New mommy rabbit

[Naylor934]

i have a doe that is approx a little less than a year old- she gave birth to one, what I thought was a healthy baby and then a still born that also looked healthy- she pulled hair, attempted to build a nest, ate the placenta, etc I thought she did really well then today went I went to check on things, I found the two day old baby warm but dead- since it was alone I did have a heat lamp with it and it looked like it peed on itself- does anyone know what could’ve happened- I’m heart broken and scared to let her try again

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

What breed is the doe? And what kind of set up do you have for her? Sometimes things don't go smoothly when first-time does kindle. As a breeder, I employed the "three strikes" rule: three bad kindlings and the doe was culled.

It sounds like she may have had a difficult birth (stillborn kits can be an indicator if the kindling took a long time), and the kits may have been larger than usual. The surviving kit may have accidentally been crushed by the doe, or it could have succumbed to some kind of issue that wasn't obvious.

You didn't see any wounds, right? Some does can become very stressed after giving birth and even kill their own kits; when I first started raising rabbits, I heard a lot about how you shouldn't touch the kits after birth because the doe could kill them, but never had that happen. I generally leave mom and babies alone for the first 24 hours, then check the situation out the next day.

I would conclude, based on the info you provided, that she didn't intentionally harm her kit. She should be better able to care for her babies next time, if you decide to try again. Best of luck!

 

[Naylor934]

What breed is the doe? And what kind of set up do you have for her? Sometimes things don't go smoothly when first-time does kindle. As a breeder, I employed the "three strikes" rule: three bad kindlings and the doe was culled.

It sounds like she may have had a difficult birth (stillborn kits can be an indicator if the kindling took a long time), and the kits may have been larger than usual. The surviving kit may have accidentally been crushed by the doe, or it could have succumbed to some kind of issue that wasn't obvious.

You didn't see any wounds, right? Some does can become very stressed after giving birth and even kill their own kits; when I first started raising rabbits, I heard a lot about how you shouldn't touch the kits after birth because the doe could kill them, but never had that happen. I generally leave mom and babies alone for the first 24 hours, then check the situation out the next day.

I would conclude, based on the info you provided, that she didn't intentionally harm her kit. She should be better able to care for her babies next time, if you decide to try again. Best of luck!

Thank you so much for your input! I’m not sure what breed she is as I took her in because her owners had abandoned her. There were no visible wounds that I could see. She was in a hutch that my husband built that is an open run on the the bottom and then a second floor that is divided into two sections, one being completely secluded with the exception of one hole to get in and out and the other section has a large opening with wire in the front for fresh air, sunlight, etc. During the day I let her run loose with my chickens and put her back before dark. She’s very friendly and would even let me hold her as she slept during the last few days before her kindling. This morning when I went to check on her and let her out, I noticed she pulled a lot of hair out. Does this indicate she’s upset? Her kindling was on a Thursday night- do you think it’s too soon to let her try again? Thank you again for all of your help!

 

[The Moonshiner]

You mentioned you put a heat lamp on it.
What was temp in there?
Don't know where you're located but here and now I think I heat lamp would make it way to warm.

 

[Naylor934]

You mentioned you put a heat lamp on it.
What was temp in there?
Don't know where you're located but here and now I think I heat lamp would make it way to warm.

It had been warm but right now we’re having a bit colder weather- today for example is 55 and raining- being as it was alone and not getting body heat from siblings, I put the lamp in there so it could remain warm- but I had the door open so the air could flow through- was this a bad decision?

 

[The Moonshiner]

IDK. I wouldn't have done it but not sure if it caused harm or not. Just concerned it might over overheated.
I've had rabbits born in the winter that have done fine without heat.

 

[cassie]

I don't know if you had a nest box, but if you breed her again, you need one. Fill it with straw and put it in a few days before she is due to kindle. If one of my does lost her litter, I bred her back immediately. If she lost her second litter, she was dinner. Mine.