My rabbit has just given birth to one kit but I'm afraid she's hurting the baby. I saw the baby with blood and one ear missing. The mother is ignoring the baby and sometimes would hop in the nest I made(she didn't make a nest too) and would step on the baby. I'm afraid she's hurting the baby. What should I do? It's already late and there are no vets available. Please help. Also I think she's still not done with giving birth coz I checked and felt her tummy and I think she still has another
2007-02-24 02:10:03 · 15 answers · asked by dauntlessblythe 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Rabbits usually like to make their nest in a hidden spot. They have an extremely protective demeanor, in that they don't want anyone to know where their babies are. They seem to ignore them during the day, as not to attract predators to the nest. She needs to have a nice box, covered with a towel put somewhere private, so she can give birth and protect the babies as her instincts tell her to. Put a hole on one side so she can get in and out. Your hovering over her and picking up the baby and her is stressing her out. Let nature take its course and see what happens.
2007-02-24 02:21:32 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Give her some time alone to give birth to the remaining babies.
First-time rabbits are terrible mothers. What you're describing is not unusual for a troubled litter. The mother is already stressed because there are still babies inside her, and a litter of one has very little chance of surviving.
I doubt it was your fault. Maybe you should have given her more privacy, but touching the nest is not a trigger for her to eat or kill the babies; when I bred rabbits, I checked their nests and handled the babies twice a day to check for dead ones.
Rabbit litters die constantly.
If it's been all day since she had her first, and she still has a baby on the way, it's time to get her to a vet who knows rabbits. Otherwise, you can wait and see, but if she hasn't managed to get the baby out on her own, she might die without help.
Good luck.
2007-02-25 01:38:52 · answer #2 · answered by Rachel R 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have gone anywhere near the baby or hutch she has almost certainly rejected it, rabbits don't like their young to smell of humans. Even just touching the bedding can be enought. If you can't find a vet then there is not much you can do. Baby rabbits are very very hard to hand rear, especially without a vets advise.
Sorry to give bad news.
2007-02-24 10:28:43 · answer #3 · answered by Fred 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mother rabbits normally eat the babbies if you have disterbed the nest or if it smells like you. As you have handeled her since its likely she fells threatend or unsafe. normally you cover over the hutch and leave them for the rest of the day. and only change water and food for a week after the birth, to stop mum hurting them.
I surgest you find the nearest emergency vets and take the kitten there.
2007-02-24 12:00:36 · answer #4 · answered by pghj2005 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you will have to remove the kit from its mother and feed it yourself with some milk and a small bottle.then keep it away from the mother for about 7 hours then put it back if the mother still hurts it then when any vets are available take it to them.if there is a next kit and the mum has trouble with it do the same.
2007-02-25 03:54:36 · answer #5 · answered by emily m 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you need to keep the kit away from the mother for a while or you could just find away to help them get along or even find a 24 hour vet that will come to your house, if the mother gives birth to another rub some scent of the newborn onto the other one see if that helps and if the mother bullies the newborn too keep them apart and get pro. help!!
2007-02-24 10:18:22 · answer #6 · answered by mz_teezer_1234 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your rabbit will not have her kittens, unless you let her get on with it . if you touch the nest area you will put your scent on that area and she will destroy the lot, and eat or kill any young. do not touch the nest even to clean it until the young are a week or so old and when you handle a young rabbit always rub your hands in the rabbits droppings so she can not detect any disturbance.
2007-02-27 20:34:25 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I hate to tell you this but I went through the exact same thing with my rabbit. She kicked her babies out of the cage refused to feed them. We tried to go to a pet store and bought bottles and tried to feed them but we were unable to save them. I have heard that this can be quite common. I would call the pet store and see if they can recommend anything. And I am so sorry I was pretty devastated when my bunny did the same.
2007-02-24 10:19:18 · answer #8 · answered by peeps 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many rabbits are known to "reject" their babies if they know that it is not strong enough to live. When my rabbit gave birth, she kicked one baby out of the cage because it wasn't breathing.
Important: MAKE SURE THE FATHER ISN'T IN THE CAGE!!!
He might eat the babies. (It's true)
2007-02-24 22:09:01 · answer #9 · answered by CoolNCharismatic21 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
put the baby in a separate hutch and if the rabbit gives birth again then put the rest of the baby's in there then.
2007-02-24 10:20:32 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