28 days after you breed your doe, it is time to put in the nest box.
The required size of the nest box ranges in size from breed to breed but for a Dutch rabbit it should be no smaller than 14" x 7" x 9". There are several types of nest box including solid wood or those made of sheet metal with a drop in wooden bottom.
Some does may want to build a nest earlier. This can be seen by observing the doe, when she begins carrying mouthfuls of hay or straw around the cage, she is ready to build her nest. The nest box can be added then instead of waiting the usual 28 days. Make sure the doe takes an active interest in building the nest. A nest box put in before the doe is ready to build will often result in her soiling the box.
I usually put several handfuls of good oat straw in the box before giving it to the doe. This gives her something to start with. I then give her a large clump of straw and hay in one corner of the cage. The doe will usually collect mouthfuls from the corner and add them to the nest. The straw you use should be clean and have a sweet smell. Avoid dusty or musty smelling straw.
The doe will build her nest out of any available materials. Some does will add toys or even try to add their food dish! Try to discourage materials that may be harmful to the kits, including whole cardboard tubes. Different does will pull and add hair at different times. Some does prefer to have a nest ready weeks in advance. Others would rather frantically build it only minutes before kindling. This also extends to pulling fur. Does may pull fur anywhere from weeks before to minutes after kindling. One only needs to become concerned in cases of first time does who may not know what to do.
The first time doe may need some aid in building her nest. Often this just means adding extra straw or moving pulled hair that has been scattered, into the nest box. Sometimes however, she may not build a nest at all. In cases such as these you should put straw, mixed with a small amount of good hay, into the box and make a hollow with your hand. Many does, including those that have had several litters, will not pull hair until just before kindling. If a first time doe has not pulled any hair and you fear she won�t, clean un-spun wool can be added to the hollow of the nest to assure that the kits will be well insulated.
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