Unexpected baby bunnies!! Please help!

[RDchicken99]

Hi everyone! I wanted to ask, how do I know the babies are getting fed enough? I read somewhere to weigh them every day, but is this a good idea? I feel like I would hurt them, they seem so fragile! Thanks for the help!

Like Cluckmecoop said, as long as their bellies are round and full, they’re being fed enough. If the bellies seem exceedingly wrinkly, then they are not being fed well. But it sounds like your doe is doing a great job, and from the pics you can tell that they are nice and full!

 

[_-Captain BRM-_]

Hi everyone! I wanted to ask, how do I know the babies are getting fed enough? I read somewhere to weigh them every day, but is this a good idea? I feel like I would hurt them, they seem so fragile! Thanks for the help!

I don't weigh mine. Big bellies. A very wrinkles kit is usually a runt or mum is not feeding.

 

[SummerTheAnimalGirl]

Thank you so much everyone for the help! It sounds like my doe is doing quite well then. Should I expect another litter tho? The bunnies were left together a couple hours after she kindled, and I saw my buck mount her before k found the kits and seperated them

 

[LizzzyJo]

She might be pregnant. It will be a lot for her body to take if she is, but she will likely be fine.

Don’t worry about the kits not getting food - it’s really not a wise battle to try to feed a baby bun this young yourself. It takes constant care and then eventually you have to feed them rabbit cecotrophes which is difficult. The frustration will likely be met with failure anyway.

Full bellies is good - not worrying on your part is the main goal!

Rabbits have no natural defenses - only to make a heck of a lot of babies. They do it well. Only 30% or so of wild buns make it through each winter so they have adapted by having large healthy litters and playing the numbers game!

 

[NatJ]

Hi everyone! I wanted to ask, how do I know the babies are getting fed enough? I read somewhere to weigh them every day, but is this a good idea? I feel like I would hurt them, they seem so fragile! Thanks for the help!

I would not try to weigh them. If the doe is doing a good job, the very best thing you can do is leave her to get on with it. Check them briefly once or twice a day, and try not to worry. Once they have open eyes and hop around, you can pet them and play with them a bit, and you can do more as they get older yet.

Fat, round bellies are a good sign (like in your photo).
Thin bellies, and loose wrinkly skin are bad (if the skin looks way too big for the bunny, that's because the bunny didn't grow enough.)

Once they have a good start (like yours), they have a good chance of continuing to do well. That is by far the easiest for you, as well as being best for the bunnies and the doe.

If the doe does not feed them enough, your options are very limited anyway. Rabbit milk is quite a bit different than most other milks, and baby bunnies are small and hard to bottle feed. So bottle feeding bunnies tends to have a low chance of success.

Should I expect another litter tho? The bunnies were left together a couple hours after she kindled, and I saw my buck mount her before k found the kits and seperated them

Yes, I would expect another litter 31 days after these were born, plus or minus a day or two.

Provide another nestbox at 4 weeks (28 days) from the date she kindled this litter, and check every day or so. If she has bunnies, move the bigger bunnies to another cage right away. If she does not have new bunnies, leave this set with her until they are 8 weeks old.

 

[RDchicken99]

Don’t worry about the kits not getting food - it’s really not a wise battle to try to feed a baby bun this young yourself. It takes constant care and then eventually you have to feed them rabbit cecotrophes which is difficult. The frustration will likely be met with failure anyway.

I can second this. I’ve tried nursing runt kits back to health a couple times, and with both instances ending in failure, I’ve learned to just leave runts to their mother‘s care.

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

This happened to my daughter 3 weeks ago too
She came home from work to babies and had no idea she had a boy and girl
The boy has since been fixed
He was not separated from mom and babies other then a few days after his surgery
Her rabbits are inside so weather was never an issue
Having kitten formula on hand is not a bad thing just in case
Enjoy the babies
Eyes open 7-10 days

 

[CloneFly]

Congrats on the babies!! Unless you have plans to continue breeding your doe, I would highly suggest fixing Mama after her next litter. Female bunnies are a bit strange, and unlike other domestic pets can develop uterine cancer if left unfixed without breeding. Please continue to update us as the babies grow!!

 

[SummerTheAnimalGirl]

Yes, I would expect another litter 31 days after these were born, plus or minus a day or two.

Provide another nestbox at 4 weeks (28 days) from the date she kindled this litter, and check every day or so. If she has bunnies, move the bigger bunnies to another cage right away. If she does not have new bunnies, leave this set with her until they are 8 weeks old.

Thank you for your response! I will definitely be expecting another litter,…So if the doe has another litter, and I remove this litter, will they by they already be eating solid food? Or will I have to wean them much earlier than usual?

 

[SummerTheAnimalGirl]

Congrats on the babies!! Unless you have plans to continue breeding your doe, I would highly suggest fixing Mama after her next litter. Female bunnies are a bit strange, and unlike other domestic pets can develop uterine cancer if left unfixed without breeding. Please continue to update us as the babies grow!!

Thank you so much!! It was quite surprising waking out and having more than two bunnies, haha. But it has been an amazing experience! I have already been looking into spaying the doe. How long will I have to wait after she has babies? I will definitely continue to update!