Babies are here!

[zuppa]

The way she built her nest its shoved to the way back, could that cause them to not feed properly as well? I have litter pans I used when they free roamed trying to potty train, would that be easier for her to feed them?
Attached is what she uses now.
I added some cotton to the bottom since they got scratched so the hay didn't make it worse.

I see no problem with the nest tbh and generally it is best not to move it and leave it for a week or 10 days up to 14 days, then when kits are stronger you can take them place somewhere in a warm soft place and check if it's wet and too soiled you can change all hay to dry and put the top layer back, all would be best to do when she's not there as well. If you have some absorbing material like wood pellets underneath it will stay dry and clean for longer so you will have to change it later anyway but when they are a bit older. First two weeks are critical, so best if you know she nurses she will take care of them.

That cotton wool lining looks just fine to me too.

Watch the smallest one if you see he's still wrinkled tomorrow morning maybe you want to help him, sometimes some babies are slower weaker than others and they may lose their chance to get enough milk since it all happens so quickly. Hopefully she has enough milk, there's only 4 kits so should be enough milk to feed them, sometimes they can have 8 kits or even 14 but with 4 it shouldn't be a problem.

Here's a video how you can help the weakest baby to get some extra milk. Please wait a bit maybe it will be full tomorrow after feeding, so you won't need this. just for your information and also you can see how they keep moving from one nipple to another.

This would be most natural way to help the weakest baby, so he could get some extra milk off its mother, please only use if it really needed, otherwise let her take care of her kits, just provide with good food, safe place and give her some privacy

 

[Livvy]

I see no problem with the nest tbh and generally it is best not to move it and leave it for a week or 10 days up to 14 days, then when kits are stronger you can take them place somewhere in a warm soft place and check if it's wet and too soiled you can change all hay to dry and put the top layer back, all would be best to do when she's not there as well. If you have some absorbing material like wood pellets underneath it will stay dry and clean for longer so you will have to change it later anyway but when they are a bit older. First two weeks are critical, so best if you know she nurses she will take care of them.

That cotton wool lining looks just fine to me too.

Watch the smallest one if you see he's still wrinkled tomorrow morning maybe you want to help him, sometimes some babies are slower weaker than others and they may lose their chance to get enough milk since it all happens so quickly. Hopefully she has enough milk, there's only 4 kits so should be enough milk to feed them, sometimes they can have 8 kits or even 14 but with 4 it shouldn't be a problem.

Here's a video how you can help the weakest baby to get some extra milk. Please wait a bit maybe it will be full tomorrow after feeding, so you won't need this. just for your information and also you can see how they keep moving from one nipple to another.

This would be most natural way to help the weakest baby, so he could get some extra milk off its mother, please only use if it really needed, otherwise let her take care of her kits, just provide with good food, safe place and give her some privacy

Thank you. I'll check tomorrow. 2 seemed to be big and full. One was a touch smaller and the other quite a bit smaller. The smallest is the one with the scratches but this morning the scratches didn't look open, more like bruises than scratches.
I've been giving her privacy and letting her do her thing (even though I really wanna cuddle the cute little babies lol).
I let her out to run around and she snuggled me a bit and I can say her nipples are not even close to the video. Im assuming cuz shes a first time (and only time) mom.
I'll check again in the morning to see if they fed well. She will not go on her back like that, can I flip it and have her stand in my lap and have them feed? If thats the case do they lay on their back? She absolutely will kick if I hold her like that.

 

[zuppa]

Kits don't have to be all same size. You said they look very big comparing to her own size, so maybe two bigger are just bigger and other two will be more like mini sized. If their bellies are full in the morning you don't have to worry.
If you feel they need an extra meal you can also remove the biggest ones from the nest (and keep them warm and covered somewhere in a safe place) for one night so she will nurse and they will have better chance to get more milk. But I think they are only 4 and she should have enough milk for them all. Make sure she has plenty of food and offer her some oats and fennel as well, and more water she should drink to produce milk. If the fat ones will miss one meal nothing wrong, they will be fine. Put them back in the morning after she nursed.

Here's a pic of Bernie's kits she had 6, three big white and three were much smaller. She is not big herself and their father is same size as she, but those three white kits grew up and were just bigger than the other three. In fact, one tan in the right corner and harley one are now same size they are not mini but smaller than midi size, and one in the middle is a complete mini lop. You see how much smaller he is than the white one near him. The other whites were about same size they just not fully seen in photo. I suspect that Bernie had mini father and her mother was bigger white blue eyed, and that was why three her kits were bigger than she and than her other three kits. They are now fully grown pretty and healthy rabbits, they are now 15 months old, never had any problems with them.

