Baby bunnies abandoned please help

[kate3110]

My rabbit had 5 babies 3 days ago. Today I found 3 dead and 2 cold but 1with a big belly so I know he has been fed. How can I help keep them alive. I have managed to warm them up but mum doesn't want to know :-(

 

[Tammy B]

do you have a heat lamp?

 

[kate3110]

No they r laying on a heat pad I had for my puppy I have brought them in and they r in a box and have used the nest that the mum tried to make.

 

[OakRidgeRabbits]

My rabbit had 5 babies 3 days ago. Today I found 3 dead and 2 cold but 1with a big belly so I know he has been fed. How can I help keep them alive. I have managed to warm them up but mum doesn't want to know :-(

Are the babies in a nestbox? If one was warm and fed, it seems unlikely that your doe has abandoned them. It sounds to me like they may have just crawled away from each other and gotten too cold. Young rabbits are rather fragile as babies...until they have more fur, they need to stay together to stay warm.

Warm up the remaining babies (just holding them against your body until they warm up. Then, if you haven't already, rearrange their nest in a shoebox or tupperware tub (if you don't already have a nestbox). The box should be just big enough for the doe to hop in and turn around. Make sure the kits have fur to snuggle in. If she didn't pull any fur, you can add dryer lint or strips of fleece to the nest to help.

 

[OakRidgeRabbits]

I would not recommend a heat lamp or heating pad directly on the babies. They're often too warm for rabbits. If you have the kits in a nest in a box, you could put the heating pad on a very low setting and sit the box on top.

 

[kate3110]

No they were in the bed side of the hutch. When I checked on them the 3 babies were dead and the last 2 were uncovered.

 

[OakRidgeRabbits]

They probably crawled away from each other and became chilled. New babies need to be contained in a small nestbox so that they stay together when their mom leaves the nest. It sounds like your doe was probably feeding the kits, and when she hopped away, the babies all scattered and couldn't find their way back together.

 

[majorv]

Yea, I tend to agree with Julie on this. If one was fed then the others crawled away. Mom won't move the kits. If they crawl away then she can't put them back. Until they have a good coat of fur it's important to keep them contained in a nestbox and covered.