2 dead rabbits and 10 orphaned babies

[Mrpotato1117]

This morning i wake up and find my rabbit who had 10 babies had just suddenly died :cry1: nothing visibly wrong with her but she was right next to the edge. That fact is important. A few days earlier her son died suddenly too nothing visibly wrong and was also near the edge. Now i have 10 almost week old orphans :cry1: what can i do to help the babies and any ideas on what killed them. I have two more rabbits their father and the other son as well

 

[stevesmum]

What do you mean "near the edge" ?

 

[Mrpotato1117]

The open sides of their cages not next to the wall where they would be only held in by wire

 

[ladysown]

we can't tell you what killed your rabbits.

is your doe a first time mother? Sometimes first time does die unexpectedly with first litters (it has a name but can't think of it right now).

BUT this time of year with all the unusual weather patterns we've been having lately .... it could simply be weather related. Where you found the bodies will most likely have nothing to do with the cause of death... it will just be where they died.

----

What do do with your orphans. Do you have any other rabbits with litters?
Do you know a friend who might have a doe on kits?
You may have to handfeed your kits.

Rabbit Formula Recipe

1/2 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup water
1 egg yolk
1 Tablespoon corn syrup

Mix well, heat to body temp. Feed the formula slowly, as rabbits can aspirate easily. DO NOT force the food in their mouths. If they breathe it in, they will likely get pneumonia and die within a few days.

 

[Mrpotato1117]

She isn't a first time mum. Shes had 5 litters 4 of which were all fine. Shes the only female we have and no one i know has any rabbits

 

[majorv]

It's going to be tough, but it sounds like the only thing you can do is try to feed them yourself. You can try to save all of them this way, but with so many - even under the best of circumstances - they probably won't all make it. Unfortunately, there is no good substitute for Mom's milk.

 

[Mrpotato1117]

About 4 weren't big even when she died, but the big ones are really healthy. We already had proper rabbit formula from a similar situation a while ago and we have also been feeding them premature baby formula we have (my mum is a neonatal nurse) they seem to like both equally and all are alive

 

[Nancy McClelland]

ray:

 

[squidpop]

In New Zealand and I think the UK they have Calici virus and when it strikes rabbits die very suddenly sometimes with no symptoms, and babies usually live. But if you are in the US it wouldn't be that. Heat can also kill rabbits really quickly.