Nursing question

[birdlover]

All my rabbits live together in a communal living area in my house. I have 8: a neutered male, 3 does and 4 kits (one of which is a boy). The kits are about 7 weeks old now and are still nursing. I know it's recommended that I start separating them from mom and cutting back their nursing but is there a reason why I can't just let them work it out themselves. They are all so happy together and I hate to separate them. I didn't even know if she was still nursing until last night when I was in there and mom went to a corner and all 4 babies got under her on their backs and were wiggling and writhing. It was awfully cute to see. Mom let them nurse for about 2 minutes and then left. If I leave it up to her, will she eventually cut them off? Will it hurt if she nurses them longer than 7 weeks? Thanks for any advice.

Ellen

 

[pamnock]

They will need to be separated by sex well before 12 weeks, as the little boys will mate with mom and sisters. Otherwise, as long as the doe is healthy, it won't hurt anything to allow them to continue to nurse a little while longer. In the wild, the doe would have already weaned the kits and had another litter. In confined conditions, she may allow the kits to continue to nurse for many months.

 

[birdlover]

Oh, don't worry! I am totally not going to let that happen!!! I'm going to try to find him a home or, if not, have him neutered. These four weren't supposed to be here in the first place. A male rabbit I am fostering was running around in my bedroom and one of the girls snuck in when I forgot to close the door! Just what I needed!! :sad:

 

[CiaraPatricia]

I've had cats with kittens, who I just left to nurse their kittens for as long as they want. Eventually the mother will stop nursing them. Though I have one cat who fed from her mother for about 7 months! Poor mother cat

If you are going to rehome them, then I've heard it would be best to take one or two away at a time, so the mother's milk will start to dry up, rather then take them all away at once and leave her with too much milk.

That sounds nice with all the rabbits living together happily