Ebony-How is this possible?-Help!

Hi

Have posted before about Ebony a black bunny who came in with Sooty. Sooty has now found a wonderful new home with a friend to play with!

Ebony came in with 3 babies roughly a week old and they all died. I wondered if there was anything i could have done differently as it really upset me.

Yesterday i noticed Ebony making a nest and pulling out her fur, i didn't think anything of it, just that she missed her babies or was in season. Today i went to clean out her sleeping bit and noticed movement under the nest of her fur!

I haven't looked but i am 99% sure there are babies.

How is this possible as she hasn't been near another male since coming in. When the vet checked her after the babies died he said her stomach was still a little swollen but that was normal.

The lady who got rid of these two said she had separated them as soon as she had the babies.

Could she of got pregnant straight away again? Is this why she couldn't feed her babies and they died? What should i do, do i try and hand rear them or trust her to look after them herself? I can't tell if she is feeding them or not. Our vet said to let nature take its course- nature can be very cruel sometimes.

Help!

Yup - they can get pregnant within 24 hours of giving birth

The first litter often dies anyway. Maybe she'll do better this time?

Also moving them at a week old might have meant she rejected the babies & they died.

unless there is reason to believe that the doe is harming or refusing to feed the kits (they will only feed them twice a day; first thing in the morning and late at night, so you dont often see this first hand) leave them with her. hand rearing is usualy unsuccsesfull.

Rabbits and g/pigs have been known to mate up even while giving birth so yes she was already pregnant again. Best to leave her to it and just make sure theres no dead in the nest. val

yes if the male is not separated from the female before birth then they can mate just after her giving birth.... poor girl!!

hope it goes well with the other litter. sometimes it is hard with the first litter as the mum is inexperienced so it usually goes much better with the second one. if you have any probs just give a shout.