Male rabbit gave birth???!!!

[sha10ly88]

It was Tuesday 6 January 09. At 4pm,I was out with my elder sister when suddenly my 11 year old sister called me and was crying on the phone. She sounded so scared. She said ... "Teta!! Baby is pulling out its own fur. I think its dying!"

I got totally confuse. When we got the rabbit, the sales person at the pet shop told us that it is a male rabbit. And according tothe facts I read about rabbits, FEMALE rabbits pulls out its fur when it is about to give birth. So the fur are prepared for the little bunnies. Could my rabbit, Baby actually is a female rabbit? Weird thing is .... if its a female rabbit .... when did it mate with a male one? I only have a rabbit!

Then I thought .... maybe the reason Baby is pulling out its fur is because of his desire to mate. Maybe it has already reach that stage that he wants to mate. So I thought .... poor baby.

Later around 10.30pm, I was already walking back home when I receive a call from my sister. She said .... the rabbit had given birth to 4 little bunnies!!! I was so shock but excited plus curious. How did Baby got pregnant?! Then I remembered.

Last month,I had a family holiday. We had no choice but to send Baby to a friend's house who also has a male rabbit named Kiki. Since at that time we thought Baby was a male, we did not mind if he is kept with Kiki together. Basically we were all clueless.

So now .... Baby is not alone. Shes sharing her space with 4 of her own which I cant even tell between the males and females. Probably, when all the 4 have grown big enough, we might give the two to the father which is Kiki. So its fair. All in all .... hahahhahaha

 

[aurora369]

I moved this thread over to the Rabbitry section where those who are experienced with babies will be more likely to see it.

First off, the babies look like they are well fed, so mom is off to a good start.

I would recommend putting the babies in a nesting box of some sort. In a pinch, a shoe box works well. Fill the box with hay, nice and tightly packed. Then make a fist sized hole in the middle. Transfer the nesting material the babies are in now to the hole, and cover the babies up with the fur.

The babies look like they might get cold in the set up they are in now. The box will help hold them together and keep them from wandering off and dying of exposure.

Mom will feed one to three times a day. She should ignore them for the rest of the time (it's instinct to ignore them as to not attract predators).

Keep up with the pictures, they grow very fast. And we all love to watch them grow up!

If you have any questions at all, please feel free to ask.

--Dawn

PS - Pet stores really suck at sexing rabbits...

PPS - The food she is eating at the moment looks like it's not the best. A good rabbit pellet will have no seeds or colour full bits. Have a look at the Rabbit 101 - Feeding your rabbit
http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=12046&forum_id=17

 

[polly]

Aurora has given you great advice I would definately get them in a box that mum can get in and out of but the babies can't escape from.

Also you will need to increase the amount of food you are giving Baby as she will need extra to feed her kits ( it takes a lot out of them)

 

[wabbitmom12]

SURPRISE!!!

They all look wonderful. Your Baby bun is a pretty girl, too. Keep up the pictures, we love to see them growing up.

 

[sha10ly88]

You said put them in a box. Meaning .... the little bunnies are seperated from the mother? like that? But how will they milk from the mother? It was only today that the little ones are moving to the mother to milk. But like wat u said ... the mother seems ignorant. She always moves away when the little ones come to milk from her. Then if i seperate them ... they wont milk at all then.

Still I will get a box. I didnt know that the nesting i have placed are not enough for them.

But is it normal that the mother behaves ignorant. Becos sometimes ... she even step the little bunnies. Ohh ... I am getting worried.

 

[sha10ly88]

polly wrote:

Aurora has given you great advice I would definately get them in a box that mum can get in and out of but the babies can't escape from.

Also you will need to increase the amount of food you are giving Baby as she will need extra to feed her kits ( it takes a lot out of them)

Thnx a lot. I will keep everyone update with pictures of them all.

 

[sha10ly88]

aurora369 wrote:

I moved this thread over to the Rabbitry section where those who are experienced with babies will be more likely to see it.

First off, the babies look like they are well fed, so mom is off to a good start.

I would recommend putting the babies in a nesting box of some sort. In a pinch, a shoe box works well. Fill the box with hay, nice and tightly packed. Then make a fist sized hole in the middle. Transfer the nesting material the babies are in now to the hole, and cover the babies up with the fur.

The babies look like they might get cold in the set up they are in now. The box will help hold them together and keep them from wandering off and dying of exposure.

Mom will feed one to three times a day. She should ignore them for the rest of the time (it's instinct to ignore them as to not attract predators).

Keep up with the pictures, they grow very fast. And we all love to watch them grow up!

If you have any questions at all, please feel free to ask.

--Dawn

PS - Pet stores really suck at sexing rabbits...

PPS - The food she is eating at the moment looks like it's not the best. A good rabbit pellet will have no seeds or colour full bits. Have a look at the Rabbit 101 - Feeding your rabbit
http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=12046&forum_id=17

Oh really ... the food is not the best? Oh ... if only u have said earlier. I have just bought the same one again today. But does the type of food affects the rabbits health? But the rabbit has an amazing appetite on that type I got him. Ooops .. i mean her.

