Missing Kits!!! URGENT!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kadensce]

Hey, I have a mini Rex doe that just had her 2nd litter about 2 weeks ago (first litter was totally fine). When they where a few days old I counted five and left them alone in the nesting box. The next day I counted four I just thought that I miscounted or something because the dropping pan and nesting box where clear. This morning I checked on the four, and one of the bigger ones was missing without a trace, I looked everywhere and Its gone, the second largest one had a small patch of missing fur and what looked like a bite mark (but I cant tell what). Thank you>>

 

[Athena2344]

Mom probably ate them

 

[Kadensce]

But there a 2 weeks old, and the one was pretty big

 

[CapricornFarm]

Is it possible a snake got in?

 

[cassie]

Something ate them that's for sure. It could be the mother but it is more likely it is a snake.

 

[BantamLover21]

I agree with cassie: something ate them, possibly a snake or a rat.

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

if without trace i would say snake!

 

[MROO]

Unless you can find and block the "secret entrance," it's time to move the whole litter - mom and all - Now! If the nest box is portable, move the whole thing without disturbing the interior. Move anything else - feeder and waterer - if you can. The idea is to make the new area as familiar as possible.
At the same time you move the box and the babies, put some fresh bedding material on the floor of the cage/hutch. Make it something really soft and enticing. I used to use a pile of slightly-shredded toilet or facial tissue (unscented and without moisturizers!) Mama was usually so interested in redecorating that she didn't care about the move.
Rejection doesn't happen as often as it sounds, especially in an experienced doe, but you should still watch closely to make sure Mama adjusts to the change. If the worst does happen, don't panic. While it isn't the best of scenarios, at two weeks, the kits are old enough to adapt to hand-raising.

 

[Bunnylady]

It is highly unlikely (as in, almost no chance at all) that the doe is responsible for the missing kits. Rabbits are not efficient killers; there would be blood all over the place and most likely body parts (plus, it is pretty rare for a doe to deliberately kill kits, especially kits this old).

Slightly odd for a snake; IME, they often eat the whole litter. But either something is getting in, or the babies themselves are getting out. Either way, it seems that more secure quarters are needed, pronto.

 

[Athena2344]

Several years ago, we had brought an expecting cat inside to have her litter, and when the kittens were about a week and a half old, we had one kitten go missing, no blood, no smell, just gone. We chalked it up to mom eating it, and that was that.