one bunny not being fed

[Dutchgirl]

My Holland Lop litter of 7 bunnies is 4 days old.

A few of them are smaller than the rest but only one, probably the smallest one, has a shrunken belly.

It is very weak and the mother has not been cleaning its bottom very well - it is wet and dirty.

I tried restraining the doe and letting that one eat, but she wouldn't relax and the baby was too weak to try for long.

I've never had this happen before. I have no other litters available to foster to, and I'm scared to try a formula. What to do?

 

[Dutchgirl]

I'm sorry to say the bunny died not long after we saw him alive and wiggling.

But we had the nestbox inside and so we brought the mother inside to see if she would nurse it/them. As soon as she saw the bunnies she jumped inside and nursed them well for a long time. I made sure the little ones got plenty of milk, and the doe also groomed them. Now the remaining six bunnies are happy, sleeping, and are quite as full as can be. Despite two losses I'm optimistic about this litter.