My female gave birth!

[JenGibs]

One of the baby bunnies died, the brown / white one.

It's even more sad because I was predicting about the future and how it look like when it growed up. And it was just a baby, barely got to live.

Last night, he was doing fine, I took both the babies out to hang out in a tiny box. I put them back in their nest and went to sleep. Woke up in morning, saw they both got out their nest box again, except the brown / white one was on its side like it couldn't crawl. I was about to take him to the vet, but he was already dead when I was ready to take him. I don't think the vet could have done much if he died within 6 hours.

Oh no! I am so sorry!!!
Do you think the vet should take a look to make sure he did not die of something contagious that could hurt the other baby?

 

[majorv]

When they’re a bundle of hair it’s hard to tell if they’re still being nursed. Did you feel the body to see if the kit was nice and plump, or if it had lost a lot of weight?

 

[Nancy McClelland]

Very cute.

 

[Lauren Kiernan]

Poor little thing.
Maybe he just wasn't healthy.

 

[JetFalcon]

OMG, now the 2nd baby is dead. And it look intentional, it was under a floor mat when I found it dead. Like the mom remembered the babies somehow got back to their nest, so she put it under the mat so I couldn't find it or thinking it wouldn't go back to its nest. The baby is not even strong enough to crawl under a floor mat, and I doubt it would wanna squeeze itself to death to go under there, plus its eyes weren't open yet so couldnt see.

I am concluding that the mom killed both of them. That both of them died within a day of each other is too suspsicious. And the fact they were out of their nest 2-3 times before they died because those babies always wanted to stay in the nest, they had no interest to leave it. I think the mom must have taken them out to die the first time. Then I put them back, and she did it again, until she decided to just kill them.

They were both healthy before they both died, so I think the mom or dad had to do something with it, but I'm suspecting more the mom because she's the only one who really remembers where the babies are.

 

[zuppa]

View attachment 43385

2nd floor is always closed, was open for the photo. But it’s been a few days and they been staying inside their nest box and I can keep the bottom door open so the parents can access the balcony.

and my smallest bunny (the mom) is able to hop over the barrier.

I’ve been petting them and being around them. I put them in a plastic box with towel and watch TV / play video games with them. And they are so cute to hold.

You know when I was 5 or 6 I visited my dad's parents and there was a swallow's nest over the garage door she was coming back every year to raise her babies there. My grandpa wanted to show me it he took a ladder and we saw those little eggs in there laying there peacefully they were so lovely! Later that day I took them out of the nest and placed into my little toy red cross box I was very careful and protected them with lots of cotton wool and carried them with me all the time checking every minute, I was so proud of taking care of them I was so happy!

Until my grandpa found out that the nest is empty. Then we had a long talk.

It was long long time ago but I remember. The swallow abandoned her nest and next year it was empty.

I was 5 or 6 I can't believe you are a grown man and with all advice was given by all the members on this forum to keep them safe in their nest and let their mother take care of them but you never listened and had them on your computer table because they were very cool and you could show them on your instagram or wherever to get more likes!

I am very angry with you now I am very sorry about this little victim of your foolishness and I am sorry about my precious time wasted on this thread because you are asking for advice but not follow because you are so proud of yourself. Shame on you you better stay away from me for the rest of today.

 

[JetFalcon]

You know when I was 5 or 6 I visited my dad's parents and there was a swallow's nest over the garage door she was coming back every year to raise her babies there. My grandpa wanted to show me it he took a ladder and we saw those little eggs in there laying there peacefully they were so lovely! Later that day I took them out of the nest and placed into my little toy red cross box I was very careful and protected them with lots of cotton wool and carried them with me all the time checking every minute, I was so proud of taking care of them I was so happy!

Until my grandpa found out that the nest is empty. Then we had a long talk.

It was long long time ago but I remember. The swallow abandoned her nest and next year it was empty.

I was 5 or 6 I can't believe you are a grown man and with all advice was given by all the members on this forum to keep them safe in their nest and let their mother take care of them but you never listened and had them on your computer table because they were very cool and you could show them on your instagram or wherever to get more likes!

I am very angry with you now I am very sorry about this little victim of your foolishness and I am sorry about my precious time wasted on this thread because you are asking for advice but not follow because you are so proud of yourself. Shame on you you better stay away from me for the rest of today.

 

[JetFalcon]

When they’re a bundle of hair it’s hard to tell if they’re still being nursed. Did you feel the body to see if the kit was nice and plump, or if it had lost a lot of weight?

I didn't feel the body much b/c I didn't wanna squeeze them. But they seem fine.

But unfortunately, I am concluding the mom killed both of them. Especially the fact the last one I found under a floor mat in the cage. Like the mom shoved it under there for it to die.

 

[JenGibs]

I didn't feel the body much b/c I didn't wanna squeeze them. But they seem fine.

But unfortunately, I am concluding the mom killed both of them. Especially the fact the last one I found under a floor mat in the cage. Like the mom shoved it under there for it to die.

I have to agree with Poopy Poo to a degree. Members did give advice and you didn’t take it. It is hard to leave cute babies alone but you must. I know of two times, that I can think of right now, where you removed them from their home base for periods of time. Mom bun more than likely did not like that. Even in a bonded pair, of one goes to the vet and comes back smelling different- it can be a huge problem. You put all sorts of smells on her babies and took them from her.
I hate this happened to you but I hope you listen to advice next time.

