Introducing Baby to Foster Mom

[cmany]

OK...

So out of the 3 that survived...I am down to one...this one bunnie is a REALLY good eater...seems strong and doing well...

Last night one of my other does had 2 large, healthy bunnies...they look great and she built an incredible nest...this being her first time...

So this is her first litter...she is a real sweet rabbit...I don't want to get her agitated...

How do I go about presenting my little orphan to her? Do I just stick it in the nest and watch?

This little one has come so far over the last week...I want it to survive...

Any ideas would be great!!

 

[LakeCondo]

I don't know but my one thought is to make the orphan smell like the others by rubbing it with a something from the hopefully-foster mom's.

 

[Nancy McClelland]

:yeahthat: What I was gonna say--give it a rub down with the nesting material and keep a close eye on them. ray:

 

[cmany]

That is what I figured...thanks...just going to wait for the weather to clear out some...been a bit nasty all morning...no point it exposing the baby to that...and an unknown situation...

And if its pee is any indication as to how well it is doing...well...it gave me plenty to clean up this morning while feeding...LOL

No signs of dehydration either...

 

[majorv]

Since she just had them last night then you shouldn't have a problem introducing the orphan to the nest. Is he about the same size as the other two? Some breeds are better about accepting "outsiders" than others. It's good that you went ahead and fed him because your new Mom may not feed them until tonight or early morning.

 

[cmany]

Actually the two she had were pretty big..one is the same size as the 1 week old and the other slightly bigger...

Then again my survivor was originally from a litter of 7...so I expected some size difference...This doe is actually the orphans aunt...her brother being the father...

I put the little one in...she seems pretty indifferent...gave her some fresh carrot and kale...and is content...will keep checking to see how things progress...

I so hope she will accept it...it is such a little fighter...has a will to live...cuddled up with its new litter mates...and hunkered right down and went back to sleep...

If all goes well...I'm going to miss feeding the little booger...but mother's milk is best...

Thanks for everything

 

[ldoerr]

When I am fostering a baby onto a new mom, I rub the baby down with hand sanitizer. I also rub a little bit of that on the new moms nose and all of her original babies. This makes them all smell the same. I have had great success with this method.

 

[cmany]

I think we have success...just went and checked...and have 3 babies with nice full bellies...YEA!!!! I'm so happy!!!!

 

[cmany]

So it has been 24 hours...and the orphan is doing great...all 3 have full bellies...are warm and content...momma is doing great too...I have to be sure to give her lots of pets...if I just check on them without acknowledging her...she comes and keeps bumping me with her nose...

So I pet and scratch her and tell her how good she is...she gets her lovin and lets me check the babies...how funny...

And I can't believe how different it looks in just 24 hours...I think it would have survived on the goats milk...but would have been small and sickly...in such a short time...it is SO much stronger and certainly looks so much healthier...

 

[Nancy McClelland]

:yahoo:

 

[woahlookitsme]

Congrats! I have had to foster two different litters over to other moms before and I always just stick them in the new nest. Being in there wriggling they always end up with the same smell anyways. No problems at all

 

[LakeCondo]

wonderful