[X-Posting] Bunnies! Or, OMG PANIC our dates were wrong!!!

[RJSchaefer]

(This is a cross-post from BackyardHerds. I'm in a pickle! But at least this litter was intentional...)


We just moved our [meat] rabbits into a colony setting. Literally last night.

One of our does...we thought she was due for her first little on the 7th. Nope. She had them today! I caught her starting a nest last night and felt very bad about moving her, but had been told the start of a nest means 2 to 3 days to birth. We also checked the area she was building and found no sign of any kits (I double checked after finding this nest, just to be sure I didn't accidentally separate them). There was only a small amount of fur there, whereas this nest looks like a rabbit exploded.

The females are in one pen, the males in another. She's doing a good job of keeping the other does away from her litter. I'll post pictures when I get them uploaded.

A few questions...
Some meat rabbit guides have said to handle the kits asap to get a tally of good and bad, and remove dead ones. We did a quick count, but didn't disturb them. Should we handle them? I know it won't make her reject them, but I want to limit stress.

She built the next in the hay I gave them. Should I move them to a nesting box, or leave them where they are? If I do move them, should I place her in the box so she knows where they are?

There's a little ambiguity as to which rabbit these kits belong to. We have two sisters - Howell and Minnow - who were both bred on the same day. Minnow is all black, but when she sheds it's white underfur. Howell is broken black. The fur in the nest is white and black. Both rabbits are equally protective of the nest. Howell was the one I caught nesting last night, but Minnow was lying on the nest early this morning.

 

[PoultryPower]

I handle all my kits the day they're born so I can check and make sure everyone looks healthy. So far, I've never lost a kit due to handling.
If you don't want to handle them, than that's fine too, it's all up to you.

I would put them in a nest box so they have an enclosure they can't get out of. You don't want any of them wandering out and away of the nest. I would then show the momma, but she should be able to figure it out by herself (scent). I would keep the nest box in the same area that the nest currently is and I would use all the nesting material she used, inside the nest box. This way it isn't too much of a change, the only difference is, it's all contained in something.

As for which one is the mom, it should be whoever is feeding them. A doe won't start lactating till right before she kindles. If you pick up the does before you see them feed the kits, you should be able to feel full teats. I would assume that that one is the mother.

 

[SA Farm]

(This is a cross-post from BackyardHerds. I'm in a pickle! But at least this litter was intentional...)


We just moved our [meat] rabbits into a colony setting. Literally last night.

One of our does...we thought she was due for her first little on the 7th. Nope. She had them today! I caught her starting a nest last night and felt very bad about moving her, but had been told the start of a nest means 2 to 3 days to birth. We also checked the area she was building and found no sign of any kits (I double checked after finding this nest, just to be sure I didn't accidentally separate them). There was only a small amount of fur there, whereas this nest looks like a rabbit exploded.

The females are in one pen, the males in another. She's doing a good job of keeping the other does away from her litter. I'll post pictures when I get them uploaded.

A few questions...
Some meat rabbit guides have said to handle the kits asap to get a tally of good and bad, and remove dead ones. We did a quick count, but didn't disturb them. Should we handle them? I know it won't make her reject them, but I want to limit stress.

She built the next in the hay I gave them. Should I move them to a nesting box, or leave them where they are? If I do move them, should I place her in the box so she knows where they are?

There's a little ambiguity as to which rabbit these kits belong to. We have two sisters - Howell and Minnow - who were both bred on the same day. Minnow is all black, but when she sheds it's white underfur. Howell is broken black. The fur in the nest is white and black. Both rabbits are equally protective of the nest. Howell was the one I caught nesting last night, but Minnow was lying on the nest early this morning.

As long as the area is protected from the elements, I personally would leave them there. If both females are taking care of the nest and getting along, I don't see the problem with that. Also, if the does are sisters, the coloring of the babies won't help you since both of them could have broken black babies.
I always check the babies to remove any dead ones, but I don't usually handle them until they have fur coming in (day 3 or so for my guys).
Whatever you decide to do with them, congratulations and I wish you the best!

 

[RJSchaefer]

I moved them a nesting box which she promptly dumped over.

a new concern. the chickens have found a way into the rabbit pen. do I need to worry about them eating the kits?

I'm very tempted to move her from the colony to a cage, but that totally undermines the purpose of the colony. and it could stress her more.

 

[RJSchaefer]

sorry for the awful grammar...using the mans iPad and I cant figure out this keyboard!

 

[SA Farm]

I moved them a nesting box which she promptly dumped over.

a new concern. the chickens have found a way into the rabbit pen. do I need to worry about them eating the kits?

I'm very tempted to move her from the colony to a cage, but that totally undermines the purpose of the colony. and it could stress her more.

Yes, you should worry. I've seen my chickens go ape over a mouse (they promptly tore it to shreds and ate it) and a baby bunny isn't much different size-wise. If you mama rabbit is protective, she may be diligent in keeping them away from the nest, but the added stress won't be good for her.

 

[RJSchaefer]

After I posted that this morning, I figured better safe than sorry and we rigged up a more secure top for the rabbit pen. If the chickens manage to move 10 pound pieces of plywood, I will be impressed (and admit they probably deserve whatever "treat" they find, as sad as it is).

We had to remove one of the females - Ginger - from the colony and place her in the quarantine cage. She has been acting very erratic for the last few days - she's gone from being my favorite doe to on the brink of a trip to the crockpot with her sudden penchant for biting, scratching and flailing. Weeeellll, along with all the nasties toward us, I caught her sniffing about the nest, and grabbed her by the scruff right before she lunged at one that popped its head out. She's by herself, with a nesting box. I'm giving her two weeks to either give birth or change her attitude before I declare her dinner. My oldest and I have received more bruises (from biting) and scratches from her in the last 2 days than all of them combined in more than 8 weeks!

We had incorrectly sexed her brother as a sister when we first got them and they had shared a cage. She's also getting that very fluffy fur around her collar, and the digging. Maybe she's getting ready to kindle as well? I'd hope that, even though she's a bit too young, than the alternative of her simply becoming a nasty rabbit.

 

[RJSchaefer]

The nest got ripped apart.

4 are dead.

2 were alive. Reheated them. They're in a box in the house. What next? I'm trying not to cry...

 

[PoultryPower]

I'm so sorry that happened to you. It's so heartbreaking.
What ripped apart the nest?
The next step is to keep them warm and safe. Bring the momma in twice a day to feed them (morning and night). This is how I raise all my rabbits and I haven't had a problem yet.
Hang in there.

 

[SA Farm]

The nest got ripped apart.

4 are dead.

2 were alive. Reheated them. They're in a box in the house. What next? I'm trying not to cry...

So sorry for your loss