My rabbit had three babies about 5 days ago and two have died because she wouldn't have anything to do with

Question

the babies! We took the babies out of the cage with the mother once the first one died but two days later another one died. How can I keep the last baby alive?

Answer 1

if a mother animal stop taking care of it's baby, it usually means that there is something wrong with the baby. there's not a lot that you can do about it other than take it to a vet and hope for the best

Answer 2

the babies died because they weren't strong enough to survive, it has little to do with your opinion that the mom isn't doing a good job. Mother rabbits in the wild will only visit the nest maybe twice a cay, in the middle on the night. Kits only nurse once or twice a day, the mother's milk is amazing. Baby rabbits are born scentless for their own protection. The mother won't visit the nest because her scent will stay with them, and a fox or whatever will be able to sniff them out.She hops in to nurse, and leaves.
Give the last baby back to it's mother, and let her do her job. If it's belly is round and warm, it is nursing. Prey animals have so many babies because most of them will not survive, it is very sad for us humans who must save everything, but that is the way things are in nature. Make sure the nesting box is full of straw and such, and put the last baby back in, and if there is still the moms hair that she pulled out, cover the kit with that, and leave her alone. The last one might still die though, sometimes bad genetics from either the mom or dad(or both) cause some messed up babies, and they just won't make it. The mom might not have had the proper nutrition to support the babies while in the womb, and not they are suffering. It is heartbreaking to watch, but nature weeds out the weaker members that way.

Answer 3

Most everybody has told you the babies weren't strong enough or that it was due to your scent or a whole bunch of other stuff that is not correct.

The one person was somewhat right that stress can affect them, but I doubt that is the cause.

Normally a rabbit losing her babies is due to one of two things:

- she's having trouble producing enough milk to feed them
- there's a scent in the nestbox she doesn't like such as the bedding, a dead baby, ammonia from built up urine, or a dirty nestbox

The milk thing there's not much you can do other than make sure she gets plenty enough feed, protein and water. The rabbit feed you are feeding her should have at least 16% protein. Don't be feeding her a show ration. Show rations don't have enough protein. You can add a tablespoon of Calf Manna each day to her pellets to help increase the protein she gets while milking and that can help produce more milk. Calf Manna is used for cattle and can be found at most livestock feed stores.

As far as nestbox bedding, stick to bedding that has little to no smell. Wood chips are not good, neither is hay. The only nestbox bedding I recommend is straw. Just make sure it doesn't smell moldy. The correct nestbox bedding is vitally important.

People are wrong when they say you shouldn't handle the babies. The old wive's tale that the mother will stop feeding due to smelling your scent is false. Rabbit breeders all around the country including myself handle them often even almost the minute they are born without a single problem. In fact, it is good to so you can remove the dead babies ASAP. If the mother can't milk them all and one dies, the stench smell can cause the mother to possibly stop milking or it can attract flies to lay eggs on the nest.

As far as the ammonia build up, make sure the nestbox floor has holes in it to allow the urine to drain out. Pegboard makes a great nestbox flooring.

As far as a clean nestbox, make sure you clean the nestbox out several days before the doe is due to have babies. Set the nestbox out in the sun to kill off bacteria in it and to help get any smells out. And don't put the nestbox in until 2 days before she is supposed to have them. Rabbits normally have their babies on the 30th day, so put the nestbox in on the 28th day. If you put the nestbox in too early, she may pee or poop in it then she may not want to have the babies in it or feed them afterwards.

As far as keeping the baby rabbit alive, you can attempt to milk it. I'd recommend going to your vet or a local pet shelter to ask how to formulate the milk. I've never attempted to hand milk the babies myself but I know of other people who have done it with success. I'd still leave the baby in the nestbox with the mother though.

If you have another rabbit that has a litter that was born at relatively the same time you could foster the baby over to the other mother. Many rabbit breeders will do that. That's why many breeders will breed does in pairs, especially if the one doe is a really good show doe.

Answer 4

Baby!! I am 24 so I remember the 90's better than the 80's. I loved the pop culture of my time. I actually miss the simplicity of being a kid. I miss my light up sneakers. I love Oregon Trail. I was in love with New Kids On The Block. I always wanted to get slimed on the orange couch.

Answer 5

I was told that its really hard to keep a baby rabbit alive, that even professionals have problems with it. You could try giving it kitten or puppy formula, but don't get too attached to it. You're fighting a losing battle. Don't forget to keep it warm.

Answer 6

Animals under stress will sometimes abandon their young.

Be sure mother is getting enough food and water and that she has a quiet enclosure where she can hide and feel safe with the remaining offspring.

Answer 7

give them goat milk( you can get it at petsmart)put them
in a shoebox with the mother's fur(the fur that she ripped out to make the nest) feed them only twice a day that's how the mother would have. try for the early morning and the evening.

Answer 8

it most likly she feels there weak ..or they dnt hav her scent ..hav yhu been hadlein them?(touchin) but there scent on them but takin a pencil w. a cloth around it and rub it on the mom then rub it on the baby iand se if the mom accepts it..if that doesnt work then u might hav to go to petmart or a feed store and get milk 4 it and warm housin..