hi and could i ask a question?

[MayBell]

alright, so about two weeks ago, my doe amanda had kits, surprised and dumbfounded i called the shop that sold her to me and asked why they sold me a pregnant doe (i read a bit about them for ag class a few years back and the way they handle rabbits there, i'm surprised all of them lived), they said they didn't recall the sale and i had the wrong number.

well anyways, i love amanda, she's my first bunny-fu, and her babies are my babies as well. she seems very happy and she feeds them well, but i was told by a friend that me taking them out of the nest box to let them roam around and play was bad and i didn't understand why. she refered me to your forum so i could post and that way i got better answers. to me it seems they are fine.. sense they were born i would do head checks and take an hour to let them stretch their legs and roam and nothing bad has happened.. now that they have fur i let them on the floor more, and i bring amanda with them and she enjoys it just as much as the kits. so if i did a bad thing by letting them out of the nest to play, then why is there nothing wrong with them...

also i read they don't eat solids till three weeks, they are nibbling should i be worried?

 

[pamnock]

No need to worry. They'll start nibbling as soon as they leave the nestbox (sometimes as early as 8 days!).

 

[MayBell]

well what about me handleing them ... they won't die because i've been doing this sense they were born right?????!

 

[bunnybunbunb]

No, no, no no, that is a myth. Funny how many people buy into such lies. I can whole heartedly tell youthat handling them from day one will not kill them. Most, if not all, breeders here on the forum handle their babies from day one. I do. It only makes the babies more people friendly. It is a good thing!

 

[MayBell]

oh thank goodness...

i was reading through the topics and there was one that caught my eye.. down near the bottom.. it was named update by kmtangelkrystal? i honestly clicked expecting baby pics lol but what is it that she did so wrong that got everyone so rallied up?

i hope i wasn't doing anything to hurt the babies i'd never forgive myself.

 

[mistyjr]

because she would only let the babies only eat when she wants them too. And she would keep the babies away and only bring the babies.. She wouldnt leave the babies with momma until we told her.. I guess you didnt read all her post?

 

[mistyjr]

I heard that you dont want to handly the babies alot from other breeders and read online. So I dont hardly just once a day.. But some other breeders disagree and they think its fine. I'm just to scared to stress them out or something.

 

[MayBell]

i commented on her post.. ya.. i'd never seperate the kits from amanda.. it would hurt her and the babies i'm sure... i've seen amanda feed them, i sit out in the room ( i have a spare room in my moms house and its perfect for them and so they aren't outside) and i like to watch her with them, she feeds them while i'm their sometimes. lol its funny to watch the kits start kicking at the air while halfway under her. ... why do that feed upside down?

 

[mistyjr]

she haves more then one post.. The other one that got us going is that she was going to take babies to school for 8 hrs and the babies wouldnt have ate in those hrs.. Sorry but the babies need to be w/ momma even when they are that little. And you do not give the babies to momma when you think they need to be and miss feedings. But oh well. Thats her life and babies life. I'm done talkin..

 

[mistyjr]

hmmm. I dont know why.. Good question. Its just any other animal..lol

But anyways I see that you also have lionhead babies? :biggrin2::rofl:
How old are your babies?

I also have a litter of lionheads

 

[MayBell]

they are two 16 days old

 

[mistyjr]

ohh, she only had 2? What color is momma and babies?? I would love to see pictures of them..

 

[MayBell]

never said how many yet, she had six babies ^^ sorry i didn't include that with my main post, there are two black ones a spekled one and three white ones. amanda is kind of a peach color. i don't know their daddy though.

 

[mistyjr]

cute! Would love pictures

 

[wooly_queen]

I check the babies right when I find them. I of course need to check to see if any are dead and count them. So I know how many to look for whenever I check them.

I leave them alone after that for the next day or two. I like to let mama settle. After that I check them every day...and especially once they get kinda cute and fuzzy. lol They are just too cute to leave in there. But you shouldn't really tote them around until their eyes are open. It's much safer when they can see where the heck they are going. lol And by this time they are slightly less fragile...

With some does if you touch them when they are really young, they will kill them or throw them out of the nest. I've never had it happen, but my friend has. My does are good moms and don't mind that I touch them. They are really used to me being in and out of their cages and messing with them.

So that is the only reason that I can think of that would be something bad about handling newborns and babies that are a few days old. Your doe seems like a sweetie pie and a good mom, so you had nothing to really worry about.

So that's my take on that topic. XD

Congrats on the babies by the way. lol

 

[aurora369]

When fostering babies for rescue, I would make sure to check the babies each day. I was looking to make sure they where all getting fed and that none where injured. Once they start getting a bit older and their eyes open, I like to play with them for a little bit each day to socialize them.

If the babies are sleepy, I'll make put them on my lap in a fleece blanket for some cuddles. If they are feeling energetic, I'll sit on the ground while they play in a safe location. Either a small bunny proofed room or a pen.

Once they are at the age yours are, there is definitely no harm in playing with the babies each day for a short period of time.

Rabbits feed their young by standing over them because they are prey animals. It allows them to stay in a position where they can watch for danger and run away quickly if needed. Since the mom stands, the best way for the babies to get to her milk is to nurse on their backs.

-Dawn