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OMG Litter of kits HELP!!!!! UPDATE 10/7/06

Angie65

Wise Old Thumper
So last night I picked up 2 free ad buns. Someone had had 4 "females" dumped on them (3 weeks ago) - 2 had been re-homed, but they were desperate to re-home the other 2 as they had no where to put them.

i got them home last night - one was timid (& a bit scratchy when I eventually caught her) & quite thin. The other (dark one) hardly moved at all, & was fatter. With my limited sexing experience :roll: , I decided the light one was female, but the dark one I struggled with - I guessed female, & she had nipples (as did the light one) & they were really scared & leaning on each other, so I decided to leave them together, & get a vets appointment(Friday) to get sexes confirmed, then spay female if one turned out to be male.

This morning, I went out to do water/hay - only the dark one could be seen, so I went in the sleeper compartment - laying on top of loads of fluff definitely 3, maybe more kits. I shut them back up immediately.

The buns have been on a CARROT/LETTUCE ONLY diet for a few weeks - so last night I gave them a tiny handful of excel, a few chopped carrots, & a big pile of hay. All was gone this morning.

I rang Bunnymadhouse (at 7am - Sorry Angie :oops: ) & she said that if they're recent births, there may be blood on the Mother. There was blood on both!!! :shock: Definitely more on the dark one, but I don't want to remove the mum - but the light one was behaving more hormonally. Until seeing blood on the dark one, I was convinced the light one was mum.

There's loads of threads on here about litters, so I'm happy with the whole not touching/rubbing hands in litter bit, but I'm really stuck on deciding which is the mother, & removing the other. I had to drop some buns at vet this morning ( :roll: See other thread!), but no vet was in - might see if one can come out...
Also, as far as the diet is concerned, I gave more pellets this morning, & loads of veg & hay (I'm hoping someone will cover the kits?), is it more dangerous changing their diet so fast, or should I just risk it under the circumstances.

Any advice greatly appreciated. I don't know what I'm doing.

This will also teach me to look on free ads.

Pics of Mum & Auntie

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The way I was taught to sex rabbits seems to work. So I'll tell you and see if that helps:

a male's bits have a more distinct circular shape on the end, in fact it is very circular, whereas the females although looks a bit circular is more of a slit.

Sounds a bit perculiar but I sexed some buns the other day and it worked!!

Don't know if that will help in deciding as I'm not sure if you can handle the mother once she's given birth.....don't know much about litters I'm afraidd.

Does that help?
 
mtoyah said:
a male's bits have a more distinct circular shape on the end, in fact it is very circular, whereas the females although looks a bit circular is more of a slit.

quote]


I am reasonably sure they're female. It's just - Who's the mum!
They were with 2 other buns until recently, so one of them could easily be Dad. I'm gonna cancel pole dancing & get the vet out I think.
 
the mother will have more prominent nipples and milk, this should be quite noticeable. What colour is the fur in the nest? that will also be a way to tell which is the Mother.
Good luck. :shock:
 
Yikes ! No idea then...sorry for the childlike way of my explanation...not very good at describing things like that!!

Could you observe and see which tends to them the most, I imagine she will have to feed soon. Other than that I have no idea. Would the other female attack the babies if left?
 
mtoyah said:
Yikes ! No idea then...sorry for the childlike way of my explanation...not very good at describing things like that!!

Could you observe and see which tends to them the most, I imagine she will have to feed soon. Other than that I have no idea. Would the other female attack the babies if left?

She will only feed them once maybe twice and that will likely be in the night! :?
 
Like i said I have had no experience of litters so I am only trying to help with some suggestions, if they are wrong then so be it! At least I know! I am still learning and admit it, that's why I use this forum as I want to be a better bunny mum.
 
mtoyah said:
Like i said I have had no experience of litters so I am only trying to help with some suggestions, if they are wrong then so be it! At least I know! I am still learning and admit it, that's why I use this forum as I want to be a better bunny mum.

I do sometimes feel shunned on this forum when I only want to help...... :(

Awwww don't be silly honey, I was only saying about their feeding habits, nothing meant against you :D :D :D :D :D don't feel shunned come here and I will give you a big hug ((((((((HUG)))))))))) :lol: :lol: :lol: all help on this forum is appreciated, and I still learn new things every day too xxxxxxxxxxx
 
mtoyah said:
Like i said I have had no experience of litters so I am only trying to help with some suggestions, if they are wrong then so be it! At least I know! I am still learning and admit it, that's why I use this forum as I want to be a better bunny mum.

I do sometimes feel shunned on this forum when I only want to help...... :(

no No!!! You've been great!! I'm grateful for all the advice I can get!
The slit thing is a good way of looking at it.

