My rabbit has a litter of 5 kits turning 7 weeks tommorw but I want to know what is going to happen to her milk when she stops feeding the babies? Is it going to dry? Like how is it going to go away is there something I have to do? Also is it ok for the babies to go to their new homes at the age of 7 weeks?
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What happens to a mother rabbits milk after done feed her kits?
- Thread starter Conejitos
- Start date
Hele
Warren Veteran
I don't know too much about nursing rabbits, but I do know that rabbits should not be going to their new homes until they are at least 8 weeks so they really shouldn't be leaving just yet.
Also rehomeing them at Christmas would be very stressful for them, all of the noise and excitment would be very overwhelming for a baby bun!
Also rehomeing them at Christmas would be very stressful for them, all of the noise and excitment would be very overwhelming for a baby bun!
She'll stop producing milk, it should already have decreased a lot, there is nothing you have to do.
Rabbit's should be at least 8 weeks before going to new homes, though if you find they are annoying the mum you can remove her to a new hutch/cage. Removing her rather than the babies minimises stress. Stress is also why you wait a bit longer to home them as they are very sensitive at that age. When they go to their new home you'll need to give the owner some of their existing food (or tell them what to buy) to prevent gut upset from change.
They need to be separated into boys and girls at 10 weeks to prevent breeding if they haven't already gone
Rabbit's should be at least 8 weeks before going to new homes, though if you find they are annoying the mum you can remove her to a new hutch/cage. Removing her rather than the babies minimises stress. Stress is also why you wait a bit longer to home them as they are very sensitive at that age. When they go to their new home you'll need to give the owner some of their existing food (or tell them what to buy) to prevent gut upset from change.
They need to be separated into boys and girls at 10 weeks to prevent breeding if they haven't already gone
No!
They should stay with you util at least 8 weeks, mum can be removed if they are annoying her, but they should not be going to new homes at 7 weeks as it is very stressful.
ZakuraRabbit
Mama Doe
The mother should have started weening when the babies were 4 weeks old and by now they don't really need the milk anymore. This doesn't mean that they're ready for new homes however...
Bunnies taken from their home before 8 weeks have an increased chance of sickness in the future as their immune system is still underdeveloped.
Bunnies taken from their home before 8 weeks have an increased chance of sickness in the future as their immune system is still underdeveloped.
parsnipbun
Wise Old Thumper
8 weeks minimum to rehome - if they are still feeding from her then let them until they stop and then rehome. You cant suddenly switch them from milk to no milk. They should also be eating hay and whatever pellets you give to the mother by now.
When you do rehome please make sure the babies go with some of the pellets and hay and any other foods they are used to.
Sudden diet changes kill baby buns (and adults) as their stomachs are very specialised.
When you do rehome please make sure the babies go with some of the pellets and hay and any other foods they are used to.
Sudden diet changes kill baby buns (and adults) as their stomachs are very specialised.
Bunnies should never go to their new homes any earlier than 8 weeks. In fact, keeping them longer would be beneficial for them. I wouldn't rehome them until January either, as animals bought as Christmas presents are more likely to be abandoned, dumped or rehomed, as not a lot of thought and planning has gone into getting them. Also make sure that you rehome them in pairs, or that they are going to live with the owner's existing rabbit, because as a gregarious species no rabbit should live alone.
You don't need to do anything about the mother's milk, she'll just feed them less and less. She won't stop straight away, they will naturally feed for longer than many breeders allow them to - I've kept a (female) baby with mum and saw her feeding still at 14 weeks - and I don't think it was a coincidence that she was nearly double the size and much more confident than the male babies that I removed at 11-12 weeks.
The reason rabbits are usually weaned fully and sold at 8 weeks is purely because they sell faster when they are smaller. Personally I wouldn't rehome a rabbit until at least 10 weeks, as they are a bit older and less prone to illness brought on by the stress of moving.
You don't need to do anything about the mother's milk, she'll just feed them less and less. She won't stop straight away, they will naturally feed for longer than many breeders allow them to - I've kept a (female) baby with mum and saw her feeding still at 14 weeks - and I don't think it was a coincidence that she was nearly double the size and much more confident than the male babies that I removed at 11-12 weeks.
The reason rabbits are usually weaned fully and sold at 8 weeks is purely because they sell faster when they are smaller. Personally I wouldn't rehome a rabbit until at least 10 weeks, as they are a bit older and less prone to illness brought on by the stress of moving.
