stevin
Chillin' with the herd
Tonights temps here in Mass is predicted to drop to 7 degrees, ouch!
i have 2 litters of kits, 2 wks & 3 wks old all outdoors in hutches. My hutches are closed on 3 sides with a wire front and floor. There's an enclosed nesting area with a solid floor that is stuffed with hay. I have also placed a plastic tarp over the front to help keep some of the wind out but the floor is still open. We have had nightime temps down to the high teens when the kits were 1 & 2 wks old and they all did fine. But now we're talkin single digits! The 3 wk old kits are out of the nestbox and spends some time out on the wire with mama and hiding out in the nesting area. The 2 week old kits are still in their nestbox tucked away in the enclosed nesting area which is stuffed with hay also.
Should i consider bringing the 2 wk old kits in for the night? What about the 3 wk olds?
Should i scatter some hay on the wire floor to help reduce any updrafts? I know that ventilation is still very important during extremely cold weather.
When bringing the kits indoors, how do i prevent the kits from escaping the nestbox?
Has anyone ever experience a doe "freaking out" or even rejecting the kits after they have been taken away overnight?
Or should i just chillax because at 2 & 3 wks old their bodies are built for these type of conditions?
Thanxs!!!
i have 2 litters of kits, 2 wks & 3 wks old all outdoors in hutches. My hutches are closed on 3 sides with a wire front and floor. There's an enclosed nesting area with a solid floor that is stuffed with hay. I have also placed a plastic tarp over the front to help keep some of the wind out but the floor is still open. We have had nightime temps down to the high teens when the kits were 1 & 2 wks old and they all did fine. But now we're talkin single digits! The 3 wk old kits are out of the nestbox and spends some time out on the wire with mama and hiding out in the nesting area. The 2 week old kits are still in their nestbox tucked away in the enclosed nesting area which is stuffed with hay also.
Should i consider bringing the 2 wk old kits in for the night? What about the 3 wk olds?
Should i scatter some hay on the wire floor to help reduce any updrafts? I know that ventilation is still very important during extremely cold weather.
When bringing the kits indoors, how do i prevent the kits from escaping the nestbox?
Has anyone ever experience a doe "freaking out" or even rejecting the kits after they have been taken away overnight?
Or should i just chillax because at 2 & 3 wks old their bodies are built for these type of conditions?
Thanxs!!!