i have no idea what to put in her cage for the babies (hay, blankets, towels) can you guys help me out. the last ones she had all died (5) and i had hay in there. she is about ready to have these and i need to know what to do to make sure she and the babies are comfortable!!
2007-06-21 15:21:59 · 10 answers · asked by BRANDI 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Use straw instead of hay. Hay has a strong smell to it whereas straw doesn't. Rabbits don't like to have their babies in bedding that has a strong smell. I've been using straw for nestbox bedding for about 25 years and haven't had a single problem with it unles the straw has a moldy smell to it. So don't use moldy smelling straw.
Next, you need to build a good nestbox. It should be about 2" wider and 2" longer than the doe when she is laying down. You don't want the nestbox too big. If the nestbox is too big she won't feel like she can hide inside of it and she might have the babies between the nestbox and the cage wall.
For the floor of the nestbox use pegboard. The holes in the pegboard will allow any urine that she pees in the nestbox to drain out and will help prevent ammonia build up in the nestbox.
Make the nestbox tall enough so that your rabbit can easily jump in it. Make an angled opening at the front of about 45 degrees and the board at the bottom front of the nestbox should be about 4-6 inches tall to allow plenty of straw in the nestbox and to give about a 2 inch lip to keep the babies from jumping out when they are too young to be out of the nestbox.
As far as touching the babies, don't worry about touching them. You can touch them basically the minute they are born without the risk of the mother disregarding them. In fact, it's a good idea to pull the nest box out and check the babies about once a day or every couple of days to check for dead babies. Sometimes the mother has more babies than she can milk. When one of the babies dies, it needs to be pulled out of the nestbox pretty soon. Otherwise the stench may keep the mother from milking the rest of the babies. Also the stench may attract flies which can lay eggs on the nest causing problems months later (bot fly).
2007-06-22 05:54:19 · answer #1 · answered by devilishblueyes 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your best bet is to get a rabbit litter box but a shoe box or a small cat box will suffice-provide her with STRAW not Hay-she will eat the hay-a soft blanket can help but your best bet is to feed her as muchas she wants and let nature play its course-do not touch the babies until they are at least 2-3 days old
2007-06-21 15:48:58 · answer #2 · answered by Kat/Heavenly Kritterz 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Ha....yes, that's why it's said horny people ---- like rabbits! Ask a vet, firstly, you might also want to read up on what the right temperature should be at birth, some animals are very sensitive to this...along with what diet is appropriate at birth: the little rabbits might not be well developed to eat what their mother does. You might also want to try selling some of them to a pet shop at birth, saying if they help you with the birth they can keep a handful of them.
Do your best and don't feel too nasty about the last 5 though...tropical fish, turtles, and several other animals are very easy to have die if you're not an expert on them.
2007-06-21 15:33:36 · answer #3 · answered by M S 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well that kind of rules out hay unless you want to off this bunch as well? Might want to make a trip to Petco and ask them how not to kill the little rabbits.
2007-06-21 15:25:05 · answer #4 · answered by PK 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You should probably give a call to the vet for some really reliable advice.
Also, get your doe fixed, rabbits reproduce like crazy! There are too many rabbits being put to sleep or dying because they don't have good homes, people should get them fixed unless they are pro breeders.
Good luck with your rabbit. =)
2007-06-21 15:28:11 · answer #5 · answered by *Penelope* 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
u should let da rabits be born, then put som soft towels in it. tht works w/my mini rexs.
ur gana need mor cages, da mom refuses da babys when they'r mor then 5-9 weeks old. some sisters in a cag is okay, but i dont think da brothers r gana get a long.
2007-06-21 15:33:27 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
the babies maybe got trapped in the hay and can't breathe. try using plankets and make sure they are soft and straight in the surface so they won't get caught anywhere.
2007-06-22 00:35:27 · answer #7 · answered by Will 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
you should go to the vet or petco to see what supplys you need to take care of them ..
2007-06-21 15:32:06 · answer #8 · answered by sexy_AT_21 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Get her spayed already.
2007-06-21 15:32:20 · answer #9 · answered by daryavaush 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh idk this
2007-06-21 15:29:34 · answer #10 · answered by >wonder whats next< 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