can i take the male from the female rabbit right away?
2006-09-12 03:56:33 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Yes, you don't want papa in with mama while she's pregnant. This can lead to all kinds of problems, because they will continue to breed up until about the 3rd week of pregnancy. In my breeding practice, I put mama in with papa in the evening and leave her in with him until the following morning. After that, they don't go back together until the next round of breeding. Contrary to popular belief, female rabbits will not eat their young. Not even the ones that are stillborn--remember, rabbits don't eat meat. As long as papa isn't in the cage, the babies will be fine...just make sure that the babies end up in the nest box so that they stay nice and warm (if mama gets frightened during the kindling process, it can cause her to deposit the babies all over the cage, and they'll freeze to death very quickly if this happens). Unlike cats and dogs, rabbits aren't capable of moving their young, so either they have them where they have them (hopefully in the nest where they'll stay nice and warm), or we have to step in and get the little ones in the nest. Otherwise, don't worry. Rabbits are very good mothers by instinct, and only need to nurse their young once a day (usually in the very early morning hours)...some larger breeds also nurse once at night, but if you have just a normal smallish mama, she'll probably only nurse once between the hours of 3 am and 7 am. Make sure that the babies have full tummies in the mornings (they should look very round, and the babies shouldn't be crying for food), and have fun watching them grow. Also, if you do see any dead ones, remove them immediately from the cage so that mama can keep the other ones clean! One final note, rabbits don't abandon their young if they smell another scent on them, so it is okay for you to hold the babies. Just be really gentle with them, and I usually wait for the first 4 weeks before I start handling them...that way they have enough fur to keep themselves warm for a few minutes, and their eyes are open so they can see. Make sure that they stay with mama until they are between 8 and 9 weeks old. By that time, they will be eating pellets and hay on their own, and will have had enough time in the nest to learn good bunny manners and confidence which will make things much better for them in life! If you have any other questions, you can e-mail me directly at: kbviolin_98@yahoo.com
2006-09-12 05:56:48 · answer #1 · answered by Kellye B 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes its correct, and be careful when the new born of rabbit, because the female rabbit will eat the new born.
2006-09-12 11:05:06 · answer #2 · answered by alti 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yes it is best to remove the buck as soon as you can
2006-09-12 10:59:18 · answer #3 · answered by KimLee B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