hi all i just went outside to check on my rabbit. when i took off the top cover she came very agressive at me. then i notice the nest was full of hair and if i look really good to the hair it\'s moving. i don\'t know how many are they but it looks like she has a few. when can i go and look to see how many are there and also to check if none are dead. this is her first time having babies.
With my rabbits I check as soon as I see they have had there babies. Most of my does are used to me so they do not mind at all. If they are more aggressive than give her a treat and take the nest box out and take a peak. If there are any dead ones you need to remove them as soon as possible and any left over afterbirths. Good luck.
Tony Artist, Artist Rabbitry, South Bend, IN.
so it ok to touch them this soon.
You bet. I handle my kits immediately after they are born and on a daily basis thereafter. It is important to examine the litter to ascertain if they are all being fed adequately and are growing normally. You need to know if any kits have died, so they can be removed at once.
It is not necessary to rub your hands on the doe first or dab vanilla on her nose as others claim. If a doe is going to cannibalize her young, she is going to do it whether you touch them or not. This has been my experience after 42 years.
I prefer to remove the nest box from the cage and examine the litter where I have room to really look. If the doe is really aggressive (good moms can be...), you might want to remove the doe from the cage so she doesn\'t get too upset with you as you\'re checking her little ones. I give my does a treat (slice of apple) every morning when I go to examine the litter. They soon associate your visits with a positive event.
Charlcie Gill
Zodiac Rabbitry
Astoria, OR
http://www.zodiacsatins.com
My does seem to look forward to me checking on the little ones. I thought it was because I too give a treat. But our recent momma Honey doesn\'t seem interested in the treats. But she loves the attention both she and the babies get. We handle them the day they are born as well as every day after too.
Good luck with yournew family.
:Dhi i did check the nest and found six in total and they are all very active. didn\'t find none dead and the mom clean them up good, no birth left over nothing. she at first kinda didn\'t like me getting the nest she was making noises but she didn\'t try to bite me or nothing. the mom is kinda golden and the dad is white, four of them are going to be light color \"i think\" but two of them are completly black. they are so cute.
Our Smiley, to our surprise she was pregnant when I got her, gave her first litter in Dec. 05. She cleaned up everything spotless. We too, handled every baby every day which makes for wonderfully tame bunnies. One small piece of advice. Warm your hands by rubbing them together before picking them up as they will pee on you if your hands are chilly. We took photos every day to note the changes and that was very helpful when it came time to giving them away to friends. I wanted to keep them all. I was attached as was the whole family to all 6 of them. But it was to much for us to keep up with so they all found nice homes except for one that we kept. We kept them way too long and may have done the same thing unknowingly giving away a pregnant bunny. Enjoy you new babies!