No interest in nest making?

[originalcopy]

Is it normal for my girl to have no interest in making a nest? I switched her into a nest box around the 28th day (made it out of a small bin type thing) and put some toilet paper in it. She sleeps in one corner but really does not pay attention to the toilet paper at all. She'll trail it out of the box and just leave it there. I tried putting some on the outside of the box today, and she pushed it onto the food bowl. For now, her nest box consists of just a shallow layer of bedding. I am fairly sure that she is pregnant; her nipples have even gotten a bit bigger within the past couple of days. She has been accustomed to sleeping in hedgebags for most of her life, but still seems quite comfy in the nest box. Should I try putting a hedgebag in her nest box? I figure it's a bit too late (she may have been due today). Any thoughts?

[Nancy]

I've found my girls with the small plastic bin for a nest box seem to like having them on the bare plastic. What they really seem to like is a blankie inside the nest box that they can crawl under and I also put toilet paper in the nest box and every few days give them some more they can drag in if they wish.

I'd just leave things alone and make sure she has some fresh TP in her cage if she wants more.

My Abby decided the nest box made a great litterbox. She had her baby under a blankie in the middle of the cage. It's great though as all the poop and pee is in the bin and I just replace the TP every few days. :laugh:

[bloane]

Many of my girls don't do a whole lot of nest building until a few hours before they start delivering. Some girls never do much nesting at all. I personally don't like providing bags for my expectant moms because there are so many layers or wrinkles that the babies can get lost in.
Becca

[illinidairychic]

I tried to use a little box for Snuggles and she too used it as a restroom. :lol: I finally broke down and gave her a bag since that was the only thing she prefered to climbing under her liner and when she was on shavings she would just dig in one corner in the open. I made Bianca a nest box that is light weight and lined with fleece. I put a large bag inside and she seems quite content. None of mine have really taken to nest building...not sure why. :dunno:

[Nancy]

Becca made a great point about babies getting lost in the wrinkles of bags and fabric. The blankies I use are small, about 12" square and made of 2 layers of thick fleece. They can't make wrinkles and folds to get lost in. :)

[originalcopy]

Thank you all for your help. :) I really appreciate it. Should I continue putting toilet paper on the outside of the nest box, so she can bring it in herself?

[Nancy]

I've been making sure there is clean toilet paper outside the nest box at all times. If she isn't moving it in and it remains unpee'd on I just leave it alone, otherwise I replace in when dirty or if she takes it in.

[Bob]

I would put some sort of a blanket inside the nest box, just to give her something to go under, this helps her feel more secure, and security leads to confidence, and confidence leads to a good mother and a live litter. I would not give her too much tiolet paper, as it just gets in the way. As Becca stated, they like to have their babies on the plastic base. It also makes it easier for the babies to find mom and vise versa. :winkgrin:

Bob

[bloane]

That was Nancy that said that they like to have them on the plastic base. I personally prefer to provide them with all of the toilet paper that they want, because it creates a soft nest that is easy for the mom to remove any soiled spots. And I don't use bags or blankets with my pregnant girls A.) because (as I stated above) it is possible for the babies to get lost under the bag or in a wrinkle, and B.) the blanket or bag will absorb any blood, birth fluids, and other bodily fluids, and can get really raunchy smelling by the time the litter is old enough for the bag or blanket to be removed.
Becca

[originalcopy]

Thanks for everything. :) She still has shown no interest in the toilet paper. She really just drags it around the cage. It makes me have second thoughts about whether she is pregnant, though I know it is unlikely she is not. How big are her nipples supposed to get? It's difficult to say whether they actually increased in size, or if it is just my imagination. She has become somewhat more irritable lately; normally, she never puts her brow down. It also seems like she is a much lighter sleeper. She often wakes up and looks at me when I open the room door (or maybe she is already awake). I can tell she is uncomfortable, as she constantly moves around while sleeping.

At night, she likes to climb on top of her nest box and falls while in the process of getting off. This gets me worried. I assume that if she feels it is unsafe for her babies, she wouldn't be doing it? Any suggestions or advice?