My L/H cinammon Yeti is due to give birth on Tuesday, I did her final cage clean yesterday and at the same time tried to give her a nest box in which to have the litter. It was plenty big enough but she didn't seem at all keen on it and went beserk chewing it and burrowing underneath it! She seemed to be getting a bit stressed by its presence so I removed it. The only thing is I'm a bit worried about her not having a nest box, do you think she'll be ok just making her nest and having it open in the cage? I've given her loads of wood shavings and safe paper bedding and she is making a nice big nest so do you think this will be ok?
I expect she was stressed by having something new and different in the nest area so close to the birth (I remember souffle telling me they removed Bailey's Gabber shelf just before she gave birth 'cos they were worried the babies might get injured - and she went berserk too so they had to put it back - kind of the same but in reverse!).
What kind of cage is she in? I'd have thought she'd be fine with a larger and more elaborate version of the type of nest she's used to - but it's true they do like privacy. Dedending on the cage you have maybe you could put a piece of cardboard over part of the bars/roof to screen the nest a little? Otherwise, if she's in a quiet, out of the place (which is essential really) I'd let her decide what she wants. A nest box - even a large one - would start to get pretty cramped and smelly as the babies grow - she might be better with a nice well ventillated nest in the open - she'll pile bedding onto the babies if she wants to hide them.
She's in a bin cage, it's quite a deep one and she does manage to totally hide herself away under the bedding so I imagine she'll just do the same. Might try the cardboard over part of the bars though and see how she reacts to that. She is a fussy madam!
Location: Yorkshire, UK but my heart lies in Scotland!
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I would advise just to leave what she is used to Yaffle. As Holly said Bailey went mad and we had to put the shelf back however other hamsters have adapted fine. If you want it to be extra private you could get a large card box and cut two sides out then put it around the OUTSIDE of the bin so that she has privacy but normal inside. Most breeders just give an open nest. Maybe you will find it easier to peep or she may just bury them deep.
All mine stayed open apart from Princess Claire, and we only gave Princess a nest box because she lost a lot of her first litter. I'd say Yeti will be fine open, as long as she has enough bedding to make sure she can hide her pups.
Oooo exciting - maybe by this time tomorrow there will be the patter of very tiny feet!
Nest box for Yeti???
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