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Help please. Unexpected babies - best place?

YorkshireJumbo

Young Bun
First post - glad I found this site :wave:

We had 2 neutered does from the same litter, and got a 2-storey hutch with a run attached which we move around the lawn. Sadly one of the does died, and we got an un-neutered doe as a replacement. We haven't been able to get them to socialise yet, so we've had to keep them separated. We've done this by having a small hutch attached to the run, and keeping the double-decker close by without access to the grass. We change them over daily.

A month ago, the kids left one of the latches off and the new doe escaped. Lo and behold, we had a surprise litter of 4 new-borns this morning. :shock: :oops: (Actually she did start getting broody yesterday, but I didn't realise). She had them in the small open hutch attached to the run, but it seemed unsuitable - there was nowhere for her to make a proper nest and I found one of the babies crawling across the grass.

I prepared the private area of the double-decker (she'd done some of this already without me realising) and made sure I didn't smell too human. I then moved the mum and babies into the hutch, gave her plenty of food and moved the older doe into the small hutch with the run. I've also fixed a piece of cardboard across the entrance as I found a couple of the babies escaping.

Now have I put her in the right place? It's secure, private, but not a huge space (5ft x 3ft x 2). Or would she be better having access to the run, which would mean locking up the older doe in a 4ft x 2ft hutch for the next few weeks?

We'll make sure the new mum is neutered after the babies are old enough, and we'll make very sure the hutch is secure to stop this happening again. Any other advice gratefully accepted - this was a shock and we're totally unprepared... :shock:
 
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Now it's raining cats and dogs - I'll go and check on the new mum as soon as it's died down a bit.

Do I need to worry about the temperature at the moment? The babies are buried in mum's fur and sawdust at the moment, so I thought they'd be OK as long as they don't get wet...
 
I would offer advice if I knew anything about caring for babies. I don't think the new forum system helps either, I'm not sure 'housing' is the best place for this.

ps I would remove that threat, it may only be sarcastic, but it is likely to cause a very nasty response on these forums.
 
:wave: and welcome

Don't take it so personally. Although a lot of us own rabbits, it doesn't mean we have experience of rearing babies, hence the lack of replies. I'm sure some more experienced members will be along soon to help. :D

Plus the forum has had a rejuggle of things so it takes a while to find our way around again too.

Lian x
 
As I've said in your post on introductions, although we all own rabbits, doesn't mean we know anything about rearing babies. You need to be a little more patient to wait for responses from our more experienced members. :?
 
Well I'm truly shocked that no one has bothered to offer any advice or even bother to reply! Maybe I should just feed them to next door's cat, as no one seems to want to help a worried owner.

Shame on you all!

There really isnt any need for that :? Just because we own rabbits doesnt mean we all have experience with new born rabbits!

I wouldnt move them again personally because I wouldnt want to stress them out, ive no advice really sorry

I've also fixed a piece of cardboard across the entrance as I found a couple of the babies escaping.

Where are they escaping too? Can they get out of the hutch?
 
Hello! What information would you like to know?

All the members are very friendly on here so ask a question in the relevant sections and someone can help you.
 
:wave:I have only just woke up... I haven't seen your thread yet about babies:shock:, but if I had, I would have replied,8) as I have recently had 2 litters,:love: and one litter is putting me through hell!:roll: We all try to do our best, but we don't live on this forum (though it sometimes seems like it) Just remeber sometimes the people who know about what your asking just arn't around, and after a few hours, the thread gets bumped over, you need to keep posting in it to keep it at the top...:lol: Okay hope that helps... please don't feel hurt though! Going to look for your thread now ;)
 
I think instead of making threats, you should perhaps contact a rescue in your area who may be able to offer you more help then you could get here.
 
Okay burried in the hutch is a great place for your babies!! So no need to worry now, Just keep checking (2 times a day) none have died (dead kits need to be removed from the nest, as they make the others cold) check they are warm, and pink, and full looking (i know it's not easy to know that) Mummy bunnies, only feed their babies once a day, and clean up their bums at the same time. So don't be too worried if it looks like she is ignoring them as it is genrally at night. You can pick up mummy and put her in the run for an hour or so in the day, it will keep her occupied, and the babies will just sleep and not know a thing.

Now what I did with my babies....

After they were a week old, (when they get fur) I started stroking them everyday, while mum was around to watch, and let me.

By two weeks (once the eyes opened) I started to hold them twice a day for short periods,

By three weeks they were moving around the hutch and enjoying life, so I left them out into the run with mommy, at first they would come out for a quick look, but stayed in the carrier, but after a day or two they were running round the grass binkying their hearts out

So just after three weeks I cleaned out the nest (at this time you could maybe move them into the hutch with a run for a bit)

At four to five weeks, they were eating mummy's food, and I treated them like all my bunnies (though no veggies yet)

At 7 weeks we went for our first check up, to check mum was doing well, and babies, got their myxi jabs, now at almost 9 weeks (on sunday) Mummy has been seperated and spayed, and this weekend I will split them up as sooty is a male and fidget is female.

I hope this helps you, it's a rough guideline that worked for me really well, however, you know your bunnies, and you can see what they are doing, my second litter got too hot in their nest, and after a week they all moved into the open, and set up camp there, so dont be too worried, if they move around.

