Help - Babies badly injured **

[Momma Luvbun]

My heart is breaking for you.
Maybe get a blanket to put around the nest to build it up?
I'm almost thinking you may have to speak to your vet again and ask about alternatives like bottle feeding kitten milk to the surviving babies.
You're in a good place here.
Please don't be hard on you or mum

 

[Samgabby]

My heart is breaking for you.
Maybe get a blanket to put around the nest to build it up?
I'm almost thinking you may have to speak to your vet again and ask about alternatives like bottle feeding kitten milk to the surviving babies.
You're in a good place here.
Please don't be hard on you or mum

Thank you so much, I really appreciate it. It’s been a really tough few days, trying to make the right choices, we left mum too it and she did it again. I can’t and don’t want to watch any more kits go through that.

spoke to vet who said it’s a really hard one, I either put mum back in tonight and hope for the best, that she was just getting rid of weak ones Or risk putting mum in only for feeding time but then there is no going back.

 

[Momma Luvbun]

Thank you so much, I really appreciate it. It’s been a really tough few days, trying to make the right choices, we left mum too it and she did it again. I can’t and don’t want to watch any more kits go through that.

spoke to vet who said it’s a really hard one, I either put mum back in tonight and hope for the best, that she was just getting rid of weak ones Or risk putting mum in only for feeding time but then there is no going back.

Definitely a hard choice for sure. I honestly couldn't do it

 

[JBun]

I would suggest doing what Preitler mentioned. Take the nest box out and only return it twice a day in the morning and evening for mom to nurse, then immediately remove it. There's really no need to keep the nest box in with her. Mom rabbits usually avoid the nest until it's time to nurse anyways. So this will allow the babies time to nurse and keep them safe the rest of the time.

I did it with a batch of unexpected babies that my rabbit had, and it worked out just fine. I kept the nest box out with me and only put it back in with mom in the morning and evening for a few minutes while I watched her nurse them, then removed them immediately afterwards. I had no problems at all with mom or the babies doing it this way.

And really once you start doing it this way, pulling the nest box out except for feedings, it doesn't necessarily mean you can't go back to what you were doing before. When they are older and are out of the nest box, you can try again to let them be with her, very carefully supervising it at first. There's a chance she could be perfectly fine with it. Or it may be she's having issues with there being other rabbits/living things being in her territory and that's why she's been reacting the way she has. In which case, I would just continue to only have her with the babies for supervised feedings.

 

[Samgabby]

I would suggest doing what Preitler mentioned. Take the nest box out and only return it twice a day in the morning and evening for mom to nurse, then immediately remove it. There's really no need to keep the nest box in with her. Mom rabbits usually avoid the nest until it's time to nurse anyways. So this will allow the babies time to nurse and keep them safe the rest of the time.

I did it with a batch of unexpected babies that my rabbit had, and it worked out just fine. I kept the nest box out with me and only put it back in with mom in the morning and evening for a few minutes while I watched her nurse them, then removed them immediately afterwards. I had no problems at all with mom or the babies doing it this way.

And really once you start doing it this way, pulling the nest box out except for feedings, it doesn't necessarily mean you can't go back to what you were doing before. When they are older and are out of the nest box, you can try again to let them be with her, very carefully supervising it at first. There's a chance she could be perfectly fine with it. Or it may be she's having issues with there being other rabbits/living things being in her territory and that's why she's been reacting the way she has. In which case, I would just continue to only have her with the babies for supervised feedings.

What if when doing that she is not nursing them, she won’t go near them and tried to stamp on them when encouraging one to latch on

 

[JBun]

Are you saying you tried this and this is what she did? And if so, were you trying this outside of her normal cycle and time of nursing? If a doe isn't to the point it's time to nurse yet, she might pitch a fit. They usually only want to do it when the milk is ready and they want/need that relief by nursing the babies. If you bring the babies to her at the right time(usually morning and late evening), then it's a natural reaction for them to want to nurse and relieve that feeling. If the babies are brought to her outside of the normal nursing schedule, then yes, the doe will likely be uncooperative.

I can't see it being a problem to get a doe to nurse this way by only bringing the nesting box to her when needed to nurse at the right times, unless there is some other issue going on like not enough milk coming in or possible mastitis causing nursing babies to be painful. Have you checked her belly for any signs of mastitis? Sore nipples from mastitis could be a cause for a doe reacting the way you describe.

 

[Samgabby]

Are you saying you tried this and this is what she did? And if so, were you trying this outside of her normal cycle and time of nursing? If a doe isn't to the point it's time to nurse yet, she might pitch a fit. They usually only want to do it when the milk is ready and they want/need that relief by nursing the babies. If you bring the babies to her at the right time(usually morning and late evening), then it's a natural reaction for them to want to nurse and relieve that feeling. If the babies are brought to her outside of the normal nursing schedule, then yes, the doe will likely be uncooperative.

I can't see it being a problem to get a doe to nurse this way by only bringing the nesting box to her when needed to nurse at the right times, unless there is some other issue going on like not enough milk coming in or possible mastitis causing nursing babies to be painful. Have you checked her belly for any signs of mastitis? Sore nipples from mastitis could be a cause for a doe reacting the way you describe.

So I just had a look at her nipples and they feel dry and look a bit sore but she won’t let me get close enough to look. In

Are you saying you tried this and this is what she did? And if so, were you trying this outside of her normal cycle and time of nursing? If a doe isn't to the point it's time to nurse yet, she might pitch a fit. They usually only want to do it when the milk is ready and they want/need that relief by nursing the babies. If you bring the babies to her at the right time(usually morning and late evening), then it's a natural reaction for them to want to nurse and relieve that feeling. If the babies are brought to her outside of the normal nursing schedule, then yes, the doe will likely be uncooperative.

