Rabbits newborns gutted, please help

[Lolame777]

Hi I've got rabbits in an outdoor very large run and have been breeding some although they don't breed much at all compared to how much a rabbit usually breeds. I've got one girl that's 2 years old (New Zealand) and another just turned over 1 (New Zealand cross) and so far I've only got 4 litters out of them in the past 5 months. Not even sure which one is breeding or whether they both are. Both show signs when it's breeding time e.g. pulling fur out and preparing warren underground etc.

My issue is that in the past 2 months I've seen one dead newborn that was put of the warren which was dead but otherwise seemed all in tact. This morning I went to feed them and found 2 dead newborns gutted! I was shocked! Not sure what it is but could it be a rat? I doubt the parents would do that? I've also introduced 4 female young minilop rabbits to the area to accompany the girls as the area is so big but could it be them? They've been with my girls for the past 2 weeks now.

Could someone help me find out what is killing them or what I can do to help my girls? I don't want to move them in a smaller area because they are so free and seem so happy in their environment.

Looking forward to hearing back from you all. Thank you very much. Please see photos of the area so you've got an idea of why this could be happening.

Thank you

 

[Yardfulla poopers]

What type of fencing is around the run?

 

[Lolame777]

What type of fencing is around the run?

I've got it chicken wired all around and from the top so it's fully cat, dog, bird/eagle, fox proof. I've even got a double fence that runs along the bottom with it half a meter laying flat on the grass so the rabbits don't burrow out towards the paddock where the dogs are. If it was a snake it would have eaten them whole wouldn't it? We get red belly black snakes around too

 

[Yardfulla poopers]

Yes, A snake would eat them whole.
My first thought was weasel, if you have any in your area. They could get through chicken wire. I thought I read somewhere that rats usually eat heads, but I may be mistaken.
Is there anywhere you could set up a game/trail camera to see what's coming and going inside the run?
Your setup is beautiful by the way.

 

[Love Donkeys]

When a doe rabbit gets frightened and feels in danger she may kill her kits. Just alike a female cat will destroy her kittens. I believe they do it for self preservation

 

[Lolame777]

Yes, A snake would eat them whole.
My first thought was weasel, if you have any in your area. They could get through chicken wire. I thought I read somewhere that rats usually eat heads, but I may be mistaken.
Is there anywhere you could set up a game/trail camera to see what's coming and going inside the run?
Your setup is beautiful by the way.

Thank you Thankfully we don't get weasels here but it's impossible for them to get to the run anyway because they'll have to get through the dogs first. I've got a night cam that I can put up to see but it'll be pointless now because she doesn't have babies to go for. She also dug a warren so deep I can't even get to it unless I see what's going in there....hmm..I can try it out.

 

[Lolame777]

When a doe rabbit gets frightened and feels in danger she may kill her kits. Just alike a female cat will destroy her kittens. I believe they do it for self preservation

It could be the case but it's strange because she's had babies before and hadn't done that....unless she felt threatened by a snake? It's so confusing

 

[Zenmonkey]

Sounds like a bird to me. Maybe a crow or a kestrel? I'm not sure what predatory birds might be in your area.

Weasels have a tendency to kill a lot, but the dogs should be good medicine against them.

 

[Lolame777]

Sounds like a bird to me. Maybe a crow or a kestrel? I'm not sure what predatory birds might be in your area.

Weasels have a tendency to kill a lot, but the dogs should be good medicine against them.

It's impossible for a bird to get in, I've proofed it that much that not even a small bird can get in. We get eagles alot hence why I've bird proofed the area but of course also because we've got 3 cats too ahahahaaa. My dogs don't even let a bird fly past the area, they're very good at their job

 

[cassie]

It is my guess that the other rabbits are killing them. It happens.