rabbit question

[soap&eggs]

i have several rabbits does due for birthing starting tomorrow. we had winter snow ice storm last night, temps this week are not suspose to get over 30 degrees. 18 at night. question #1...will fur,straw,& cardboard strips be enough to keep babies warm? or is a heat lamp hung over cages required? question #2 ... roof leaked over one cage..nest box got wet, cleaned out saving fur..i couldnt dry nest box, so grabbed one from another cage, relined it best i could. will she reject this (first time mother ) or use even with smell of another rabbit on it ? covered cage to prevent any water leaking on it again. thanks for any advice help you can offer.

 

[Akane]

I had does raise litters over the dead of winter when it was below 0F out. I stuffed the cages with straw and they buried the boxes in it sealing up the front after every feeding. 4 out of 5 accomplished this and some were first time mom's. The last didn't pull enough fur and didn't seal the entrance so they froze. We were pretty impressed at how most of them just knew the difference in weather and what to do.

The doe will probably not have an issue with the nestbox change. None of mine would but the occasional extra territorial doe might.

 

[SillyChicken]

I had a litter born in January, temps were about 4 degrees. The rabbits were outside. We placed some foam insulation under the wood bottom, and provided straw (keep it dry) and the moms fur which she kept adding. All babies survied and are doing fine!

 

[soap&eggs]

thanks so much for replys, and experences of cold temps..takes a load off my shoulders. fingers crossed .X