All of my rabbits babies died. Is this normal in a first time mom?
2007-01-28 11:47:03 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Thanks for all the help! I have a dutch rabbit. When I found the babies they were out in the cold and spread around the hutch. I thought all four were dead but when I warmed them up three of them started moving. I put her in an inside hutch and she sat on the babies, the next day when I checked them they were dead.
2007-01-29 14:06:42 · update #1
Rabbits aren't really the motherly type. They aren't like dogs, cats, or rats that dote over their babies. They pretty much just will feed them once in a while and then go do their own thing. I don't suggest that you breed that doe in the future.
2007-01-28 12:08:50 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not normal, but very common. Try to figure out why the litter might have died: did they look squashed, as though they'd been stomped on? Starved? Cold, in an unlined nest? Scattered around the cage?
Only check in on the babies once or twice a day in the future, just to do a head count and keep the nest mostly clean. If the doe doesn't put any fur in the nest, add some sort of insulation like shredded newspaper or fur combed from her belly and neck. If they were scattered around the cage, stuff her cage with a three-inch thick layer of straw, so that no matter where the babies end up, they'll be somewhere warm. If they crawled out of the nestbox, build one with higher walls. If the doe used the nest box for a toilet, put it in the other corner of the cage next time. If she liked to lay in it, but wouldn't have her babies there, build her a smaller one. If she didn't go in it at all, build her a bigger one.
First-time rabbit mothers are inept, but there are a lot of ways you can help them out.
2007-01-28 12:56:23 · answer #2 · answered by Rachel R 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What breed is your doe? that is the most determining factor. Because the dwarf breeds tend to have a harder time concieving and delivering than the larger commercial breeds. Also, did you handle the babies a lot? this may have freaked out a first time mom. Did she pull fur and lin her nest? did you give her a nest box? I have had does do just fine, and then after a day or two uncover the babies so they get cold and die. sometimes new mom's are just clumsy, because they don't know better... but usually I have found that unless they had them on the wire, loosing litters is usually because of human error. My advice would be to give her a week or two to rest up, and rebreed her. Give her another chance. Although, in my rabbitry, it's three strikes you're out. That means, they have three chances to produce a live litter for me, and if they don't they are moved on. It may sound mean or something, but it's not when you consider how much feed and other supplies go into that one rabbit. not to mention the cage space that could be better used with a rabbit that is producing for you.
2007-01-28 12:07:22 · answer #3 · answered by myparentskid 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, many do raise their first litter. The majority of does will raise their first litter although some will have difficulty with their first litter and not their second. If your goal is to raise show rabbits, I'd recommend getting rid of your rabbit if she doesn't raise her second litter like she should. Most rabbit breeders will accept a rabbit not raising their first litter. Many good rabbit breeders will get rid of a doe after she has failed raising two litters, because she will normally fail raising a third if she failed raising a second litter. Very few rabbit breeders will keep a doe after she has failed raising three litters. Normally, the only reason why someone would is because it is their very best doe and they really want to get something out of her pretty bad. And probably the reason why she is having trouble is because they showed her for two long and didn't start breeding her soon enough.
2007-01-29 06:17:53 · answer #4 · answered by devilishblueyes 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it could be of many reasons. it could be the mom was sick and she was hiding the signs so u don't know. or it could be the babies got sick even thought the mom wasn't sick. and yes it could be a first time thing. it has happened to me and i had to help her learn how to tkae care of them. u have to keep checking on them and making sure they r doing there job. you have to be careful with cerrtains rabbits.
some of my rabbits i know i don't have to worry about them cuz i know she will tkae care of them. i'll check on them once and a while to make sure everything is going ok but other then that she is fine. with another mom of minie i had to help her cuz she was lost the first time but by the second time she knew what she was doing.
sometimes the mom feels there is something unsafe out there and will kill the babies herself or she'll stop feeding them if she's uncomfortable like if she has mastiise( her nipples will get swollen and it'll hurt her if the babies nurse so she won't let them nurse.
you could try and brred her again and just keep a closer eye to her. try adn help her out. make her comfortable and happy and lots of treats at this time to keep her strength up.
2007-01-29 09:52:39 · answer #5 · answered by wonderbunny22 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is more common in first time does, but so far of the 9 does i have bred all but one has kept her litter. one of my first time moms had 10!
2007-01-28 13:47:27 · answer #6 · answered by Olivia W 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Maybe
Been to many years for me to remember
Give her 3 chances then if it doesn't work stop
2007-01-28 11:59:18 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes normally they do. may be ur bunny just got shocked since it is her first litter. she will probably do better the next time
2007-01-28 12:19:31 · answer #8 · answered by Bunny_Lover5 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i may be lonely,but i guess i could help you.........
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i dont think so. did this happen cause the mom wasnt takin care of them or because of sickness.
maybe the mom is sick...............
2007-01-28 11:53:20 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