I picked up my first pair of rabbits yesterday...

[Pastor Dave]

I have had a couple that has kindled on the cage floor. I put them in the nest, and the does did fine. Even pulled more fur. One of these was a mature, experienced doe, and the other a first-timer. The deal with the mature doe was straw I put in during winter for all my rabbits. She had them in a pile in a corner. I learned my lesson. No straw for does ready to kindle. You never know what makes them disregard the box, but generally if they are placed in there for her, they take over. Instincts kick in, and they do better next time.

 

[Pyxis]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I will put the baby in the nesting box and see if she will feed it. One of them died last night so now there is only one, do you think it will be able to stay warm on its own?

 

[Pastor Dave]

They usually need the litter to generate body heat. Maybe this time of year it will be ok though.

 

[HaloRabbits]

They usually need the litter to generate body heat. Maybe this time of year it will be ok though.

Agreed. But is there fur in the nest now?

One of my does always pulls a ton of hair and so I always grab a couple handfuls and put it in a bag and save it. I do this in case I have a doe that doesn't pull, then I will have some fur that I can put in the box. I never had this happen to me but it does happen. Or in case the box gets dirty I can clean it and have fur to replace the dirty (also haven't had this happen but it does happen). I heard some people take dryer lint in the case a doe doesn't pull enough fur.

 

[Pyxis]

There is no fur, but I can try some dryer lint. Or maybe just take it out a couple times a day to let her feed it and then bring it back in?

 

[Pyxis]

Well, it was a no go on getting mom to take the baby, and I didn't want to risk it freezing to death, so I'm hand feeding it. Here it is, sleeping until it's time to eat again:

 

[Pastor Dave]

You get an A for effort. Let us know how things work out.

 

[HaloRabbits]

Don't forget you have to stimulate it to use the bathroom. A warm paper towel usually works. What are you using to feed it? I heard a combination of whole cream, goats milk and kitten milk replacer is the most successful.

 

[Pyxis]

A very late update. That little bunny did not make it. Refused to eat from the syringe, and when I tried just taking it out for mom to feed it, she wouldn't feed it.

After that one passed away, she didn't get pregnant again, even though I had her living with the male. So I'm not sure what was up with that, but since that male doesn't seem to be doing his job, I picked up a very cute nine week old opal buck this week. I'll try breeding her to him in the spring - no babies over the winter.

Here's the little cutie:

I might see about also getting an opal doe for him in the spring. I'm in love with the color.

 

[Latestarter]

Sorry the previous match didn't work out and the baby buns didn't make it. Hopefully better luck next spring. Glad you stopped in with an update.