When should I seperate my rabbits?

Question

My rabbit just had 5 babies, I was wondering when should I seperate them, so we don't wind up with 50 rabbits? Thanks

Answer 1

This article will give you a lot of good info -
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/surpriselitter.html

I quote - "The babies will begin to nibble at solid food as early as two weeks of age. However, they must not be weaned for a FULL EIGHT WEEKS AFTER BIRTH! As rabbits begin to wean (between the ages of four to five weeks), they begin to ingest bacteria that will eventually become part of their normal gut "flora." At the same time, the pH of the intestine is changing, and the babies are ingesting many potentially harmful bacteria. Babies who are weaned younger than 8 weeks suffer a very high risk of enteritis (inflammation of the intestinal lining, resulting in fatal diarrhea), especially when stressed (as by the separation from family and introduction into a new home!). Don't subject the babies to an early death simply because they are "cute" at four weeks, and more appealing to potential adopters. A serious adopter will not mind waiting until the baby is fully weaned and ready to start life away from mama."

And "Depending on breed, rabbits reach sexual maturity at the age of 3-5 months (males) or 5-8 months (females). Even before this time, however, some will begin to exert their more dominant personalities, and will fight with their littermates. When fighting starts, it's time to spay/neuter."

Have a read of this entire web page -

Answer 2

The babies should normally be separated off between 8-10 weeks old. Baby rabbits can possibly survive on their own away from the mother once they start eating pellets, however it is not a good idea to separate them once they start eating pellets. This can provide undue stress to the babies, which can raise the likelihood of them dying.

Separate each rabbit off into its own individual cage and not into just two cages based on the sex of the rabbits. Doing so will prevent fur chewing, biting, fighting, mounting, tails being bitten off, etc.

All of the rabbits can be removed at once. The one person is referring to a disease called mastitis. That happens with does that get a mammary infection. Keeping the smallest one with the mother longer will not help it become larger. That is determined more in the early stages of its development within the first week or two of it being born. That is one reason why many rabbit breeders keep a close watch on the litter for the first week or two. Once they reach weaning age they should have already been eating feed for a week or so at least and should no longer be milking. If they are still trying to milk at this point, you will see the mother try running away from them. The doe constantly running away from the babies will run the doe's health down, so at that point they need removed.

Answer 3

I'm assuming you mean the babies and not the adult male? If it's the babies you're probably safe up till about 3 months. If it's an adult male, yesterday. Rabbits can and do become pregnant very, very soon after giving birth. I recently took in a young doe that was dropped at the vet to be euthanised because the owner said she'd eaten her day old babies. I gave her a week or so to settle in then took her down to be sterelised. When I picked her up later that day the vet told me she was already pregnant again, which could only have happened at her previous owners as I have no entire males.

Answer 4

I hope you took the buck (male) away BEFORE she kindled (had the babies)

rabbits CAN and often DO - re-breed as soon as she kindles!
yea - like within 8 hours!

the kits ( baby bunnies) will not be sexually mature until about 4 months old.

you should NOT wean before 6 weeks old - and do not take all of them away at once -
because you Will want to leave the littlest one with her to help the doe lose her milk. not to mention it Will help the littlest kit.

legally you should not sell or give away bunnies until they are 8 weeks old.
and it is better for the bunny to stay with you until about 12 weeks old. they will not be stressed this way and be fed and cared for the same way since they were born.

Best wishes
KC

Answer 5

Separate them when they are 8 weeks old or there could be many more baby rabbits.

Answer 6

Once they are starting to eat things besides their mother's milk they can be separated. That is in about 3 to 4 weeks.

Answer 7

You can wait a few weeks(6 or 8)and then separate them.The female wont breed as long as she has babies with her.

Answer 8

u should separate them asap

Answer 9

Yesterday, you should not breed them if you do not know what you are doing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!