HELP my rabbit just had babies

[Tale of Tails Rabbitry]

Mother's milk comes in about two days after kindling.

 

[Stina]

Just went out to check this morning & still alive but very skinny looking. It squirms when I pick it up or touch it

 

[Tale of Tails Rabbitry]

Just went out to check this morning & still alive but very skinny looking. It squirms when I pick it up or touch it

It is quite typical for them to lose weight for the first two days. It is alarming when it is your first time, but it is normal. If you do not see milk in the belly by the end of the third day...then it is time to consider intervening.

 

[Stina]

Here’s a pic

 

[Stina]

Just went out to check b4 going to work & baby has died

 

[Tale of Tails Rabbitry]

Just went out to check b4 goig to work & baby has died

I am sorry.

It is very difficult for a single kit to survive due to it uses littermates to help regulate its body temperature. I have never had one single kit make it yet, regardless of time of year or temps, even when the doe was experienced and had pulled fur.

Start counting the days because as said previously, she may be pregnant right now.

 

[promiseacres]

It is very difficult for a single kit to survive due to it uses littermates to help regulate its body temperature. I have never had one single kit make it yet, regardless of time of year or temps, even when the doe was experienced and had pulled fur./QUOTE]
I always attempt 2 does at the same time, have had excellent success fostering kits if one mama has a small litter or looses them for one reason or another.

 

[Stina]

I am sorry.

It is very difficult for a single kit to survive due to it uses littermates to help regulate its body temperature. I have never had one single kit make it yet, regardless of time of year or temps, even when the doe was experienced and had pulled fur.

Start counting the days because as said previously, she may be pregnant right now.

Thank you. Yeah I kind of figured that. I tried the warm water bottle method because it was raining last night & temps are in the 70’s at night time. I have already marked my calendar so fingers crossed...should I put her with the male 1 more time or just wait it out?

 

[Tale of Tails Rabbitry]

Thank you. Yeah I kind of figured that. I tried the warm water bottle method because it was raining last night & temps are in the 70’s at night time. I have already marked my calendar so fingers crossed...should I put her with the male 1 more time or just wait it out?

I would not. Although rare, there have been cases when the doe has released eggs twice so two pregnancies at two different stages of development. That these two rabbits have not conceived at all in a year until now is rather odd and kind makes me wonder if there are already reproduction issues. I would be the one to err on the side of caution. I am sure that there are other viewpoints on this though.

And there is the fostering method that @promiseacres suggested. I have not done it because I have always had my does on a rotation breeding schedule and sometimes one breeding does not take. If you only have that one pair...you do not have that option anyway.

 

[Bphar]

Finally, my rabbit had some babies. She’s been with my male for about 1 year now & I go outside to feed them (they share a cage) & I see 7 babies! Sadly 4 were dead. Must’ve just happened because they were cold but not stiff. I didn’t have a nest box so I put a card board box with some newspaper & put the surviving babies in there. Is there anything I should know or do???

The cardboard box won’t last long. You need a proper nestbox. Wood or metal. Found online. I always used white shavings for a base, then straw on top of that. The doe will blow her own fur into the straw to create a nest. If you haven’t already, remove the buck. Bucks can, and will breed the doe again one day after she kindles. So, she would have another litter around 23 days later. Hence the term breeds like rabbits. American Rabbit breeders on the net, is an excellent source of rabbit information. Normally the nestbox is put into the cage three days befor she is due. You have to keep track of mateings or you will have many disappointments, and very few live kits. Don’t allow the buck and doe to live together, and when you want to breed them, take the doe to the bucks cage. She will let him know if she’s not interested. Then take her back to her own cage. If they bred, Mark the date, so you can count days. Hope this helps.