sad, baby bunnies died ... first time mom?

[cassie]

I usually tell people that anything you get from a first litter is gravy, because most does manage to mess up the first time out. A lot of it is our fault - her instincts tell her to dig a burrow and have the babies underground. There is nothing natural about a doe giving birth inside a wood or metal box. To me, it's amazing that so many manage to get it right!

I had one Jersey Wooly doe that took 5 or 6 tries before she had live babies in the box - each time she got more things right, so I let her keep trying. Most get it right on the second or third try - if they have live babies that you can get into the box one way or the other, the doe usually gets it right from there on out.

If I have a doe that refuses to use the box, I will line her whole cage with hay. That way, whichever corner she chooses, there is enough nest material to (hopefully) keep the kits warm until I can move them to the box. The box helps to keep the kits together. Does usually do not cuddle with their kits to keep them warm, nor will they move the kits if they get out of the nest. If I put the kits in the nest box, I can be reasonably sure they will stay there, but I sometimes have to teach a doe that she needs to get in there to feed the kits (something she does only once or twice a day.)

Lots of people will tell you that they keep kits outside all year long, and never have losses. I wish I could say the same, but I can't. I have lost entire litters with temperatures in the 50's, when as near as I can tell, the doe did everything right. So at this time of year, I take expectant does and their boxes and put them in my hall closet. Once the litters have been born, the does go back out to their cages, and the babies stay in my house at night (or all day, if I think it's cold enough) and go out to see their mom's in the morning.


Better luck next time!

Just a comment. I have seen nest boxes offered that fit under the cage and the mother dives through a hole in the bottom of the cage to access them. I have never used them nor do I know anyone who has but it might be worth a shot.