My rabbit had babies 5 days ago, and I have not yet seen her feeding them or keeping them warm.
Two have died so far, but the others seem to be OK.
I know she must be feeding them or they would have all died by now, but I worry that she doesn't lie with them or keep them warm.
I don't want to lose any more, can anyone help?
2006-06-20 00:21:12 · 16 answers · asked by Krissyinthesun 5 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Have a read of these really excellent articles, on how to judge your bunny Mum's care of her babies, and how to nurse orphans too -
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/surpriselitter.html
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/orphan.html
As the second article says,
"... there is a good chance that she is feeding her babies, even if she seems to be ignoring them. A mother rabbit does not constantly tend to her babies the way a mother carnivore does. Rabbit mamas feed their babies only twice per day, and then leave them alone. This is normal and natural: in the wild, a mother rabbit not in the process of feeding her offpsring stays as far away from the nest as possible to avoid attracting predators to her babies. If mama rabbit seems to be "ignoring" her litter, check their condition before you interfere. If the babies' tummies are round and full-looking (you sometimes can see a whitish patch where the milk-filled stomach shows through the thin skin of the belly), they are warm, their skin is a healthy, dark pink, and not overly wrinkled, and they are sleeping calmly in the nest, then mama is feeding them. If the babies are very wrinkled, cold, bluish in color, have shrunken bellies, and perhaps are even crawling around looking for mama (instead of nest-sleeping, as a well-fed baby should), then you may have to intervene ..." click on the second link, above, for more info.
Just one further observation ... the two that died ... were they inside the nest, or outside of it? Because the most common cause of baby rabbits' deaths, is that they venture out of the nest out of curiosity, and can't get back into the nest for warmth. So they die of cold. Apparently rabbits can't pick up their babies with their teeth the way cats and dogs can. So if any of the babies crawl out of the nest, YOU have to put them back into the nest - first rub your hands either well over your mother bunn, or rub your hand well in some hay so that you smell like this, then just pick them up and put them back inside the nest.
Very very best of luck to you and your entire bunny family!
2006-06-20 03:06:06 · answer #1 · answered by Lea 5 · 9⤊ 0⤋
If you are worried about them not staying warm enough, you can take a heating pad and set it on low. Put it under the spot where the babies are nesting. This will keep them warm while the mother is away. You can check the babies for dehydration by taking the skin on the back and pinching it up gently. If it stays pinched and in "tent" form then the babies are not being fed enough and need help immediately. If the skin goes back down on its own, they are not dehydrated and the mother is apparently feeding them enough.
If the bunnies do seem to be underfed, you can go to the vets office and get a small nipple and bottle ( very difficult and time consuming way to feed them) or... ask the vet if you can have a 3.5 catheter tube and you can try and tube feed the bunnies instead.
Good luck!
2006-06-20 11:04:04 · answer #2 · answered by jenkjur 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are their bellies full? No one has mentioned checking for that...just assuming she isn't feeding them. Did she pull fur? If the bellies are full LEAVE THEM ALONE. Bunnies die for other reasons than feeding. If they have fur around them they are plenty warm...too warm will kill them. It is not unusual she doesn't lie with them to keep them warm...that isn't something rabbits do!! She'll go in a couple times a day to feed them...that's it. Just because you don't SEE her do it doesn't mean she's not doing it. Most parts of the country right now are PLENTY warm enough. They're *RABBITS* not humans or dogs - they'll raise their babies like RABBITS. They probably don't need a vet - check that their bellies are full (they'll be distended after feeding - it will be obvious).
2006-06-20 08:46:49 · answer #3 · answered by Jan H 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You will have to take over as your rabbit is still too young to know what to do, put a light in the cage to keep them warm, and then get some special milk by your vet and start playing mommy, or you might end up losing the whole batch. Or what you could do is make her feed them hold her down and let them suckle it is all up to you and if you have the time to look after them
2006-06-20 07:59:53 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all I honestly do not know enough about rabbits and their young, so I can not give you advice, what I can do is suggest calling a vet!! I am not sure where you are located, but I do know where I am and unfortunately here in Texas unless you have money a vet will not give free advice!! I am from Virginia, and have had to call and seek advice when my dog was giving birth, try calling the Columbia Pike Animal Hospital in Annandale, VA, surely someone might help you there or call an animal shelter, and ask them, they might even be able to suggest someone that rescues rabbits!! Good luck!! and Godspeed! MB
2006-06-20 07:31:48 · answer #5 · answered by MB 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Baby rabbits nurse only a few minutes a day, and they sometimes have a high mortality rate from things you cannot help. Check out this website for some good info-
http://islandgems.net/development.html
2006-06-20 08:55:59 · answer #6 · answered by aeiou12 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I raised rabbits I had to keep them warm vet said I could buy milk sustitute from him or feed stright cows milk every 2 hours by eyedropper
2006-06-20 07:25:29 · answer #7 · answered by jchas64651 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Did she pull her fur for them? if she is not feeding them you will have to go to the vet on they can set u up with what you need. are try keeping her in the nesting bed and don't let her out but a few times a day.
2006-06-20 08:14:48 · answer #8 · answered by gbinnicker 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
her neglect could be due to nursing pain.baby rabbits have little teath almost as soon as they are born...put some powdered milk on her food even offer to her in a treat cup JUST PLAIN DRY POWDERD MILK..it works .... if the babies dont make it to weaning ..try it next time start giveing it to her alittle before the new babies are born.. you will see a big difference
2006-06-20 10:46:54 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you need to call a vet, they will give you instruction on how to care for baby bunnies properly...and perhaps a formula substitute if necessary. for now, until you speak with a vet, keep them warm...warm water bottle wrapped in a towel...or a blanket.
2006-06-20 07:30:54 · answer #10 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