erm, my rescue bunny has just had babies!

[*mogwai*]

seriously, i'm shaking as i type. i posted on my other thread that she'd made this huge nest & maybe was having a phantom pregnancy like laydee bunnies tend to do. went out to feed both the rabbits & her huge nest was moving, lifted the top up & voila baby bunnies. didn't touch them though.

please please help me, i have no idea what to do. i've had her 3 weeks on wednesday so she must've got preggers just before i got her but i don't know how, they didn't have a nother bunny. well they said they used to but got rid of him but they made out that was ages ago.

i've phoned the breeder i got my frenchie from & she said to leave them all well alone, don't tough the nest & keep the rest of the hutch clean, give her plenty of carrots & grass as this helps her milk. and don't let mum out of the htche either. but she's been out on the garden today & i think that was after she'd had the babies coz it was definately after she'd made that nest.

please please help me.

[Blackecho]

Lucky Corn?

[*mogwai*]

you know my other half has just said, "wonder how long it'd be before someone mentions snake food"

[elliottreed]

my advice hun
would be to look for rescues local to you
don't move them from mum yet, they won't feed the young unless they feel safe, so perhaps even partially cover the hutch unless it is seperated with a hiding area.

take a peak now and then to see if mum is feeding all the babes
chances are if there are problems with any of them, mum'll know and won't feed them, if this happens, i would contact a rescue to come and have a look and they may take it as an orphan, but don't move them yourself.

in my advice,
do not even think about removing healthy bunnies until at least 8 weeks, but im sure there could be debate on this time frame, so i'll wait for someone to correct me.

any other questions, feel free to pm or reply here and i can try and help answer as im sure others will!

[elliottreed]

Originally Posted by teshu

you know my other half has just said, "wonder how long it'd be before someone mentions snake food"

was thinking the same
BAD BLACKECHO!
poorly bunnies !
hehe
xxx

[*mogwai*]

how will i know if she's feeding them? obviousely if i see her do it but they're in the sheletered bit of the hutch so i'd have to asctuslly open the door to see. just reading rabbitlopaedia and it says i can lie poppy on her back & attach the kits myself if she isn't feeding them, but i wont know if she is or not.

there is a rescue centre close to me so i'll ring them tomorrow. are you suggesting i just ask for advice or hand them all over?

[Zoexxx]

She prob hadn't had them earlier, they sometimes make the nest a few days before.

I wouldn't interfere, and definately wouldn't touch them or the nest, mum could kill them if she thinks they are in danger.

When she's not feeding them she won't sit in the nest with them, rabbits are pretty detached from their babies and only go in to feed them, then straight back out.

If you need to look use a pencil or stick, rub it in mums litter, adn then gently open the nest with it to look inside, give mum something nice to eat while you do it to distract her.

[*mogwai*]

Originally Posted by Zoexxx

If you need to look use a pencil or stick, rub it in mums litter, adn then gently open the nest with it to look inside, give mum something nice to eat while you do it to distract her.

well at least i've done something right then. when we looked in the nest, we didn't use our hands, we used a wooden stick rabbit chew toy thing. so it would've had poppy's scent all over it.

that fact she made such a good nest is a good sign isn't it? i mean i know there's a chance she'll reject them or harm them but it'll still upset me if she does. i'm also presuming this is her first litter.

[elliottreed]

you will find that the bellies will bulge if mummy is feeding them.
i would listen to the advice given by the rescue chick, unsure if moving them at this age would stop mum taking interest but they'll be able to give you more info.

you're doing a grand job as an unexpected rabbit mummy
xxx

[SisterMoonbeam]

I got a female rescue rabbit once and the exact same thing happened to me!! She should be fine if you leave them alone, just make sure she has fresh water and some extra veggies for extra vitamins, the first two or three weeks are basically all down to her. Try not to look in too much but check that they're doing okay every so often.

You'll be fine! She knows what she is doing so leave it to her!

I'm sure you will find homes for the babies, especially if you advertise on here.

Good Luck