Baby bunnies arrived WAY earlier than expected! ripping hair out

alipkowski · Sep 14, 2012

Soo, first of all, i am very new to raising rabbits and second of all, i'm a dumb dumb and wanted a bred doe.
Everything was going great, we got both rabbits home and in nice cages, they seemed pretty happy. Well my champagne d'argent showed no signs of being pregnant, in fact i didn't think she was because she was due in a few weeks and wasn't preparing (so i thought). Well one afternoon, i finished cleaning their cages and went inside to take a nap with my 3 year old. When i came back out to let our dogs out, needless to say she was ripping fur out. I hurried and got a nesting box ready- a wire box and lined it with cardboard, lots of soft hay and shavings, and placed it in her cage. I thought for sure she would jump in it and build a nest. Not what happend. She took some of the nesting material OUT and made a nest NEXT to the box. OK, i thought, i gave her a bunch more loose hay and let her build and line her nest. She is in a cage with baby saver wire, so i wasn't worried about the babies rolling around and getting lost. She had plenty of hay, so i left her alone. Next day, she delivered 3 beautiful baby bunnies. I probably stressed her out by checking on her 2541 times during the day (this is her first litter). The next day, i go out and check on her, and there's only 2. I start freaking out immedietly, thinking she ate them because of me. Sadness. BUT come to find out, she moved them one by one to the back of her cage, maybe more secluded? (I have towels wrapped around her cage to be more private for her). Anyways, i stop checking on her all the time, and let her be thinking i was stressing her out. Well, i go out there this morning and find one baby dead, so now we are down to two. She seems like she keeps moving them around, and they aren't staying together to stay warm. They are outside under our porch, and it has been getting colder here at night (50's), but i make sure to cover her hutch up and that she has plenty of hay. So, here i sit torn as to what to do. Take them away so she stops scattering them everywhere? She's trying to be a good mom i think, i just don't want to loose all the babies. She also seems like she steps on them all the time (protecting them while i'm out there), and they seem really "jerky" and a little noisy. I believe she is feeding them because they look plump and warm. (BTW, will she eat/abandon them if i pick them up and rub my scent on them?) I have no idea what to do, and this situation makes me wonder why the heck i wanted to raise rabbits and if it's worth it. She just wont get in the box! Tomorrow i have to clean her cage again i guess, i don't want the babies in poo because she wont leave them in one place...

-Broken Hearted

ldoerr · Sep 14, 2012

First of all CALM DOWN!!!! I would build a wooden nest box that is a little bit bigger than the mother. Make it have high sides on 3 sides and 1 lower side. Then put wood chips and hay in the box. Use your fingers to make a little nest in the box. Put the babies in there and cover them with fur. The mom will find them. I start to hold my baby rabbits when they are 1 day old. Your scent on them will not hurt them. You need to be able to check on them each day. Some mothers will eat their babies. Sometimes they instinctively know that that baby will not make it so they do not want to waist the energy required to raise it. This sort of thing happens a lot with first time mothers. If you are worried that they are too cold, you could pull some fur from the mom and put it on the babies. If the mother is not producing enough milk there is this suplement that you cna give them. It is called fenugreek (that is the correct spelling of it I believe).

Hyatt101 · Sep 15, 2012

Bring them inside to keep them warm, maybe by using a heating pad. Clam down, it's okay. My first 2 litters failed before I got a good one. I agree with lauren, you can bottle feed them as well. Examine them. Does their skin look cold and wrinkly? are they nice and plump with round, pinkish bellies? If they look cold and shriveled, but are still alive, you need to intervene. Bottle feed and warm them up as quickly as possible. Please give us updates, and I hope the babies are all right!

ray:

alipkowski · Sep 15, 2012

Thanks for the replies! I will try to move them inside until they are a little older, like i said it's about 50's here at night. When i checked on them last night, they were plump and warm, so i assume she's feeding them ok. I'll continue to check on them through out the day and see how they're getting around. I just don't know why she keeps moving them around aposed as to leaving them in one spot. Another rabbit mystery i'm sure i'll learn over time.

OakRidgeRabbits · Sep 15, 2012

It isn't the mother who is moving the babies around. Rabbits can't carry their kits like a dog or cat does. The reason the babies are scattered is because they're not in a nestbox. During feeding, baby bunnies "popcorn" all over the place. If they jump too far from their siblings that they're no longer touching them, they will instinctively crawl around looking for their nest. Since they're blind, it doesn't always work out that way so you'll typically find them snuggled in a corner or against a wall. Being there, away from the warmth of their nest, can quickly kill them. Babies chill very easily until they have fur.

So like the others said, arrange the doe's nest back in her box. First time moms don't always get it right, so sometimes you have to fix their mistakes. Once the babies are in the box, they'll be able to stay much warmer. Even if they get separated, they will likely find each other again or at least stay warm enough until you find them and squish them back together again.

Check the babies daily to make sure they're full and active. Touching or handling the babies won't make the doe abandon them. That's a myth- even in the wild.

Good luck! I hope the two remaining babies do well for you.

woahlookitsme · Sep 15, 2012

Jerky and noisy is a good thing. First time moms can overreact to their owners but with time she will get more used to you going in there. We have had a couple of does lunge at us trying to get us out of their space but its necessary that you check on them. Mom just might think she knows shes doing the best thing. I agree they really need a nest box. Make sure its big enough for a champagne! That is really important. Good luck!

majorv · Sep 15, 2012

Agree with Julie...moms don't move their kits. If they're outside it's very important for them to be in a nestbox so they can snuggle together and burrow under the hay and hair. You can cover the cage with a tarp or blanket at night. The alternative is to bring them in overnight and then take them back out to Mom during the day. Once they have fur it isn't as critical.

Hyatt101 · Sep 15, 2012

I agree with everything said here, and I hope all goes well! Don't be afraid to move them once they're 1 day old, especially if it gets cold. Send pics if you can, and I'm glad they look plump and feel warm; thats a good sign!!

Nancy McClelland · Sep 15, 2012

:yeahthat:

ldoerr · Sep 15, 2012

O I would avoid bottle feeding baby rabbits. I have tried it a few times with mothers that did not produce milk or that abandoned the babies. It RARELY works. Even rescue workers can normally not keep the babies alive. I think that 99% of the time the babies have a better chance of making it with their mothers than if you try to hand raise them.