 

[Preitler]

Rabbits don't do that. They don't transport kits, and they do not plan murder. It happens that does kill kits, but normally they are half eaten too. They sometimes throw out living kits, but just right after giving birth, and thinking it's dead.

Most likely the kit got out of the nest, by itself or dragged out latched on a nipple, and tried to crawl under something to hide or to cover, they are quite fast and pretty strong when it comes to wriggling into somethingh. Kits outside the nest can have problems keeping body temperature up, is it too low their digestion doesn't work right.

 

[JetFalcon]

Rabbits don't do that. They don't transport kits, and they do not plan murder. It happens that does kill kits, but normally they are half eaten too. They sometimes throw out living kits, but just right after giving birth, and thinking it's dead.

Most likely the kit got out of the nest, by itself or dragged out latched on a nipple, and tried to crawl under something to hide or to cover, they are quite fast and pretty strong when it comes to wriggling into somethingh. Kits outside the nest can have problems keeping body temperature up, is it too low their digestion doesn't work right.

I put a higher barrier because that's the advice I got from this forum. But I guess that didn't work.

Those two babies have been found at the bottom of the cage but non of them ever tried to crawl under the mat.

 

[majorv]

My thought is that the doe may have stopped caring for them - stopped nursing - they left the nest in search of her/food. They died trying. Unfortunately, I’ve seen this happen before.

It’s always best to leave kits in the nest except long enough to check on them. Sometimes it doesn’t take much for a first time doe to abandon a litter. Having the buck around at the same time isn’t normally a good idea because they can’t be trusted around kits.

 

[Maki_p29]

So sorry for your loss! At times new mother mistakenly kill their kits. Having the buck around the doe and her babies didn’t help either. Hopefully things would be different next time around if your rabbit has babies again.

 

[JetFalcon]

So sorry for your loss! At times new mother mistakenly kill their kits. Having the buck around the doe and her babies didn’t help either. Hopefully things would be different next time around if your rabbit has babies again.

I hope she can have another litter, but I neutered my male so he has like 6 weeks since his neuter date to get her pregnant again. I saw him sniffing her butt while she was eating lettuce, does that mean he wants to mate?

I'm still feeling salty about these babies dying, especially when I kept updating the previous owner on their growth, taking tons of videos / photos to them not even making it two weeks, and I was planning out the future to see a bunny family.

My thought is that the doe may have stopped caring for them - stopped nursing - they left the nest in search of her/food. They died trying. Unfortunately, I’ve seen this happen before.

It’s always best to leave kits in the nest except long enough to check on them. Sometimes it doesn’t take much for a first time doe to abandon a litter. Having the buck around at the same time isn’t normally a good idea because they can’t be trusted around kits.

If I knew the mom was going to do something like this, I would have tried caring for them. But the previous owner (of the female) told me they need their mom to survive, so I just thought she will just do her thing and take care of them b/c she's a mom. Since I see videos of mom ducks attacking people to protect their babies, so I thought bunnies would have the same concept.

The buck didn't really seem to know where the kits were. Because they were on the 2nd story of the cage, and that was part of the cage he didn't really go to. But still, I don't know he would have had to gone outta his way to kill them. And it only seem the mom was the one who really knew where the babies were since she made the nest, not the buck. And he never attacked another adult bunny, but I don't know if kits are different.

Can humans replace the mom if this were to happen? Can we feed them normal cows milk or does it need to be something special like from the vet?

 

[majorv]

If you have another litter, and hopefully you won’t, it’s best to let the doe do her job and not mess with the kits.
The previous owner is correct - the kits need their mom’s milk. It’s very difficult to successfully hand raise baby rabbits.

 

[zuppa]

If they are not separated you will most likely have another litter maybe even in 1-2 weeks, because she gave birth around 28-29 September and buck was still intact so she could get pregnant even same day after giving birth, so it could be in 10 days.
It would be better to spay her asap so her uterus will be removed with the babies. Otherwise you have some experience now so be prepared get a proper nestbox and prepare safe place for the nest.

The buck must be kept separately from kits at all times and it is best if mother stays in with her kits for the whole nursing period 6-8 weeks and don't disturb mother let her take care of her kits, don't stress her and don't take kits out of nest more than for 5-10 minutes a day just to check if they are fed and healthy.

There's no need to socialize with babies until they are at least 4-5 week old. With their eyes still not open they are extremely vulnerable please leave them in the nest and let their mother take care of them.

Keep them warm and get a proper nestbox fill it with hay and give her when you will see she's carrying hay in her mouth, that would be just a couple days before she will give birth.

 

[Slerpflerf]

I sincerely hope your baby girl does not have another litter, she is young and its very hard on their little systems. Did you not separate the buck from the doe when she had babies in the first place?

Young mothers and first time mothers tend to get overwhelmed very easily. Rabbits are not good moms by an evolutionary stand point because they dont need to be. Ducks might only have 2 clutches a year, rabbits can mate continuously as long as food and weather conditions permit it so they don't invest as much in keeping their offspring alive.
She did not deliberately murder her babies. It sounds like the stress and your interference caused her to abandon them.

Honestly there is a low chance they would have lasted as long if you took them off of her. Hand raising kits is very time consuming and difficult and a lot more can go wrong in our hands than in hers