Don't think I'm home enough to watch who feeds though - although can this weekend!
 
sorry :(

Just some people seem to attack me whenever I have posted stuff about rabbit care and I only want to help!!! :D

Thanks though! I love learning things on here...I go home and have a million new things to tell my boyfriend who thinks I'm rabbit mad!!!

Let me know how the babies go...would the other female attack? I know the father would but never really considered another femail. I guess she would ....
 
mtoyah said:
sorry :(

Just some people seem to attack me whenever I have posted stuff about rabbit care and I only want to help!!! :D

Thanks though! I love learning things on here...I go home and have a million new things to tell my boyfriend who thinks I'm rabbit mad!!!

Let me know how the babies go...would the other female attack? I know the father would but never really considered another femail. I guess she would ....

I've heard stuff both ways. There's no vet available to home visit today, but I can call in tonight & see bunny specialist - but they did say that might upset Mum & she may leave the kits.
God this is a Nightmare.
 
mtoyah said:
sorry :(

Just some people seem to attack me whenever I have posted stuff about rabbit care and I only want to help!!! :D

Thanks though! I love learning things on here...I go home and have a million new things to tell my boyfriend who thinks I'm rabbit mad!!!

Let me know how the babies go...would the other female attack? I know the father would but never really considered another female. I guess she would ....

She will only feed them once maybe twice and that will likely be in the night!

I was only meaning it would be difficult to tell as they feed in the night, not that you were wrong for suggesting it :wink:

The mother will take care of her kits, in the next few hours you should def be able to tell who has milk. The main thing is to make sure that they are indeed both female, as if the other is male she could be pregnant again already! :( do you have a vets surgery nearby? maybe one of the vet nurses would help you out? :D
 
Angie it could be a possibility that there both mums and have just put babys in the same nest, i have seen this before, it's possible that you do have two females and oe of the other buns that they were with was male and because of the poor diet there just rather skiny, I would def see if you can get the vet out but if they are both mums to the babys it would be a problem as you wouldn't be able to split the correct babys to the correct mum. Im sorry thats really not much help Good Luck XXX
 
hunnybun said:
The mother will take care of her kits, in the next few hours you should def be able to tell who has milk. The main thing is to make sure that they are indeed both female, as if the other is male she could be pregnant again already! :( do you have a vets surgery nearby? maybe one of the vet nurses would help you out? :D

yes, have spoke to Vet & nurses.

I know the pregnant again-thing, that is a big concern. (If worst happens, can a bun feeding kits be spayed, to prevent second litter?)
No vet can come out today, though they did say I could take buns in if I wanted - but that that might really upset the mother....(ooo - will ring & see if a nurse will come out)
I do think they are both female, but wouldn't bet my life on it.
 
I'd leave them together if it was me

I had two sisters living with their mum who both had a litter and they were fine, it all depends on the bun, if they've been living together previously and seem to get on well then theres a better chance of them staying friends :?

I think it might upset the two adults more to be separated, now they're in a strange environment

Re feeding, keep going as you are, increasing the pellets slowly, hoepfully you won't have any problems

Good luck!!
 
Angie65 said:
hunnybun said:
The mother will take care of her kits, in the next few hours you should def be able to tell who has milk. The main thing is to make sure that they are indeed both female, as if the other is male she could be pregnant again already! :( do you have a vets surgery nearby? maybe one of the vet nurses would help you out? :D

yes, have spoke to Vet & nurses.

I know the pregnant again-thing, that is a big concern. (If worst happens, can a bun feeding kits be spayed, to prevent second litter?)
No vet can come out today, though they did say I could take buns in if I wanted - but that that might really upset the mother....(ooo - will ring & see if a nurse will come out)
I do think they are both female, but wouldn't bet my life on it.

No you can't have a bun spayed while she is nursing kits. Or vaccinated either. Hopefully the vet nurse will visit you :D if she is a kindly soul :D :D
 
:shock: :shock: GULP!! :shock: :shock:

I have very little experience with newborn kits. I think I agree with Gem about leaving the Does together if you are not sure who's de Mummy!!
Back in my 'new to bunny' days I had two Does give Birth (Post castration of Buck mishap!!) and they stayed together without a problem.

Also agree with Gem re the feeding. I guess the Doe doing the feeding may be more greedy than the other :?
I suspect the Doe who had the most blood on her is the Mum and the other one just sat in some blooded bedding :?
Crikey what a nightmare :shock:

Sorry I am not much help but I havent had newborns here since 1998!!

Janex
 
Mum will have more obvious nipples from plucking her chest, she will look a bit of a state underneath, but if they aren't that healthy (skinnny etc) they both may have pretty bad hair loss. I'd leave them together, they seem to get on and it's better safe than sorry.
 
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