Rabbits

[KristaJ]

Is it true that if you touch baby rabbits the mother will kill them, and how long should you wait to handle the babies?

 

[The Phantom]

@Kessel23???

 

[cassie]

If that were true nobody would manage to raise rabbits. I have no idea how that nonsense got started in the first place. I don't know what other people do, but when I went in the rabbitry in the morning and there was a new litter, I would distract the mother with a carrot or piece of apple and gently move the fur in the nest box aside so I could count the babies and remove any dead ones. You can use a stick or something to move the fur if you are worried about leaving your scent.

 

[KristaJ]

If that were true nobody would manage to raise rabbits. I have no idea how that nonsense got started in the first place. I don't know what other people do, but when I went in the rabbitry in the morning and there was a new litter, I would distract the mother with a carrot or piece of apple and gently move the fur in the nest box aside so I could count the babies and remove any dead ones. You can use a stick or something to move the fur if you are worried about leaving your scent.

Thank you so much. This is all new to me

 

[Tesumph]

That’s really not true for any animal. A mother might abandon or even eat a baby (rodents) if put in extreme stress, but not from just touching. I think this came from people messing with bird or rabbit nests, “helping” the babies out waiting for mom to come back, while mom was watching from a safe distance waiting for the bloodthirsty predator to leave. If mom thinks her babies are good for dead and she will be too if she comes back, she may just abandon them.

 

[KristaJ]

That’s really not true for any animal. A mother might abandon or even eat a baby (rodents) if put in extreme stress, but not from just touching. I think this came from people messing with bird or rabbit nests, “helping” the babies out waiting for mom to come back, while mom was watching from a safe distance waiting for the bloodthirsty predator to leave. If mom thinks her babies are good for dead and she will be too if she comes back, she may just abandon them.

Thank you that is a big help

 

[Bunnylady]

I check on my litters the moment I discover them (unless I happen on a doe that is actually kindling; then I let her finish before I disturb them). I check on them at least once a day, making sure they are getting fed and removing any that might have died. This has prevented the loss of many litters. I try not to upset the doe any more than necessary; some does take it in stride and other, more protective mothers may challenge me. It's something you have to do. During cool weather, I even remove the litter, nest box and all, and keep them in my hall closet, only taking them out to their mother for feeding once or twice per day. Most of my does accept this, or at least learn to.

 

[BantamLover21]

I handle my kits sometimes even a few minutes after they're born and have had no problems with does purposely killing their babies. Somewhere, there might be some does that would do such a thing, but it isn't normal. Just try to minimize stressing the doe (distracting her with some food helps) and don't overhandle the kits.