Feel free to pm me if you have any quesions, I am by no means an expert, but I am happy to try and help!

Now my other litter has put me through hell, two of the babies have died, and the last is sick, and at the vets however they are inbred, (not by me) and as the vet can't find anything wrong, and as no other bunnies are getting sick we think this could be the cause....if you want you can keep up with their story here
 
Hi there

I think, as you say, you're new to the forum, and unfortunately the issue you posted about was in a section people would usually perceive as being non-urgent. If you post same dilemma in the rabbit care section you should receive a much faster response from a range of people. You'd gone into a lot of detail in your post and I can understand why you were frustrated at not getting a response, but if you copy your post and put it into the Rabbit Care forum you should get plenty of advice.

Hope this helps a bit :wave:
 
I think the forum set up has changed and you have posted this under housing, so not viewed often.

I think you did the right thing in bringing the babies and mum into the hutch and moved the other bunny. Is there plenty of hay in the hutch?

Did she become pregnant when escaped and do you think the father is a wild bunny?
 
Hiya

Its sound like you've done the right thing with regard to where you've put mum and babies. Forgive me if you've already said but mumbun is separate with her babies from the other doe?
Just a quick run down: Mum will prob only feed babies once a day. The rest of the time she'll keep away, so as not to draw the attention of predators (instinctual) If you are worried about the size of hutch she's in, it is ok to take mumbun out and pop her in a run for while during the day, the babies will be fine without mum for a couple of hours as mentioned above.
You've done the right thing in getting rid of human smell, rubbing your hands in her loo corner is good for disguising your smell (mmmm lovely!)
Other than that i think you're doing the right things. If you use the forum search tool you can probably find other threads that have other advice in too.
And I know you have probably already done so etc but always check bolts (swivel closures are not fox proof or child proof so put on bolts if you havent already) after anyone has been with the bunnies. I have a group of 5 that live together and they have bolts top and bottom of their aviary as well as a combination lock so my youngest (4) cant get in. and also all other hutches/sheds have bolts on and my kids never go with buns unsupervised.
Good luck x
 
Thanks for replying, everyone. I'm just so worried that I'm not doing the right thing by these babies. I have no experience of any newborn animals (except for my own!)

@sillyrabbit - they were escaping out of the private, closed-off part of the hutch (with a solid door instead of wire) into the main part (hope that makes sense). I found one on the ramp on it's way down to the bottom! They can't get out now as I've cut a large hole in a cardboard lid and left a big lip across so that only mum can get in or out.

@nicolapompicola - I've only found 2 rescues, both over 40 miles away. We got our first pair from the Sue Rabbit Rescue in Dewsbury, the other's in Richmond.

@Chipmunk_K - Thanks for all the advice. I was very worried that mum seemed to be ignoring them, so thanks for that. I hadn't thought about separating them, however briefly. I'd feel happier leaving them together, if possible. One idea we've had this morning is to rabbit-proof part of the girls' wendyhouse (if that's possible), move the older one in there with several toys and interesting things and that would give the mum the run. That way they both get some space.

@raine - We put in a big handful of hay every day, though I put in a bit more today. The hay in the bottom seemed a bit damp, so I cleared it out and replaced it. We didn't know she was pregnant: I thought she was behaving strangely the day before the babies arrived, but had no idea she'd mated. It can only have been a wild rabbit, as there aren't any other pets around. We do get the odd wild rabbit in the garden, despite the best attempts of one neighbour's dog and another's cat to keep them at bay...

@Tinsel & raine - I can't post under the Rabbit Care section: I don't think anyone can now judgung by the first post. Of the 4 sub-forums on offer, this seemed the best option: "Health", "Diet" or "Behaviour & Bonding" didn't seem the right place. What really worried me was that so many people HAD looked at this thread, but then moved on. I was beginning to think no one cared :(

Well thanks everyone for your support. Mum seems to be fine, and the little ones are tucked up in a deep bed of sawdust and her fur. They all jumped about when I uncovered them for a quick look. I've realised that she probably knows better than me what she's doing, so I'll just try to support her and the babies...
 
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@Fairy13 - thanks for your help. I must have been writing at the same time as you. We have hook and eye fixings on all the doors, as the older doe's sister discovered how to escape by leaning repeatedly against the doors. One of the girls must have left one of these off, which is how the mum escaped a month ago. It's only happened once in the past 18 months, and this is the result :shock:

The older doe hasn't accepted the younger one, so we've been keeping them next to each other so that they can touch, but only through the wire. We'll need to review our living arrangements now with mum and the youngsters...
 
My contact details are on my website feel free to email or call for advice :D
Thanks for the offer of help / consultation. I think I'm over the initial panic, and some more browsing of the site has given me a lot to think about and calmed some initial fears :shock:.

After a bit of more sober reflection, I realise that I will probably need to offer at least a couple of the kits for rehoming. I should/need to make contact with a local rescue service.

I've taken some video quickly this morning, but our regular camera is away with the girls on their camp-site. We lent it to them as nothing exciting was going to happen at home, was it :roll: As soon as they're back with it, I'll post a few photos. They so cute and funny to look at now, curled up in mum's fur, looking a bit like sausages with ears and legs (and teeth :shock:) at the moment :)

Thanks so much again to everyone who's replied. I was slightly overwrought this morning... :oops:
 
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