Nesting instinct

Nesting behavior is an instinct in animals during reproduction where they prepare a place with optimal conditions to nurture their offspring.

Commercial whelping and queening boxes are available; however, children's wading pools (dogs) and plastic dishpans (cats) work just as well.

Marsupials do not exhibit a nesting instinct per se, because the mother's pouch fulfills the function of housing the newborns.

[7] Under natural conditions, sows will leave the herd and travel up to 6.5 km (4.0 mi)[6] a day prior to parturition in order to find the appropriate spot for a nest.

Without the protection of the nest, the piglets will be subjected to climatic influences causing their internal temperature to drop to life-threatening levels.

[6] Farrowing crates have been widely implemented into modern pig husbandry in order to reduce piglet mortality via crushing.

However, this type of housing disturbs the sows natural instinct to nest build due to lack of space.

In rodents and lagomorphs, the nesting instinct is typically characterized by the urge to seek the lowest sheltered spot available; this is where these mammals give birth.

Given the importance of shelter to offspring survival and reproductive success, it is no wonder that a set of common hormonal signals has evolved.

However, the exact timing and features of nest building vary among species, depending on endocrine and external factors.

The initial drive to perform this behavior is stimulated internally via hormones, specifically a rise in prolactin levels.

[16] In house mice and golden hamsters, nest-building takes place earlier, at the start or middle of pregnancy.

Unlike the case for females, male nest-building among ring doves depends on the behavior of the prospective mate rather than on hormonal mechanisms.