I can't see it being a problem to get a doe to nurse this way by only bringing the nesting box to her when needed to nurse at the right times, unless there is some other issue going on like not enough milk coming in or possible mastitis causing nursing babies to be painful. Have you checked her belly for any signs of mastitis? Sore nipples from mastitis could be a cause for a doe reacting the way you describe.

So she seems relaxed, but when trying to encourage her to nurse them. She stomped her feet towards them so we stopped. I think her nipples look sore. I have put some pics on here. Just never thought we would have any problems.

 

[Preitler]

Nursing happens on her terms. You cannot really "encourage" her to nurse, if you try she feels something is off, and would avoid the nest and get really irritated about it - they are prey animals. If you are persistent and pester her into the nest so she has no other way to go, of course she stomps, because that's all wiered and against her instincts. Some does do not nurse or go near the nest as long as anyone is around or when they feel watched, let alone urged to do something against their instincts.

 

[Samgabby]

Nursing happens on her terms. You cannot really "encourage" her to nurse, if you try she feels something is off, and would avoid the nest and get really irritated about it - they are prey animals. If you are persistent and pester her into the nest so she has no other way to go, of course she stomps, because that's all wiered and against her instincts. Some does do not nurse or go near the nest as long as anyone is around or when they feel watched, let alone urged to do something against their instincts.

I am trying my best

 

[Samgabby]

Are you saying you tried this and this is what she did? And if so, were you trying this outside of her normal cycle and time of nursing? If a doe isn't to the point it's time to nurse yet, she might pitch a fit. They usually only want to do it when the milk is ready and they want/need that relief by nursing the babies. If you bring the babies to her at the right time(usually morning and late evening), then it's a natural reaction for them to want to nurse and relieve that feeling. If the babies are brought to her outside of the normal nursing schedule, then yes, the doe will likely be uncooperative.

I can't see it being a problem to get a doe to nurse this way by only bringing the nesting box to her when needed to nurse at the right times, unless there is some other issue going on like not enough milk coming in or possible mastitis causing nursing babies to be painful. Have you checked her belly for any signs of mastitis? Sore nipples from mastitis could be a cause for a doe reacting the way you describe.

So we had some positive news this morning, no more injured kits thank god. After following some advice given, we took the kits away. When she didn’t want to feed them, but there bellies looked pretty full. She stomped her feet at 0130 this morning. So I took them in and she fed them right away. For the rest of the night she was happy with them being in the pen with her. We let her outside yesterday, to have some space. She seems so much more content. So maybe this is how we need to do it for kits and mum. All babies had full tummies. So much happier this morning. Thanks for all the help, fingers crossed for the next 2 weeks

 

[Preitler]

Good sign, often once they figure out their routine and what to doe everything goes smoothly from there, good luck

 

[Samgabby]

Good sign, often once they figure out their routine and what to doe everything goes smoothly from there, good luck

Thank you so much and thanks for advice. This has certainly been a tricky situation but I know it’ll be worth it in the end when we have beautiful babies. Mum is outside in the sun again today.

Thank you

 

[zuppa]

Good to hear positive news this time. I don't remove the babies I prefer letting mama out for a day so she can have a life and let her in in the evening, she nurses immediately and happy after that. I don't like moving the nest especially when she can see it.

 

[Samgabby]

Good to hear positive news this time. I don't remove the babies I prefer letting mama out for a day so she can have a life and let her in in the evening, she nurses immediately and happy after that. I don't like moving the nest especially when she can see it.

That is what we are going to stick to do doing. Mum tucked them all in last night so I haven’t touched them or moved them. Just wait for mum to come in later and do her thing. Then just keep letting her out for the day

 

[zuppa]

That is what we are going to stick to do doing. Mum tucked them all in last night so I haven’t touched them or moved them. Just wait for mum to come in later and do her thing. Then just keep letting her out for the day ☺

Great! When babies are 2 weeks they will start hopping out of the nest and will be chasing her won't let her relax so she can get very nervous because literally has no time to sleep, with 8 babies there will be always wen she lays down one or two will be trying to nurse so she will have to move. And it will be all the time from 2 weeks until they are fully weaned, so if they are in the same enclosure you can add a high shelf where only she can be alone, they will learn howto get there pretty soon but there's only room for her so they won't be able to disturb her there so she can have a sleep. Or let her out for day is great too.
Sometimes (rather rarely) mama nurses more often than needed, I had two mamas nursing 4-5 times a day so kits were not very interested when older since they had some solid food already and mama was running around and encouraging them to come and nurse, like dinner is ready come on, and they like okay coming coming, that was very funny. But not too often that was Arnie she was very caring mama, normally once or twice a day they get their milk. And she nursed well over 8 weeks as well, she just loved being mama. The other girl was great as well, interestingly, they were sisters and their own mother wasn't great, she was very nervous and it was her first time she was panicking and was scared of the babies etc. She didn't clean them as well

 

[eskaisbell]

I'm glad you've figured something out. This sounded so stressful! I'm so happy nothing like this happened with our surprise babies! I was so afraid of finding dead or hurt kits every morning for the first little while. Your mama looks a lot like mine! You're doing your best, I know it's not easy but thank goodness they have someone who cares ❤

 

[Samgabby]

Update : They are now 8 days old! Appear to be doing well. Definitely some larger ones that I think will be more like dad (who is giant) as they have bigger feet and some smaller ones like mum.

 

[JBun]

Such cute little things I'm glad mom finally decided to leave them alone and they are doing well.