Anyone out there have any experience raising rabbits?
I had them as kids and from what I remember it was easy. And they literally bred like rabbits. Great mamas, easy to breed, never lost any babies, very little care needed.
Last year around this time I bought a pair that was just weaned, planning to have them as pets. We're told they were both girls, so we left them together.
At about 7 months we found a dead litter scattered around the cage. I just assumed the male killed them. Very unexpected and sad. We split the pair up after that, but didn't do it fast enough because she had already been bred back that same day.
We didn't know at the time they could breed back the same day after giving birth. We just assumed there was a very small chance. So again we were not expecting babies. And she ended up doing the same thing again. Found a dead litter spread out. The dad wasn't in the same area, so I then just assumed she was a new mom and didn't know how to make a nest.
Waited a few months to give mama a break. And decided to try to breed her for an expected litter. Put them together, counted the days and watched for her due date. She made a nest this time, had the kits in it. They were all alive and doing great.
From that litter, there were a few that were big and healthy. And a few that were falling behind. So we would hold her and let the little ones eat. After that they all caught up and were doing great.
Opened their eyes, started running around and eating. Had a Alfalfa/Timothy hay mix out for them. Along with rabbit pellets. They were doing great, a few weeks left until they would be weaned.
And we went out one morning and found the mama had killed and eatan one. No idea why, they all seemed active and healthy. Thought she must have culled him for some reason. She then stopped feeding them, and would try to hurt them. So I separated them.
A few days later another died randomly. And we would have them randomly die throughout a week until they had all died. No symptoms, they would be happy healthy and playing, then I would go back out and find them dead.
I did some research and I feel like they died of something like collic. From not being ready to eat feed yet.
Went another few months to give mama a break, then tried one more time to successfully raise babies. Put the pair together, and no sign of breeding. Tried for 2 weeks straight, putting them together a few times a day, and they had no interest.
So I finally just left them together. It has been 3 months with the pair together, and no signs of breeding and no babies. They have alfalfa pellets, hay, and rabbit pellets out. Always have clean water and clean cage. But nothing. I don't understand what could be wrong, both are healthy.
I had no idea raising a healthy litter would be this stressful. I was going to give up and just sale them both. But I hate giving up, and I love having them.
Any ideas what could be wrong?
I had them as kids and from what I remember it was easy. And they literally bred like rabbits. Great mamas, easy to breed, never lost any babies, very little care needed.
Last year around this time I bought a pair that was just weaned, planning to have them as pets. We're told they were both girls, so we left them together.
At about 7 months we found a dead litter scattered around the cage. I just assumed the male killed them. Very unexpected and sad. We split the pair up after that, but didn't do it fast enough because she had already been bred back that same day.
We didn't know at the time they could breed back the same day after giving birth. We just assumed there was a very small chance. So again we were not expecting babies. And she ended up doing the same thing again. Found a dead litter spread out. The dad wasn't in the same area, so I then just assumed she was a new mom and didn't know how to make a nest.
Waited a few months to give mama a break. And decided to try to breed her for an expected litter. Put them together, counted the days and watched for her due date. She made a nest this time, had the kits in it. They were all alive and doing great.
From that litter, there were a few that were big and healthy. And a few that were falling behind. So we would hold her and let the little ones eat. After that they all caught up and were doing great.
Opened their eyes, started running around and eating. Had a Alfalfa/Timothy hay mix out for them. Along with rabbit pellets. They were doing great, a few weeks left until they would be weaned.
And we went out one morning and found the mama had killed and eatan one. No idea why, they all seemed active and healthy. Thought she must have culled him for some reason. She then stopped feeding them, and would try to hurt them. So I separated them.
A few days later another died randomly. And we would have them randomly die throughout a week until they had all died. No symptoms, they would be happy healthy and playing, then I would go back out and find them dead.
I did some research and I feel like they died of something like collic. From not being ready to eat feed yet.
Went another few months to give mama a break, then tried one more time to successfully raise babies. Put the pair together, and no sign of breeding. Tried for 2 weeks straight, putting them together a few times a day, and they had no interest.
So I finally just left them together. It has been 3 months with the pair together, and no signs of breeding and no babies. They have alfalfa pellets, hay, and rabbit pellets out. Always have clean water and clean cage. But nothing. I don't understand what could be wrong, both are healthy.
I had no idea raising a healthy litter would be this stressful. I was going to give up and just sale them both. But I hate giving up, and I love having them.
Any ideas what could be wrong?
