Help - Babies badly injured **

[zuppa]

The father was separated as he become aggressive.

He has also recently been spade so is recovering from that.

I can try find the pellet name. It was my mother in law that bought it. We bought different types of hay from local pet store. Due to go to farm shop to get some more, as someone suggested here.

Mum moved the pen around a bit to suit where she wanted the babies. This was the night before. She is littered trained as well.

I understand that father is somewhere completely separately and now neutered?
That's great, just hoping you know that male is still fertile after neutering up to 4 weeks, so please bear in mind.

Female rabbit can become pregnant same day after giving birth, so it is possible that she is pregnant again if you only separated them after you found babies. That would be not good for her and hopefully never happened, but if you only found the babies in the morning they maybe had enough time for making more babies. In that case you will have more babies in about 30 days from first litter. But if you separated him before she had babies that's great and no more babies.

Also keep him away from kits because he can damage them. Generally you will need to wait about 6-8 weeks after he's neutered and only then can try bonding them together.

The babies will have to stay with mother until they are 8 weeks and then you will have to sex them and separate boys from girls and mother, because they can impregnate mother from like 10-12 weeks. Girls will become fertile from 14 weeks, so usually you separate boys at 8-9 weeks.

Then, from 8 weeks you can rehome the babies. By that time they will be fully weaned and will eat solid food and hay.

 

[ladysown]

sometimes, if kits get dragged out of the nestbox (hanging on to mom's teats) they get cold. Sometimes mom wants to clean up to prevent predation of the other kits. SOMETIMES she doesn't wait for the kits to be completely dead to start the clean-up process. If she's a first-time mom, she might make this mistake. so if you are absolutely sure you have no rats or other small predators... my guess is it's just "mom cleaning up" issues. first time mom making some mistakes. Nest not built high enough to scrape off kits who are clinging. It's happens. Please don't be too hard on yourself or that first time mom.

 

[Samgabby]

sometimes, if kits get dragged out of the nestbox (hanging on to mom's teats) they get cold. Sometimes mom wants to clean up to prevent predation of the other kits. SOMETIMES she doesn't wait for the kits to be completely dead to start the clean-up process. If she's a first-time mom, she might make this mistake. so if you are absolutely sure you have no rats or other small predators... my guess is it's just "mom cleaning up" issues. first time mom making some mistakes. Nest not built high enough to scrape off kits who are clinging. It's happens. Please don't be too hard on yourself or that first time mom.

She is in a upstairs bedroom out the way, it’s definitely not rats. Fingers crossed we have woken up the morning and we found non dragged out. So I’m hoping we won’t find anymore. If the box isn’t deep enough and I put them in a different one would this not upset mum ? Is this something I should do then.

I am not going to lie, it absolutely devastated me yesterday. I was upset with myself and mum but the first I thought she may of done it by accident and then when it happened again, I just didn’t understand but what you’ve said offers me some reassurance and makes sense.

I joined a Facebook group but all of you have been far more helpful, and I can’t thank you enough. I underestimated how hard it was going to be but hoping the rest will be okay

Thank you

 

[Samgabby]

I understand that father is somewhere completely separately and now neutered?
That's great, just hoping you know that male is still fertile after neutering up to 4 weeks, so please bear in mind.

Female rabbit can become pregnant same day after giving birth, so it is possible that she is pregnant again if you only separated them after you found babies. That would be not good for her and hopefully never happened, but if you only found the babies in the morning they maybe had enough time for making more babies. In that case you will have more babies in about 30 days from first litter. But if you separated him before she had babies that's great and no more babies.

Also keep him away from kits because he can damage them. Generally you will need to wait about 6-8 weeks after he's neutered and only then can try bonding them together.

The babies will have to stay with mother until they are 8 weeks and then you will have to sex them and separate boys from girls and mother, because they can impregnate mother from like 10-12 weeks. Girls will become fertile from 14 weeks, so usually you separate boys at 8-9 weeks.

Then, from 8 weeks you can rehome the babies. By that time they will be fully weaned and will eat solid food and hay.

So they were living in a shed, which is when we first noticed her nesting. We instantly separated her and bought her into a warmer environment. She then had the babies a week after that.

That is useful information about dad, I did some research regarding when to put them back together. But thanks for the timeline.

We didn’t find any injured this morning so hoping for the best. I don’t think mum did mean to do it. Sadly she is very young to be pregnant, so this may not be helping bless her. She has still been doing a great job with the others. Thanks again

 

[Samgabby]

sometimes, if kits get dragged out of the nestbox (hanging on to mom's teats) they get cold. Sometimes mom wants to clean up to prevent predation of the other kits. SOMETIMES she doesn't wait for the kits to be completely dead to start the clean-up process. If she's a first-time mom, she might make this mistake. so if you are absolutely sure you have no rats or other small predators... my guess is it's just "mom cleaning up" issues. first time mom making some mistakes. Nest not built high enough to scrape off kits who are clinging. It's happens. Please don't be too hard on yourself or that first time mom.

So sadly we have actually found one, that had skin missing from its back: we are beside ourself and just don’t know what to do. That is 3 babies in 3 days

 

[Preitler]

Well, those are the joys of breeding rabbits.

What do you feed? It still could be an deficiency issue.
You could take the nestbox out, and only return it for feeding around dusk and dawn, watch her and step in if something goes wrong.

 

[Samgabby]

Well, those are the joys of breeding rabbits.

What do you feed? It still could be an deficiency issue.
You could take the nestbox out, and only return it for feeding around dusk and dawn, watch her and step in if something goes wrong.