Gosh its so hard to change everything from male to female. Hahaha...

 

[irishlops]

i think what they mean is, get a shoe box, cut it in half if you have to, and still put it in the cage. with momma rabbit.
i think (i dont breed rabbits) that the change of food might be stress ful, so just give her more than normal, she has to feed 3 or 4 others!
when you move them, rub your hands in the hay/straw and or rub on the momma.
ao she will not know the differnce of your smell.
good luck

 

[irishlops]

but i guess changing it for the baby bunnys sake might be good, and my rabbits food is like that, ill change it to just brown pellets...

 

[Flashy]

Basically, you need to put the babies and their nest in an open lidded box, and then ut that in the cage. Mum seems to be doing an ace job so there is currently no reason to separate them, but the babies need to be all kept together to avoid anyone wandering, or getting too cold. Also, right now they are sitting on the plastic bottom, and it's not really a nest, so you risk them suffering from the cold that way, even if the room is not cold.

Mum will ignore them most of the time. She will know when they need feeding and will feed them according to that, so don't worry too much about her ignoring them. You will need to keep an eye on them though, just to check she does continue to feed them (but she has already done the hardest bit with the first feed because some mums don't know what to do then), and when they have been fed they will look like they have swallowed ping pong balls.

 

[sha10ly88]

Flashy wrote:

Basically, you need to put the babies and their nest in an open lidded box, and then ut that in the cage. Mum seems to be doing an ace job so there is currently no reason to separate them, but the babies need to be all kept together to avoid anyone wandering, or getting too cold. Also, right now they are sitting on the plastic bottom, and it's not really a nest, so you risk them suffering from the cold that way, even if the room is not cold.

Mum will ignore them most of the time. She will know when they need feeding and will feed them according to that, so don't worry too much about her ignoring them. You will need to keep an eye on them though, just to check she does continue to feed them (but she has already done the hardest bit with the first feed because some mums don't know what to do then), and when they have been fed they will look like they have swallowed ping pong balls.

Ohhhh ... now then I get it. So I shall get a shoe box most probably and cut it. Oh ... what about the nest? I mean is it ok I make it from hays or wool of a pillow? Or must it be from the mother's fur that it has already prepared at the begining? But then ...that is impossible. Rite?

 

[sha10ly88]

irishlops wrote:

i think what they mean is, get a shoe box, cut it in half if you have to, and still put it in the cage. with momma rabbit.
i think (i dont breed rabbits) that the change of food might be stress ful, so just give her more than normal, she has to feed 3 or 4 others!
when you move them, rub your hands in the hay/straw and or rub on the momma.
ao she will not know the differnce of your smell.
good luck

Yea ... it is stressful.

What will happen if the mother smell a difference? Will the mother kill the little bunnies?

 

[Flashy]

Use the fur she has pulled, and then use hay if you need anything extra. Maybe form it from hay, and then fill it out with the fur. If you think you need more fur you can pull some out from mum (around her nipples works well) because the hormones loosen the fur.

If you can, a whole shoe box would be best because it has all the sides. If you cut off one side you face the possibility of still having a rogue kit wriggling out and then suffering because of that. Even if you push it against the edge mum can catch it and move it. If a shoe box is too big then look for a smaller box that mum can get in but babies can't get out of.

It is a myth that she will reject the babies. They only do that if stressed, or if a baby is ill. If you are concerned you can stroke her and then hold the babies, however, you have already held the babies with no problems so I shouldn't see there would be a problem unless something changes in her, or your world.

 

[aurora369]

When I have had to make a nest for a mommy rabbit (done so for a couple of fosters), I use hay to fill most of the box, then I make a nice hole in the middle of the hay and put whatever fur the mom pulled in the middle (I would put the fluff that they are currently in) and then put the babies in then cover them with the warm fur (and fluff).

Just like Polly and Irishlops said, you put the box into the cage so mom can jump in and out when ever she feels the need to feed.

If the babies are trying to chase her around right now then there is a huge risk of them getting seperated and cold. The biggest reason for infant mortality in rabbits, is getting cold and dying from exposure.

The food is not the best, and you want momma to be on a good quality food so she can produce a good milk with out stressing her body too much. If you do want to changer her feed, you will have to do it gradually so she won't get stressed. Take a look in the link I gave you for articles about pellets, to figure out what pellet you would like to feed her.

If you can get to a feed store, I would go there to get some. Since she is nursing you want her on a higher protien feed, something around 16% to 18% protien. A nice plain pellet with no seeds or coloured bits. You can also feed a bit of alfafa while she's nursing and while the babies are growing up they can have some until about 6 months. I've always just feed a timothy or grass hay as well. A feed store is a great place to get really cheap but good quality hay too.

--Dawn

 

[sha10ly88]

Flashy wrote:

Use the fur she has pulled, and then use hay if you need anything extra. Maybe form it from hay, and then fill it out with the fur. If you think you need more fur you can pull some out from mum (around her nipples works well) because the hormones loosen the fur.

