Adopted a bunny and turns out she's pregnant -- what do I do?

[thebeast]

Also the mom's behavior has completely changed. She's much more friendly with our existing bunny and they're really bonding. OTOH she torn up the litter box and has decided to poop on the other side of the living room. I guess because her nest is right next to the first litter box

 

[JBun]

Kits get really excited and squirmy whenever they get uncovered or touched. They think mom's there to nurse them. They're cute! I'm glad mom decided to have them indoors instead of out.

Mom rabbits can be really hormonal when pregnant. They especially don't want male rabbits near them, though not sure how that applies to fixed male rabbits. Their mood can change completely once they have those babies.

For the litter box, if you haven't already, you'll probably just need to change where you put the litter box to where she's decided to go now. Not easy to change a rabbits mind once they've decided something. Easier to just accommodate them.

 

[thebeast]

2 weeks in and they're alive still though one looks like it's got a bad leg. Other 3 are walking around the nest a bit.

No predators in the house but am I in the clear as far as her killing the litter yet?

 

[Preitler]

What? Killing the litter? wtf?
The thing is, what you read about on the internet is the 1% trouble, not the 99% going well. Seems like she's doing a great job.

Now I would just make sure that their envorinment is safe from getting lost or stuck, by putting a 4"/10cm wall/barrier around their nesting area, with a ramp on the outside (even hay does the trick) so that they can in more easily than out. They'll soon get over that, but by then they are sure-footed enough. Put some of the does food inside, close to the nest too.
Look out for things that stand close to a wall, or any tight spaces they could squeeze into, they don't realize that they grow and keep going into places where they fit in yesterday...

 

[thebeast]

I mean, the moms do sometimes kill their litter. But so far everything's good and the mom nurses the 4 everyday.

They've started hopping out and around now which means they're coming into contact with our existing (neutered) make bunny. He doesn't seem to notice them.

I understand an in tact male might kill them off to breed again but this guy never mounts anything. Is he still a danger to the babies?

 

[JBun]

Eeeek!!! I'm dying from cuteness overload! Such a cute picture, that one tagging along with your male.

If he's acting ok with them being around and not chasing, trying to nip them, or acting aggressively with them at all, then it seems like he's ok with it and I wouldn't worry. Some males are really good with baby buns.

 

[Preitler]

I understand an in tact male might kill them off to breed again but this guy never mounts anything. Is he still a danger to the babies?

Nope. That's lions.

My bucks were always chill with kits, problems started when the bucklings came of age and started to attack the buck, 3 times their size - he just dodged and was a little confused about that.