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[SA Farm]

OMGosh! My Holland Lop doe just had 2 kits in her wire cage! I had no idea she was pregnant! I didn't even know she was bred! What do I do?! Help!

Put them in a nest box with some straw and any fur she pulled (If she didn't pull her own fur, just take pinches of fur from her yourself) and leave her to take care of them.

 

[SilkiesForEver]

Quote: Ok. I've brought them inside, gave her a cardboard box (it's all we had since we didn't think she had been bred) and I put a handful of straw inside. The baby isn't as cold now, and is in the nest with the little bit of fur she pulled (its actually just a clump).

She had two kits, but one died. It was inside the cage, but had it's legs missing.
The one that is still alive is fine, but was outside of the cage on the ground.

I don't think she has fed it yet, so I've saved a rabbit formula recipe onto my computer just in case.
How's this? But instead of goat milk (our goats have dried up) would sheep milk be fine?

RABBIT MILK FORMULA

1 can of sweetened condensed milk or fresh goat's milk (don't use cow's milk)
3 tablespoons heavy cream
3 tablespoons Karo corn syrup
1 egg yolk

 

[mindylee]

Momma bunnies rarely to never feed their young while being watched. They are very secret about it and only feed 1-3 times a day. I have had breeding rabbits for yrs and never seen mommas nurse.
Also you could drowned kits by tring to feed them if you dont know how to do it properly.
I would let momma do her thing and let nature take its course.

Most 1st time mommies dont do well with their 1st litter.

Also was the baby born with missing feet or do they look like momma ate them off? If ate off, she most likely is a baby eater which a lot of times means shes imbred herself and usually not ideal for breeding. If your not interested in ever breeding.... vets do spay does like cats.

Either way good luck and keep us posted.

 

[SilkiesForEver]

Momma bunnies rarely to never feed their young while being watched. They are very secret about it and only feed 1-3 times a day. I have had breeding rabbits for yrs and never seen mommas nurse.
Also you could drowned kits by tring to feed them if you dont know how to do it properly.
I would let momma do her thing and let nature take its course.

Yes, I've heard that. We have her in a quiet place, and her cage is covered with a towel. She pulled more fur, and the baby seems a little warmer.

I'm going to try and bottle feed if it comes to that. But right now we'll see how everything goes.

 

[Lynzi777]

Yes, I've heard that. We have her in a quiet place, and her cage is covered with a towel. She pulled more fur, and the baby seems a little warmer. 

I'm going to try and bottle feed if it comes to that. But right now we'll see how everything goes. 

I would at least wait until tomorrow before trying to feed it on your own. My Holland always fed hers overnight. They were all always nice and plump in the morning. Wait and check it in the morning to see if it has a nice full tummy.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

I agree with the wait and see. Also a first time doe eating her kits does not make her a "baby eater". Frequently while cleaning the blood of of kits they may get rough and nick something. The result is, they feel the need to keep cleaning the blood out of the wound. They ultimately just get carried away and "accidentally" eat their kits. It is a poor indicator of whether or not they will eat future litters or even any of their current litter.

 

[Lynzi777]

I agree also, although I've never had a doe "eat" babies my doe's first litter was a complete fail. She kindled 5 kits but didn't take care of them after. They kept flipping the nest box over, the babies were all over the wire bottom of the cage. I eventually had to leave the house for an errand and when I returned I came home to all 5 on the wire again after I put them back the first two times, and they were just roasting in the sun. However, she had two very successful litters after that first one.

 

[SilkiesForEver]

I agree with the wait and see. Also a first time doe eating her kits does not make her a "baby eater". Frequently while cleaning the blood of of kits they may get rough and nick something. The result is, they feel the need to keep cleaning the blood out of the wound. They ultimately just get carried away and "accidentally" eat their kits. It is a poor indicator of whether or not they will eat future litters or even any of their current litter.

I agree also, although I've never had a doe "eat" babies my doe's first litter was a complete fail. She kindled 5 kits but didn't take care of them after. They kept flipping the nest box over, the babies were all over the wire bottom of the cage. I eventually had to leave the house for an errand and when I returned I came home to all 5 on the wire again after I put them back the first two times, and they were just roasting in the sun. However, she had two very successful litters after that first one.

I never called her a "baby eater". I merely stated that the baby's legs were missing.

So far, she's been an excellent mom (I've been checking on them hourly

), and I think I've even seen the baby nurse. He's warm, and very strong, compared to what I thought new-born bunnies energy level would be.



Thanks for everyone's help! And I apologize for my first post; I must've seemed quite frantic.

 

[Lynzi777]

I never called her a "baby eater". I merely stated that the baby's legs were missing. So far, she's been an excellent mom (I've been checking on them hourly ), and I think I've even seen the baby nurse. He's warm, and very strong, compared to what I thought new-born bunnies energy level would be. Thanks for everyone's help! And I apologize for my first post; I must've seemed quite frantic.
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We weren't stating that towards you, it was just a question that someone had asked in wondering what happened to the first one's legs.

 

[SilkiesForEver]

Quote: We weren't stating that towards you, it was just a question that someone had asked in wondering what happened to the first one's legs.
Ah, got it.