Thank you for the advice, We are not breeders and this was never planned unfortunately. We are trying our best to follow all the advice. It was pellet suggested by breeder. Trying to get the name of it for you. Yeah that’s what we think we will need to do, just to protect all of them

 

[Preitler]

You feed pellets only, or a variety of stuff?

Percentages and ingredients of the pellets only really matter if it is her staple food. Hay is recommended anyway though.

 

[TreasuredFriend]

Abandoned unspayed mom impregnated by unaltered male, after capture by hubby, gave birth to 7 in our home. We fashioned a towel surround in a low height cardboard-edge box when we observed her aggressive tone, and saw her pulling fur to create a nest.

I can link articles that refer to rreasons kits may be harmed shortly after birth. No need to post the disturbing pic of infant who died from extensive injury.

-- I'm relieved you truly care about the welfare of the survivors, and mom. -- We do feel sorrow at any loss of life, no matter the size.

Both captured, unaltered females back in 2006, gave birth and the towel surrounds in an enclosure area (for us) worked fine. Don't feel pressured to build a nestbox. Other surrounds like a plain litter box work well, too. Our babes all survived and the eldest babies lived to age 13 1/2.

I can link articles on how to care for infants in the days ahead. In fact, there may be another thread I recently posted on wrt infant care (of unexpected babies).

 

[TreasuredFriend]

Our rescue networks constantly hear of gender fairy visits, and people are not informed or savvy of separating two rabbits until those boy balls or a vulva is officially ID'd.

You're doing your best. I'm sad that you weren't informed and that mom underwent this experience. And now you'll have MANY juveniles, adolescents, to findforever-loving homes for.

Also in our rescue network we occasionally come across a hermaphrodite when vet is doing a sp/euter surgery.

Zuppa, do you recall the name of the thread you recently posted in? I added some input, too. Otherwise I'll go searching.

 

[TreasuredFriend]

Found it, Zuppa. We have new Easter Bunnies, April 5, 2021, started by seagypsy.

 

[TreasuredFriend]

A concern. When was the male (who was ID'd as a girl originally) separated from the female?

 

[Samgabby]

You feed pellets only, or a variety of stuff?

Percentages and ingredients of the pellets only really matter if it is her staple food. Hay is recommended anyway though.

She has pellets, hay and veg. I have been given so many different advice. I just want to protect mum and the babies.

 

[Samgabby]

A concern. When was the male (who was ID'd as a girl originally) separated from the female?

As soon as we realised mum was nesting we separated them. And checked him which is when we saw he was not a girl. She gave birth a week later.

 

[Samgabby]

Abandoned unspayed mom impregnated by unaltered male, after capture by hubby, gave birth to 7 in our home. We fashioned a towel surround in a low height cardboard-edge box when we observed her aggressive tone, and saw her pulling fur to create a nest.

I can link articles that refer to rreasons kits may be harmed shortly after birth. No need to post the disturbing pic of infant who died from extensive injury.

-- I'm relieved you truly care about the welfare of the survivors, and mom. -- We do feel sorrow at any loss of life, no matter the size.

Both captured, unaltered females back in 2006, gave birth and the towel surrounds in an enclosure area (for us) worked fine. Don't feel pressured to build a nestbox. Other surrounds like a plain litter box work well, too. Our babes all survived and the eldest babies lived to age 13 1/2.

I can link articles on how to care for infants in the days ahead. In fact, there may be another thread I recently posted on wrt infant care (of unexpected babies).

All I care about is the rest surviving and mums welfare. But I do believe if I leave them with her tonight. She will keep doing it. She is very very young. She is only 5 months. I just can’t loose anymore babies.

 

[TreasuredFriend]

Zuppa covered my concern about male impregnately a teenage female (already) after she gave birth.

Also depends on what Facebook groups you are visiting for educational or helpful advice. So many groups out there, and not having a rabbit-savvy DVM is detrimental for lifelong care.

My heart goes out to you. We had 16 newborns within a matter of 3 weeks. Both captured females (of reproductive age, 5 months and older) were abandoned strays.

 

[TreasuredFriend]

I understand what you are going through, Samgabby. Many comfort hugs as you do your best for every precious heartbeat in your home. I'll stay tuned and hope mom will be A-OK, same for babies suckling from mom's nipples.

 

[TreasuredFriend]

Unsure if this well help as the kits mature?

The link shows the towel surround we used and the cardboard shields to keep the infants together in one spot while Mom Marietta could nurse:

http://www.linedgroundsquirrels.com/MariPhotoPage.html

 

[Samgabby]

Is there a s

Zuppa covered my concern about male impregnately a teenage female (already) after she gave birth.

Also depends on what Facebook groups you are visiting for educational or helpful advice. So many groups out there, and not having a rabbit-savvy DVM is detrimental for lifelong care.

My heart goes out to you. We had 16 newborns within a matter of 3 weeks. Both captured females (of reproductive age, 5 months and older) were abandoned strays.

Is there a strong chance she is pregnant again then ?

 

[Samgabby]

Unsure if this well help as the kits mature?

The link shows the towel surround we used and the cardboard shields to keep the infants together in one spot while Mom Marietta could nurse:

http://www.linedgroundsquirrels.com/MariPhotoPage.html

We were going to try build a more secure nest that is taller, so they fall off into nest as mum jumps out.

I really don’t think mum is doing it intentionally, I think they are falling out and she is doing what she thinks best.

I am trying to figure out at what point is enough. Do we just put kits with mum to feed then separate them, it was weird when we just took the box out earlier to make sure they were all alive. Mum stretched out. First time I had seen her relaxed in ages. We let her out for a bit today in her run outside to give he some space. Just nervous about tonight and when do we intervene. As she just might be struggling to parent