Maggots eating newborn rabbits

[VanessaMarshall]

Hi everyone. I have chickens but started raising rabbits too. One of my other rabbits had a litter and when they were still new and pink I looked in the next day and there were hundreds of maggots and just skeletons. My other rabbit is now nesting and I’m afraid the same thing will happen. They are in outdoor hutches. I found this disturbing and wonder if anyone has experience. Thank you

 

[pennyJo1960]

You should clean it with bleach before anything is born it can infect you adult rabbits check each one carefully please

 

[Folly's place]

Your doe may have them too! Check her carefully ASAP.
Mary

 

[cassie]

I could be wrong, but it is my guess, and this is just a guess, is that the rabbits died and then the maggots colonized them. Usually, maggots eat dead tissue. Usually.

 

[Folly's place]

Flies will lay eggs on damp or inactive LIVING critters, and in 24 hours the maggots are busy eating through tissue to bone.
Mary

 

[Folly's place]

If, for example, the doe didn't care for the babies immediately, drying them off, that could do it.
Mary

 

[VanessaMarshall]

They were all good the night before and the next day was a horror show. I googled fly strike and learned about them but want to protect the new ones that are coming.
We live in the country and a farmer down the road doesn’t spread his manure quickly so the whole town gets flies this time of year. Also I checked the other rabbits and they were all good. I didn’t change the litter and her fur after she gave birth. Is it ok to this time?

 

[VanessaMarshall]

You should clean it with bleach before anything is born it can infect you adult rabbits check each one carefully please

Yes I power washed it and used vinegar

 

[pennyJo1960]

Power wash with bleach please to kill larvae that is there have you been able to look closely over you rabbits they had to come from some where

 

[Aunt Angus]

What a nightmare! I'm so sorry!


Good luck with them. I love rabbits, too, and I know that must have been awful to discover...