doe giving birth again ? after 30 days

[Pamela Moses]

a friend of mine was told that she had 2 females found out 4 weeks later there were babies she then seperated them now she has another 4 newborns she is now asking me what can or should she do??

pam

 

[ZakuraRabbit]

Rabbits mate soon after giving birth, so this is unfortunately what must have happened.
There's few things you can do unfortunately, apart from hoping she'll sort out her babies.
Is she still caring for the older babies? Preferably they should be with their mother untill they are at least 6 weeks and not be sold before 8, but if she's acting aggresive towards them they must be removed. I have seen one rabbit raise two litters at once...but her first litter were pretty much weaned by the time the new litter arrived, and stayed with their mom and younger siblings till they were around 9-10 weeks old. (The infants were then around a week old, they had fur at least)

 

[Pamela Moses]

so both litters should both stay unless she is aggressive toward the older ones

 

[BlueGiants]

In the wild, a female will drive away her older kits right before the new litter is born.

Most of the time, the first litter should be seperated when the second litter is born. A lot of does will get aggressive towards the first litter to "protect" the new litter.It's also very stressful on the doe to have both litters around at the same time. A doe's milk composition will change with the birth of he new litter. It willcontain more colostrum and be made just for newborns. Not what the older kits should have (or be taking away from the newborns).

I'd seperate them from the doe and keep them together for another 2-3 weeks before sending them to new homes. What ever diet they were used to with mom should be continued. (I avoid greens at this age, but that's just my opinion.) Make sure they have plenty of good hay.

And wish her best of luck with the new litter. It can be hard on the doe to produce and raise two litters that close together.

 

[Pamela Moses]

thanks have passed all this on to her she has taken the older ones out now