If you can, a whole shoe box would be best because it has all the sides. If you cut off one side you face the possibility of still having a rogue kit wriggling out and then suffering because of that. Even if you push it against the edge mum can catch it and move it. If a shoe box is too big then look for a smaller box that mum can get in but babies can't get out of.

It is a myth that she will reject the babies. They only do that if stressed, or if a baby is ill. If you are concerned you can stroke her and then hold the babies, however, you have already held the babies with no problems so I shouldn't see there would be a problem unless something changes in her, or your world.

Yea ... the mother was not angry or show any signs of unhappiness when I hold the little ones. In fact, she was just lazing even when my hand was close enough for her to bite while i hold the little bunnies. Anyway .... I am glad she was not angry.

I have thought of placing the whole box in the cage but I was afraid that the mother would jump in and cause the whole box to topple over. I think its because of the space. I need to enlarge the rabbits cage. But the problem is ... I am living in an apartment.

So just earlier today ... I had experiment putting the box in the cage. But I cut one side of it already. However, I face another problem. The mother enjoys biting cardboard boxes. Then the whole box will move. Is there a solution to this? Is it normal for the mother to step on its babies some times?

 

[sha10ly88]

aurora369 wrote:

When I have had to make a nest for a mommy rabbit (done so for a couple of fosters), I use hay to fill most of the box, then I make a nice hole in the middle of the hay and put whatever fur the mom pulled in the middle (I would put the fluff that they are currently in) and then put the babies in then cover them with the warm fur (and fluff).

Just like Polly and Irishlops said, you put the box into the cage so mom can jump in and out when ever she feels the need to feed.

If the babies are trying to chase her around right now then there is a huge risk of them getting seperated and cold. The biggest reason for infant mortality in rabbits, is getting cold and dying from exposure.

The food is not the best, and you want momma to be on a good quality food so she can produce a good milk with out stressing her body too much. If you do want to changer her feed, you will have to do it gradually so she won't get stressed. Take a look in the link I gave you for articles about pellets, to figure out what pellet you would like to feed her.

If you can get to a feed store, I would go there to get some. Since she is nursing you want her on a higher protien feed, something around 16% to 18% protien. A nice plain pellet with no seeds or coloured bits. You can also feed a bit of alfafa while she's nursing and while the babies are growing up they can have some until about 6 months. I've always just feed a timothy or grass hay as well. A feed store is a great place to get really cheap but good quality hay too.

--Dawn

Tell me what you would do if you are in my position? I was not expecting to take care more than a rabbit because I am living in an apartment.So main problem is ... the space. I havequoted the same thingon Flashy'sreply.I am worried that placing the box in the cage with a mother will make the cage even more chaotic. Unless of its normal for the mother to step on its babies .... then I wouldnt be too worried to put the box in.

Does the little bunnies need to be covered with fur? I mean like a blanket. I have notice that the little ones like to hide below the nesting. Will it cause anything like suffocating??? I guess I am just too nervous to handle4 little bunnies when I am not even an expert with just a bunny.

 

[PepnFluff]

Could you construct a small pen out of NIC panels if thats possible? They're very cheap and your can minipulate them to suit the space.

Covering the babies with fur won't suffocate them, it will insulate them and keep the alot warmer.

Good Luck

 

[aurora369]

When mom feeds, she will do so by standing over them. It can look like she's stepping on them, but for the most part she is stepping around them.

The box is also good for keeping a baby from sneaking up on mom, and her stepping on it accidentally.

You need to find some sort of box that will fit.

For caging, you should look into NIC condos. They can be built to fit any place as they are totally customisable. They are great for apartments.
http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=37295&forum_id=21

Just know that you will have to double the grids or put a baby bumber up until the babies are grown up. They can fit through the holes until they are about 6-8 weeks old.

And yes they need to be covered by fur or fluff. At the moment they have no fur, so that's why mom pulls fur, to cover them and keep them warm. Don't worry they won't suffocate

--Dawn

 

[Tinkerbell Rabbitry]

You are getting off to a great start! You should defiantly change the food. I feed MannaPro (there is a special formula for nursing rabbits)

http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay_10551_10001_34859_-1______14602|14615|34859?listingPage=true&Special=fals

which is a very good food it's available at most feed stores, I feed my show rabbits the show formula when and this when they are pregnant or nursing. You should free feed her until she weans the babies (the babies are normally 6-8 weeks old by the time they are weaned). You should never keep two male rabbits together(unless they are a well bonded pair)they will fight. All of my rabbits have a separate cage(I do believe that you can successfully bond rabbits but it has never worked for me). It is best to keep the rabbits together until they are 8 weeks old. You should separate the males from the females before they reach 4 months or you will have more babies. Here is a link to a website that has lots of good information breeding and pet rabbits
http://www.threelittleladiesrabbitry.com/
I also have some good info on my site too. http://www.freewebs.com/tinkerbellrabbitry/

Good Luck!!! :biggrin2:

-Hannah

 

[Tinkerbell Rabbitry]

You should handle the babies as much as possible.


-Hannah