Our Bandy just had 5 babies today and this is our first litter and have a couple questions... She has not spent any time in the nesting box that I know of. She sits outside, the babies are all covered up with her hair and are not crying but just wanted to know if that is normal????
Bunnie (Bandy) just had babies
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This will probably get moved to the rabbitry forum (just so you know if you 'lose' the post).
Was it a planned litter? How old is mum? How is she acting in herself?
Rabbit's don't fuss or really look after their kits, they generally just go back to feed them once or twice a day.
How do the babies look, are they warm? In the nest? Did she pluck fur?
Welcome to the forum
Was it a planned litter? How old is mum? How is she acting in herself?
Rabbit's don't fuss or really look after their kits, they generally just go back to feed them once or twice a day.
How do the babies look, are they warm? In the nest? Did she pluck fur?
Welcome to the forum
GoinBackToCali
Well-Known Member
Welcome to the forum!
As a breeder I can answer your questions,speaking from my own experience. If they are covered up, with her fur and straw, then yes, she is tending to them, for the most part. Generally speaking, my does that don't intend to care for their young, don't even bother to cover them up, and thats when I take over. For the first 24 hours, some buns, or most buns as I am told, don't nurse.
I am also told that you will *never see a mother rabbit nurse*.. while that may be true, I think all of mine are so use to me, they do it when I am in there, so either mine arn't shy at all, or thats just an old wives tale.
By tommorrow morning, she should have fed. Check the babies.. if they have lil round tummies, they have been fed. Mine are all baby Cali's, which we call pinkies when they are newborn kits. You can actually see the milk in their tummies when you turn them over.
There is a rule about not messing with babies as the mother will reject them, some tell you to put a dab of vanilla on their heads and a dab on mom's nose, or use baby powder, I have never had to do either.. like I said.. mine are just use to me I guess.
I think like people, all rabbits are different.. some of mine even shove their babies to me to look at..so I guess what I am getting at is the vanilla orbabypowder trick is kinda a judgement call, based on your rabbits temprement, as in if she gets snippy or hostile when you reach in..
As a breeder I can answer your questions,speaking from my own experience. If they are covered up, with her fur and straw, then yes, she is tending to them, for the most part. Generally speaking, my does that don't intend to care for their young, don't even bother to cover them up, and thats when I take over. For the first 24 hours, some buns, or most buns as I am told, don't nurse.
I am also told that you will *never see a mother rabbit nurse*.. while that may be true, I think all of mine are so use to me, they do it when I am in there, so either mine arn't shy at all, or thats just an old wives tale.
By tommorrow morning, she should have fed. Check the babies.. if they have lil round tummies, they have been fed. Mine are all baby Cali's, which we call pinkies when they are newborn kits. You can actually see the milk in their tummies when you turn them over.
There is a rule about not messing with babies as the mother will reject them, some tell you to put a dab of vanilla on their heads and a dab on mom's nose, or use baby powder, I have never had to do either.. like I said.. mine are just use to me I guess.
I think like people, all rabbits are different.. some of mine even shove their babies to me to look at..so I guess what I am getting at is the vanilla orbabypowder trick is kinda a judgement call, based on your rabbits temprement, as in if she gets snippy or hostile when you reach in..
No it was not a planned litter, baught rabbits from pet shop 2 weeks ago... the mum is young maybe a year old... she is real jittery, growling when I open the hutch. Babies look really healthy, move around alot, and yes they are totally covered with her fur and she made a nest like a birds nest out of the straw then lined it with her fur and they are totally covered.
polly
Well-Known Member
Sounds like she is a being a very protective mum then I have a few that are really protective to their babies in the nest and some that don't mind megoing in to them.
As Zin say's they are all different!!
If my doe doesn't like me going so much Personally I remove her from the hutch to have a look at the babies (Make sure you give her a good stroke first and don't have any handcreams or anything on this way when you pick the babies up to check them they will still smell of their mum) As soon as I have checked them I put the mum vback in. She will go and have a nose and check they are all right and when she is satisifed she will go back about her business again.
I have a few that are really protective to their babies in the nest and some that don't mind megoing in to them.As Zin say's they are all different!!
If my doe doesn't like me going so much Personally I remove her from the hutch to have a look at the babies (Make sure you give her a good stroke first and don't have any handcreams or anything on this way when you pick the babies up to check them they will still smell of their mum) As soon as I have checked them I put the mum vback in. She will go and have a nose and check they are all right and when she is satisifed she will go back about her business again.
pamnock
Well-Known Member
Rabbits will generally nurse their litter only once or twice per day for a very short time, so it's unlikely you'll see her in the box.
The nest should appear fluffy, the kits should be warm and their skin should not be sunken/wrinkled.
Pam
The nest should appear fluffy, the kits should be warm and their skin should not be sunken/wrinkled.
Pam
Thank-you everyone for the great information, I feel a lot better... Not seeing her in the nest was bothering me... I checked this morning and there bellies looked full and she had added some more hair to the nest. She seems a lot calmer today and allowed me to give her some lovings. Thanks again,,, I will post pictures of the youngins in a couple weeks....
aurora369
Well-Known Member
Yay!! Good news!
Just keep checking the babies at least once a day for full bellies. As long as they are nice and plump, she's feeding them.
This because they are animals of prey. They avoid the nest except for feeding time to keep preditors away. The babies have minimal smell, so they shouldn't attract much attention on their own. So by avoiding them, she's trying to ensure their survival.
Once their eyes open in about 10-14 days, and they become more mobile, she will spend more time with them.
They grow very fast. Take lots of pictures! It's okay to take pictures this early, it won't hurt them or scare them.
--Dawn
Just keep checking the babies at least once a day for full bellies. As long as they are nice and plump, she's feeding them.
This because they are animals of prey. They avoid the nest except for feeding time to keep preditors away. The babies have minimal smell, so they shouldn't attract much attention on their own. So by avoiding them, she's trying to ensure their survival.
Once their eyes open in about 10-14 days, and they become more mobile, she will spend more time with them.
They grow very fast. Take lots of pictures! It's okay to take pictures this early, it won't hurt them or scare them.
--Dawn
