irishbunny wrote:
Ya I agree with Polly, I think the best thing to do if the babies are still alive is to take them and keep them in your room, where your dog won't be and where it is somewhat quiet, and take them to the mother to be fed twice a day, if she will let them be fed. Put her over the babies and hold her tightly and hopefully she will allow the babies to feed.
This is the best advice yet. When you're there while they feed - you can keep the mama from hurting them. In addition - it teaches the rabbit how to be a mother. I've had vicious mothers turn into excellent ones by doing this.
I get the feeling you're angry at your rabbit right now - but please don't be. Here are a few things to consider..
- A large percentage of the losses breeders have are from first-time mothers who don't know what to do. They don't understand about making a nest (I'm sorry - I haven't read to see if she had a nestbox or hay or anything)...they don't understand about all they need to do. Most lionhead breeders here in the states that I've talked to - will give a doe up to 3 attempts to have a litter successfully before they'll remove her from their herd.
- From the little bit I skimmed - she went through a LOT of changes in a short time. She was housed with a buck - removed - etc. etc. Does are very dependent upon having their cage as being theirs...its how they know what to protect and defend when they have babies. She's probably all confused because her surroundings have changed. Its not her fault she doesn't understand.
- Does have an instinct to kill their babies if they think predators will get to them. She doesn't understand that they aren't in danger.
- Finally - no matter how often we may say things like, "She's thinking this" or "She's acting like that.." the fact is - rabbits act on instinct. We "personalize" them and try to give them what we think they think or what we think they should do. But they don't logic things out and reason through them like we can - they aren't capable of that.
Honestly - I feel so bad for your poor doe. She's been through so much - having her living situation changed - having babies born and she didn't know what to do with them - etc. etc. She really needs our sympathy and support because she is so confused right now.
I'm sorry for your losses - I hope the other two survive. BUT - the best thing for them is for you to take them to her and have her feed them. I've shared several times on this forum what I do - I would search for a post but I'm too busy right now. Basically, I put them in a basket (on a towel) with treats at one end of the basket (near her head). Then I put mama in the basket so she'll eat the treats (it can be hay/oatmeal/greens - whatever is a treat to her) and I calmly pet her and whisper to her while she eats. I have my hand over her back so she has to stay over the babies and I hope that her milk lets down.
I've found that after 2-3 days of doing this a couple of times per day - mama starts to understand what she's supposed to do.
