Wild Rabbits

[()relics]

My son and I found a nest of rabbits yesterday as we cut some tall grass around the pasture. We didn't notice them right away but we saw our dogs, german shorthair pointers, staring at the ground so went back to investigate. We had mowed over a nest...4 little ones survived but several didn't...we think the mother must have been in the nest when we past over ; her remains were nearby. My son caught all the youngsters and brought them to the house...We didn't know what we should do with them....We have a netherland dwarf doe that is due to wean a litter next week. We took the weanlings out and replaced them with the wild bunnies...I wasn't sure what would happen....I thought she may attack them as soon as she saw them..She sniffed them when they were put in the cage...Later we saw that they had all piled up in the corner with the ND sitting on them...I opened the cage to make sure they were ok...She lunged at me and let out a chirp...A good sign...This morning they are all still hopping around in the cage with a "grouchy" new mother....Will they live? Was it a mistake to put them in with her? We shall see....I know this will throw my rebreeding schedule for her off a few weeks...When would they be able to fend for them selves without milk?

 

[Sillystunt]

()relics :

My son and I found a nest of rabbits yesterday as we cut some tall grass around the pasture. We didn't notice them right away but we saw our dogs, german shorthair pointers, staring at the ground so went back to investigate. We had mowed over a nest...4 little ones survived but several didn't...we think the mother must have been in the nest when we past over ; her remains were nearby. My son caught all the youngsters and brought them to the house...We didn't know what we should do with them....We have a netherland dwarf doe that is due to wean a litter next week. We took the weanlings out and replaced them with the wild bunnies...I wasn't sure what would happen....I thought she may attack them as soon as she saw them..She sniffed them when they were put in the cage...Later we saw that they had all piled up in the corner with the ND sitting on them...I opened the cage to make sure they were ok...She lunged at me and let out a chirp...A good sign...This morning they are all still hopping around in the cage with a "grouchy" new mother....Will they live? Was it a mistake to put them in with her? We shall see....I know this will throw my rebreeding schedule for her off a few weeks...When would they be able to fend for them selves without milk?

I am so interested in finding out how they did? Sorry for the hyjacking​

 

[MRNpoultry]

I ended up putting the rabbits back the same night. When I went to see if they were still there the next morning they were all gone.

Thanks for the help,
Matt

 

[kryptoniteqhs]

hmmm....hopefully she moved them....the only problem i saw with putting them back is she may eat them. but, if you didnt see any remains then im sure she just moved them. i hope all goes well!

 

[gypsy2621]

Quote:
A wild mother will not move babies, neither will domestic rabbits.
they will abandon them though, chances are if they have their eyes opened the followed the mother to safer quarters.
If a baby crawls away from the nest too soon the mother will just leave it where it is, she will not bring it back into the nest.


To the person who fostered the baby wilds to a Netherland,
This is something I would never do.
too many diseases pass through wild rabbits, exposing your doe to a whole host of parasites and diseases.
You took a heck of a risk I hope all turns out well.