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Sorry, but what you have sounds like a fader, which is a general term for any number of conditions that prevent the kit from thriving, such as a underdeveloped digestive system. I had one and you can keep them alive for awhile, but I would cull if I had one now. They do not/cannot make it...

Never seen that in all the years I have have rabbits. What I have seen is the weakest and smallest not get to nurse because of the stronger and larger kits pushing it away. It just gets so weak that it cannot get to the mother.

No, it is just dominating behavior. I have seen does do it to other does and bucks to bucks, too. I even saw a 3 week old baby do it with her sister, including the neck bite and positioning! o_O They had not even been weaned yet! Assuming the doe is pregnant is always the best course.

ALL breeds of rabbits can die from heat. Some are a bit more heat tolerant, like Florida Whites and New Zealand Whites, but still happens to them as well. Typically the longer the fur the less heat tolerant.

I use fans. Kits go wherever to be comfortable most of the time. I do not breed during the summer, in the SE. Never have lost any rabbit at any age to heat in 7+ years of breeding.

New Zealands tend to have litters that are too large and need intervention to keep all the kits alive. Some cull the smallest and some shelve them. Overall my experience with New Zealands is that they are not docile and even are more aggressive. Silver Fox are my personal favorite for many...

@Bunnylady I have "resistant" buns to that whole draw up the legs thing. I played with posing three 9-week olds for an hour yesterday and only one would draw up her legs briefly when I was rolling her back, but I will try this way again today. I do know that two are weak in the loin, one more so...

@promiseacres :( So frustrating, isn't it?

Have you tried posing them and taking a picture from above? Pinched hips tend to look like \_/ at the backend.

@secuono, I agree! See, I think you can see if they are pinched or narrow from above as well as from below as you are suggesting, but that is not "acceptable" by some people it seems...:idunno I mean, Silver Foxes have longer hair, but not long enough to hide those problems. @promiseacres...

I have been told by a few breeders that the ONLY way to properly evaluate for pinched hips and narrowness or confirm wide and parallel legs is to flip the rabbit over and have it draw up its feet to its belly...tickling the belly or feet or both can make them do that. I have been told by a large...

Every doe does it differently. I had one that would build a lovely nest the day after she was bred and pulled fur the day she kindled. Most of my experienced does pull fur the day of kindling, but if yours is pulling fur now, I would give her access to a nesting box just because she wants to...

That is unfortunate and no matter what you use, it is not going to be good for sanitation and you may find you will have to clean daily if the rabbits use it to pee and poop on. If I may, think you are overthinking this. Straw is fine and stays drier in high humidity, hay is fine but can hold...

Yep. I second @animalmom. Wood and spraying bucks, in particular.....not a good partnership. With your set up, I think I would paint or line the wood inside with plastic or that coated board used in bathrooms works well that I have no idea what they call it.

Not a myth, but also not common. I don't know where you are located, but if it is summer there, it usually is not the best time of year to breed. Pregnancy and heat are not good combinations. Check her vent. If it is light colored, she probably is not hormonally as ready as when it is red. If...

I understand your frustration. I wouldn't use an ant spray anywhere near my rabbits, there are other ways to kill ants that would have risk to your rabbits and yourself than a spray. Just another thought....having her kindle in a cage off the ground now does not ensure that the doe did not...

Did you check her vent for its color? Light pink indicates she is not hormonally ready to be bred. Some does still will, of course, but some will not. If she is red to purplish, she is hormonally ready. I have a doe that has been always difficult to breed, but I have gotten really good and quick...

When you write "nothing yet," are you referring to them not breeding--that you have seen--or that it has been over 30 days since they were together and you are expecting her to be nesting?

You don't need fans directly on them, but with the sudden heat wave that swept the country and so many breeders losing rabbits, mostly pregnant does but also does, bucks, and young bunnies, I placed them more directly with our set up. I have one doe due Friday, the last kindle of the breeding...

I have no words! There is not even an emoji that fits.