Rabbit Web Discussion Board

I am an amuture with bunnies. I wanted to start breading them. I have a holland and a mini lops to start till i bought more to bread to them. My husband bread rabbits when he was young and was suppose to teach me about them. Turns out he doens\'t seem to remeber anything about them. First he thought there were both boys. Well I let them out together since they got along and turns out ones a girl and got pregnet. When we found that out I told him the girl might have been pregnet since she has recently lost weight. I also told him the wiring in the pen was spaced to far apart. He dismissed this. I was going to change chages for the male and female since the wiring was better in the boys yesterday and he told me that would upset them. So I didn\'t

Anyways there was a big storm today and I went to bring both bunnies in. When I went to grab my female I saw to babies in the cage with her. Since there was no nesting box and with the storm we rushed them inside and set them up in my room. But I got worried about the wireing and rushed back out to make sure there was no more. I ended up finding three bunnies on the ground. Very cold. I tried to warm them up but he put them in the box with her and she took over.

Anyways I am now extremely nerous to go in there although I feel I should check on them. I went in once to fill her water since it was almost empty. I took a peek at the bunnies and one appeared dead. I\'m not sure. Because mom jumped on top and started to try to more the blanket. I\'m worried that by doing this she might have hurt them. I don\'t know if I should distract her and take the dead one out (if it is dead). Very confused and upset that this should have not happened. So any advise would be appreciated a.s.a.p. Thank you in advance.

Hi there,

Yes, it sounds like the wire on the cage was too big. For furture reference, when building/buying a cage, look for cages with \"baby saver\" wire. This type of wire prevents babies from going through the floor of the cages and from the sides as well.

With the babies - it sounds like you are doing a good job with them. I would take out whatever you are using for a nestbox and check on the kids. Remove any dead ones as they are only acting as popsicles to the ones that are still living. It sounds like you know your bunnies pretty well, and if that\'s the case, she shouldn\'t have too much of a problem with you handling her babies. But, I\'d still pet her down with both hands really well before touching the babies, that way, they have her scent on them, and not so much yours. The chances of a domestic rabbit having nothing to do with her babies once a human has touched them is very slim compared to their wild counterparts.

If you are worried about the momma bunny trampling her babies, then I\'d take the nestbox out and give the babies to the momma once to twice a day, depending on how well they nurse. Keep them in a warm location and again, check for any dead ones and remove those.

Hope this answers your questions! If not, let me know where I can help you out more.

~Jess

First of all, you need to check on the babies and take any out that are dead. They will only get cold and you don\'t want cold things in with warm babies. If mom has not pulled any fur for the nest, Hold her firmly on her back and pull fur from her chest and stomach areas. This won\'t hurt her as the hormones will have already started making the fur let go. Make a well in the hay in the back of your box, add fur, babies, and cover with fur. Mom should take care of the rest. Then I really advise you to go out and buy the best rabbit book you can find and start doing some research. By joining the American Rabbit Breeders Association (you can do this on their web site on line) your small membership fee will also get you the best rabbit care book you can find anywhere. Best of Luck with your new little ones.