Californian babies (updated)

[BCBunnies]

Babies are happy and hopping this afternoon although I had to take them from the momma when I woke up this morning. Even though she was such a good mommy before I don't know why maybe something is wrong with the kits but she is attacking the babies. One as a small bite mark on it's left hindquarter and the other has several tiny bite marks on it spread out though. They are snuggled in to the heating pad and all fat and happy for now til they get fed this evening. They don't look all pinched and wrinkled like they were when I first started feeding them just nice cute looking babies. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that everything goes alright with them.

 

[BCBunnies]

Update on the kits

Fed them again 1ml each they don't seem to be drinking as much but they want to eat more often so I guess it has evened out that way. I have them going to the bathroom regularly too but it doesn't seem like much. I really don't know if these little guys are going to make it. I'm just sitting here contemplating options right now and wondering what the right thing to do is. I'm sorry I'm just venting about this on here just hoping they will start to do better.

 

[debilorrah]

You should be able to take them to the mother once a day to nurse and if you supervise, she is less likely to act up.

 

[BCBunnies]

No she starts attacking them as soon as they get into the cage and she has no milk at all for some reason. I just lost another one so we are down to a single kit with my hopes for it not being very high. My only guess to her rejecting them is maybe my son was a bit to "helpful" and may have stressed her out. He can't resist the babies but taking a loss like this he has been somewhat less enthusiastic about seeing the bunnies. My fiancee is sugesting she be made into rabbit stew because she rejected her babies but I'd like to give her another chance when I know she will be less stressed and also when I have a backup doe or two in case she doesn't have milk the next time.

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:
If this was her first litter, definitely give her another chance. ALOT of first time moms reject or smother their kits.

 

[BCBunnies]

No wasn't her first litter the original owner had just weaned a litter from her the weekend before I got her (approx 3-4 days before I got her). I just think she got stressed lost her milk or didn't come to her milk and then abandoned her babies. I've lost all three at this point and I'll give her another chance I'm just beside myself loosing a whole litter like that. I haven't lost this many buns since the neighbors dogs tore into our outdoor hutches over 10 years ago. I'll definitely be setting them up outdoors in a nice hutch setup before breeding again and also letting the weather cool down. Also tonight one of our friends lost her dog. Her dog was at her ex's house since they share her and he let her out to go potty for the night when she escaped from the yard and a car drove through the grass in front of the apartment to run over her. The car drove off and so we've spent tonight mourning the loss of our pets. If you have any room in your prayers tonight please pray for our friend she is taking the loss pretty hard.