and check the nests, I think. So far I've been very lucky with the girls kindling almost while I watched. CB's kits are always HUGE. FLB's kits are usually longer in the body and may have white paws. Vienna is a blue tort and appears to throw a LOT of blue torts, and the kits are generally smaller than anyone else's.
This last time I found the nests right away, and counted and noted down any colors that were apparent. Then I marked CBs kits with a dab of nail polish. Vienna's were all three blue tort and very small.
It would probably be easier, if I was REALLY concerned about screwing up the pedigrees, by having the does visit the buck...and staggering the breedings.
I did see in this last kindling that the 4th doe, who was NOT bred (she was out of the colony..I thought she was too young to breed at only 5 months)...when she was returned to the colony after Chuck left, she was integrated right away, and she became "auntie Hannah". Earlier, Vienna had not kindled in the Fall, and she was a long suffering Auntie Vienna. The kits would follow her around trying to nurse. :biggrin: She was very very patient with them...just hopping away and jumping up onto a tub to get away.
Watching the rabbits interact is fascinating. They really enjoy grooming each other, and paling around.
If both of your does are bred at the same time, I would probably give them the option of having 2 nest boxes. I do know that in outside colonies, where they can burrow, then make their own burrows...they might clean out an old burrow or re-use one..but I haven't heard of any sharing like I've had with this crew.