Baby rabbits falling out of the nest box

My Doe had a litter of 4 on Tuesday evening. This was a surprise litter so she did not have a nest box but made her own nest in the closed part of her hut. She is an outdoor rabbit and initially I was worried about the cold (I still am) so I made a nesting box and put her nest and babies inside. That evening when I checked she had pulled the nest outside the box along with the babies. I removed the box and added extra padding to her nest so the babies would keep warm. She has been a really attentive mum and the babies are well fed. I went to check on the yesterday evening and I could only find 3. I searched the cage and found one on the floor downstairs in the run. She had put fur over it but it was freezing. I took it inside and warmed it up and it was fine (glad we caught it on time) this morning the same thing happened (different baby) I can only assume they are attaching when feeding and not letting go and as they are not in a nesting box they are travelling with her. I’m worried that it will happen in the night and I won’t be able to save the baby. I have an indoor cage, should I bring them all in? Would it be safer in the warm or would this upset mum too much? Or should I try a nesting box again?

Any advice would be welcome x

Bump

I wouldn't move them inside as Mum might not like it, unless you can move the whole hutch. Perhaps put lots of bedding everywhere in case this happens again, is Mum a young Mum? You could put a fleece in there as this always feels warm if a baby finds itself out of the nest.

tonibun said:

I wouldn't move them inside as Mum might not like it, unless you can move the whole hutch. Perhaps put lots of bedding everywhere in case this happens again, is Mum a young Mum? You could put a fleece in there as this always feels warm if a baby finds itself out of the nest.

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Yes she 8 months old and is a first time mum which is why I’m nervous to do something drastic in case it unsettles her. I think I will try the fleece on the floor. My husband has also built a little barrier by the opening so mum can still get in but hopefully stop anything travelling out with her.

I hope that the situation has improved. There might be some useful info in the sticky on babies http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/showthread.php?327923-Accidental-Litters-and-Taking-on-Babies

You can put a board in front of the nest that protrodes 2-3" above the bedding, so that a latched on kit gets caught by it when the doe goes over it. Put bedding ramp-like on the outside, so that they can go more easily back in than out.

A ramp downwards is a trap for kits, I would change that somehow so that there's a 5-6" obstacle in front of it, or better close it and make a different way for the doe that first leads significantly up, or a ramp that starts from an elevated board.

I'd rather take them all at home at least for first time, when the babies are too small.