In this pic they are 2 weeks old

 

[zuppa]

Here's their photo just a couple days old, you can see as well that white ones are much bigger than especially that one with white stripe on his back, that's Bernardo



That white one was very fat Remember I removed them once so the smaller ones had a better chance



And here's some rolled oats and herbs for Bernie, you can see a piece of fennel there as well. In her bowl I think there's some chamomile and fresh thyme, and rolled oats.

 

[Livvy]

Here's their photo just a couple days old, you can see as well that white ones are much bigger than especially that one with white stripe on his back, that's Bernardo

View attachment 49451

That white one was very fat Remember I removed them once so the smaller ones had a better chance

View attachment 49453

And here's some rolled oats and herbs for Bernie, you can see a piece of fennel there as well. In her bowl I think there's some chamomile and fresh thymes.

View attachment 49452

That makes me feel alot better. This was this morning when I checked them.The picture doesn't show the size difference very well but far left is the smallest.
I've read they should look fat like they swallowed a grape. Which they don't but they are super active.
I'll have to grab some herbs tomorrow for her. I have parsley cuz my male loves parsley.
Moms been really good though and doesnt mind me looking in. I give her a treat (greens or extra hay) when I do though so that probably helps lol

 

[zuppa]

Good pic, they look all good and fed no need to worry!
They are going to be very beautiful buns

 

[zuppa]

Just don't offer her mint while she's nursing, as I said fennel would be great.

 

[Livvy]

Good pic, they look all good and fed no need to worry!
They are going to be very beautiful buns

Thank you!
I'm super excited for the one that looks tricolored.
I know I'm mostly a worry wart. But I have zero idea what I'm doing and zero notice. Lol
you've been such a huge help. Everything i have found online is so conflicting and lacking info. As well as so discouraging, I was fully prepared for none to survive since shes a holland, small, and first time.

 

[Livvy]

Just don't offer her mint while she's nursing, as I said fennel would be great.

So fennel and oats are the best.

 

[zuppa]

Yes, oats just regular kitchen rolled oats give her a tablespoon a day, she will love them and will love you.

Fennel like this one if you can get near you.
If not that's not necessary, there's only four kits she'll be fine

 

[Livvy]

Yes, oats just regular kitchen rolled oats give her a tablespoon a day, she will love them and will love you.

Fennel like this one if you can get near you.
If not that's not necessary, there's only four kits she'll be fine

View attachment 49455

Yes we have those in store. I'll add some oats for her and grab some fennel tomorrow.

 

[majorv]

If you give her rolled oats, get the old fashioned kind. Not really necessary to add a bunch of other things to her bowl. Once she’s nursing them (and it looks like she is) unlimited pellets that are 16% protein, hay, and a little rolled oats should be fine. As long as mom is feeding and taking care of them there’s really nothing you need to do but check them daily.

 

[zuppa]

If you give her rolled oats, get the old fashioned kind. Not really necessary to add a bunch of other things to her bowl. Once she’s nursing them (and it looks like she is) unlimited pellets that are 16% protein, hay, and a little rolled oats should be fine. As long as mom is feeding and taking care of them there’s really nothing you need to do but check them daily.

Well I never said it is necessary, I just shared a photo of my own rabbit and I do feed her some herbs especially when she was nursing, she loves chamomiles and loves fresh thyme and she deserved some extra treat after kindling, she was an excellent mother and I love her, she's my beautiful pretty Bernie girl.

 

[Livvy]

Well I never said it is necessary, I just shared a photo of my own rabbit and I do feed her some herbs especially when she was nursing, she loves chamomiles and loves fresh thyme and she deserved some extra treat after kindling, she was an excellent mother and I love her, she's my beautiful pretty Bernie girl.

View attachment 49458

View attachment 49459

Oh my she is the cutest!
Checked babies and they are very well fed this morning. Big bellies on 2 and the other 2 are moderately big, bigger than yesterday.
But..... they keep getting out of the nest. Momma woke me up twice last night thumping. Went in and found babies out, so I put them back. I'm assuming they were just attached when she went out. But she was not happy they were out.
Today its one out here and there. Im assuming they just wiggle out.
Should I be concerned? Mommas fine with me checking for the escaped babies and putting them back. I make sure to give her loves everytime.
When she gets some roaming time ill try to snap pics.

