Angora rabbits need a nest box when they are pregnant and about to give birth. The box provides the rabbit mom a safe space to stay with her kits. When designing or purchasing your Angora bunny's nest box, the size that you choose will depend on the breed of your bunny.
Size Matters for Nesting Boxes
Female Angoras aren't ready to mate until at least 6 months old. Adult bunnies vary from between 6 and 10 pounds in size, with giant Angoras being the largest. Generally, your bunny's nest box should be big enough for her to stand up, turn around and sit down comfortably without touching the sides or top of the enclosure. As a guide, allow a minimum of 2 to 3 inches of space around the bunny, recommends the International Association of German Angora Rabbit Breeders. This will allow her and the young to rest comfortably in the box with insulating materials, without giving her too much space, which can encourage the mother rabbit to use it as a litter box.
Angora Nest Boxes
An Angora rabbit nest box is typically made of untreated wood with a perforated bottom to allow for drainage of urine. The average box for an 8-pound bunny is around 12-by-18-by-9 inches in size. Drop nest boxes fit below your rabbit's hutch, while in-cage boxes are free-standing. You need to put the box in your rabbit's hutch around 28 days after breeding, so make sure that it can accommodate the size of the nest box that you choose.
References
- Hobby Farms: How to Create and Maintain Your Hobby Farm Or Great Estate; Kristen Hampshire
- International Association of German Angora Rabbit Breeders: Standards of Care
- The Rabbit -- Husbandry, Health and Production; F. Lebas et al.
- National Angora Rabbit Breeders Club: Angora Rabbit Breeds
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: How to Build a Nesting Box
- AZ Rabbits: Nestboxes
Photo Credits
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Writer Bio
Based in Las Vegas, Susan Paretts has been writing since 1998. She writes about many subjects including pets, finances, crafts, food, home improvement, shopping and going green. Her articles, short stories and reviews have appeared on City National Bank's website and on The Noseprint. Paretts holds a Master of Professional Writing from the University of Southern California.
