Rabbit nest construction and its relationship with litter development

The influence of maternal prenatal behaviour and of the micro-climate on the development of young rabbits was evaluated for three successive litters of female New Zealand White rabbits. The quality of the straw and hair nests produced for each litter and several characteristics of the litter up to weaning at 30 days of age were recorded. The quality of the straw nest improved from the first to the third parturition, whereas the hair nest seemed to be influenced by climatic conditions alone, especially temperature. The importance of nest building on growth and survival of young until the thirtieth day of life was confirmed and the straw shell was identified as the more plastic component of the nest.