 

[zuppa]

Oh my she is the cutest!
Checked babies and they are very well fed this morning. Big bellies on 2 and the other 2 are moderately big, bigger than yesterday.
But..... they keep getting out of the nest. Momma woke me up twice last night thumping. Went in and found babies out, so I put them back. I'm assuming they were just attached when she went out. But she was not happy they were out.
Today its one out here and there. Im assuming they just wiggle out.
Should I be concerned? Mommas fine with me checking for the escaped babies and putting them back. I make sure to give her loves everytime.
When she gets some roaming time ill try to snap pics.

From your pics I didn't get if there's nest box or just pieces of wood, but you could put a strong piece of cardboard or wood where the opening is so they stay inside the nest.

Or place it so it creates a smaller square box as per photo.

Or if you could find some box that would fit into there. Normally nest box should have high sides so they should stay inside, also you are right babies can be still sucking when she jumps out and so get out of the nest on tit. If you make sides high enough it should help.

Your nest is generally fine, maybe slightly bigger than needed. I would just find some high sided box would line with absorbing material like wood pellets, then some shredded paper, hay, then would carefully place the top of your existing nest on top of that. If you get 15 cm high box that would be enough. Strong cardboard box would suit as well.

They will open their eyes around day 10 and after that will start hopping out and back in, around day 14. They will have fur by then and will be able to follow their mother everywhere, begging for milk, so you will need to make her some high shelf or something so she could have time to lay down and relax, maybe you can attach a playpen around her cage so she can spend day in there and you will let her in in the evening so she can nurse. Otherwise she will get stressed since they won't let her lay down.

Here's a video how to prepare a proper nest box, see they have that small piece of wood on top so she can sit there and babies can't reach her so she can get some sleep.

 

[Livvy]

From your pics I didn't get if there's nest box or just pieces of wood, but you could put a strong piece of cardboard or wood where the opening is so they stay inside the nest.

Or place it so it creates a smaller square box as per photo.

Or if you could find some box that would fit into there. Normally nest box should have high sides so they should stay inside, also you are right babies can be still sucking when she jumps out and so get out of the nest on tit. If you make sides high enough it should help.

Your nest is generally fine, maybe slightly bigger than needed. I would just find some high sided box would line with absorbing material like wood pellets, then some shredded paper, hay, then would carefully place the top of your existing nest on top of that. If you get 15 cm high box that would be enough. Strong cardboard box would suit as well.

They will open their eyes around day 10 and after that will start hopping out and back in, around day 14. They will have fur by then and will be able to follow their mother everywhere, begging for milk, so you will need to make her some high shelf or something so she could have time to lay down and relax, maybe you can attach a playpen around her cage so she can spend day in there and you will let her in in the evening so she can nurse. Otherwise she will get stressed since they won't let her lay down.

The box is actually her hidey house flipped upside down, since it was short noticed I just used what I had and flipping it over i was able to see the babies without disturbing her.
I'll look for something I can block the entrance with.
I moved her cage to a much quieter area which now has a pen area so she can stretch out and i can change her food and water without reaching in the cage. Shes calmed down alot since moving her, she even begs my husband to pet her when he walks by, which she's never done lol

 

[zuppa]

The box is actually her hidey house flipped upside down, since it was short noticed I just used what I had and flipping it over i was able to see the babies without disturbing her.
I'll look for something I can block the entrance with.
I moved her cage to a much quieter area which now has a pen area so she can stretch out and i can change her food and water without reaching in the cage. Shes calmed down alot since moving her, she even begs my husband to pet her when he walks by, which she's never done lol

I've just added a video of nest box in my previous post.
Yeah, be careful make sure your male rabbit is not around, after kindling females are extremely horny and it would not be good for her and for babies if she gets pregnant while still nursing!

Here's another nest box and you see there's a little piece of wood on top it prevents babies from being dragged with her

 

[Livvy]

I've just added a video of nest box in my previous post.
Yeah, be careful make sure your male rabbit is not around, after kindling females are extremely horny and it would not be good for her and for babies if she gets pregnant while still nursing!

Here's another nest box and you see there's a little piece of wood on top it prevents babies from being dragged with her

Yes they are 2 rooms apart. The male doesn't come out, except in his pen with supervision.
I'll have to look around for what I can use for a new nest box.
Thank you so much!

 

[zuppa]

Maybe you can find plastic box, here's another video, but there's for a large rabbit, yours are smaller so box should be smaller too

 

[zuppa]

Just thought, if you just turn that hidey house you have there 180 degrees so the opening will go by the wall of the cage you will have it sorted. You can add a piece of a cardboard where it is but it will work as is as well. It is slightly bigger than needed but at least babies won't be able to escape.