Question for rabbit owners..

[littlekatzz]

Ok I only have a passing knowledge of rabbits. Well at my last chic swap I traded a few chicks for a pair of rabbits with the idea of having a friend butchering them. As I was loading them up I was told the girl might be pregnant. Well ok I thought heck just add to my growing zoo. Well I had them in individual large wire dog kennels. Came out this morning to find 7 lil babies in the corner under a pile of fur. Well it wasn't very long after that I realized they were scattering all over and twice found them outside were anything could have gotten them. Scouring cl I found someone local selling rabbit nest boxes cheap. Gathered all the babies up and placed them in the new nest box with some hay and moms fur. Mom was not happy I moved her babies but I couldn't leave them where she had them. Will she continue to take care of them even though I moved them about a foot over from where she had placed them? Byc has been my go to place to get all my chix questions answered figured heck I might as well as about bunnies too lol.

 

[nayeli]

She should. Nestboxes or even shoe boxes, whatever are important for keeping the kits warm.

 

[littlekatzz]

Came out and checked the babies today and all had died

 

[3for3]

I raised many show rabbits and can tell you does are very fickle. They will eat (!!!!!) the kits if the conditions seem threatening (supposedly to protect the nest site from predators for future litters). Sad to hear yours did not make it rabbits are generally not as cuddly and sweet as we wish they were.

 

[littlekatzz]

Is it safe to rebreed her? And if so when? I'm sure this tragedy is my fault and not hers and I'm trying to rectify her cage situation. I should have gotten a nest box before this.

 

[nayeli]

Is it safe to rebreed her? And if so when? I'm sure this tragedy is my fault and not hers and I'm trying to rectify her cage situation. I should have gotten a nest box before this.

Yes, I know many breeders who breed the does back immediately if they loose their litter. Apparantly nursing is harder on them then pregnancy.