Lost a baby rabbit 🤧🐇

those2fluffs

those2fluffs

New Kit
My baby rabbit was only 4 and today weeks old and already was fought a fight for her eye sight .The siblings and parents are over come with grief. I keep crying and bad thoughts get stuck in my head like,"Oh this time yesterday I could pet him/her ", like he was not even a gender yet. I know she is in a better place but still I keep on crying. The family are mourning but it hit me worst. I think the reason he/her died was coldness or her battle with eyesight .
Also how do I confort her family (because he/she was favourite)?
 
Get the rest of the babies checked out ASAP. It might be that the bunny who passed was weaker or there might be an infection going around the litter. Don't get too hung up on the emotions of the other rabbits atm, just get them seen by a vet. Are the parents vaccinated?
 
Orenoko said:
Get the rest of the babies checked out ASAP. It might be that the bunny who passed was weaker or there might be an infection going around the litter. Don't get too hung up on the emotions of the other rabbits atm, just get them seen by a vet. Are the parents vaccinated?
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I'll check them out tomorrow
 
I am sorry for your loss. Rabbits at that age are very susceptible to intestinal and other issues. I agree with checking the remaining bunnies as a precaution.
 
How is mum doing? Did the vet say if she is pregnant? She will need to be separated from this litter if she is pregnant and due soon. That will put additional stress on the babies as well, as they are at a critical point where their digestive systems are changing over to cope with an adult diet.
 
Mum is fine enough but is pregnant AGAIN!! Though she is I can't separate them as she already has a small litter of 3 in the same spot as last time, and I'm kinda sure she does not want to be humped all the time because she runs away from the male whenever he is feeling vocal .
 
those2fluffs said:
Mum is fine enough but is pregnant AGAIN!! Though she is I can't separate them as she already has a small litter of 3 in the same spot as last time, and I'm kinda sure she does not want to be humped all the time because she runs away from the male whenever he is feeling vocal .
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I don't want this to come across as being rude, but I'm a bit confused about how many rabbits you have and how they are being housed.

From what you have said, I'm thinking that you have a male and a female (who has 3 kits) and they are all living in the same accommodation? The female is also pregnant again?

If this is correct, I'm not at all surprised that the male is chasing the female constantly. He will be excited at being with an unneutered female.

Please separate the bunnies! If you don't, the female will be impregnated again, immediately after giving birth again.

Have you got home for all the new bunnies?
 
To me it sounds like this litter, a second litter and now she is pregnant for the third time? OP please look into moving the male at the very least, this situation isn't sustainable for mum to be pregnant so much and constantly nursing. You could end up with more babies dying or even mum in the worst case. There is a reason for the saying "breeding like rabbits". Unfortunately this sounds like it has potential to get out of hand very quickly. This is actually borderline cruel to keep breeding them so quickly.
 
Even if dad was neutered, he could still be fertile - and so there could well be a third litter conceived as soon as the second litter is born. You really need to separate him, at least temporarily. He can be rebonded with mum after all the babies are weaned and rehomed. The babies also need separating soon so mum can concentrate on the next litter - and sexing properly so that the boys and girls are not together, otherwise you will end up being over run with (inbred) rabbits .
 
If you have not already done so, separate the father from the mother and kits.

Her current litter of four week old babies will be competing with the three babies from her second litter so you should probably separate the older babies from mom and the new babies.
You vet can give you additional instructions.

Your male and female babies will eventually need to be separated from each other too.
 
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those2fluffs said:
Mum is fine enough but is pregnant AGAIN!! Though she is I can't separate them as she already has a small litter of 3 in the same spot as last time, and I'm kinda sure she does not want to be humped all the time because she runs away from the male whenever he is feeling vocal .
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The poor Doe 😢

You lost one kit whom you said had ‘eyesight problems’ . This *might* be indicative of a pathogen in the group- ie Encephalitozoon Cuniculli (EC). If EC is in the group it’s a condition that will have lifelong serious implications and can result in a myriad of health problems for ALL of the Rabbits.

Remove the Buck immediately, it is essential no more kits are conceived. It would be a welfare crisis were it to occur 😢

Whilst weaning at 4 weeks+ isn’t ideal the three kits should be eating solids and drinking water independently. If the Doe is pregnant again the first litter will need to be removed as the first litter will compete with the new litter (which could be more than 4 this time, it could be double that). Do not attempt to give the first litter any milk substitute if they are eating independently. Doing so could do far more harm than good and cause potentially fatal GI tract problems.

The poor Doe will be exhausted and physiologically depleted of essential nutrients for her own health and wellbeing, let alone providing sufficient nutrients for yet another litter 😢 If she’s currently being harassed by the Buck she will be so stressed 😢 As a result this could cause her to reject the second litter, scatter them, trample them or cannibalise them 😢

I sincerely hope arrangements are in place for the vaccinating and neutering/spaying of ALL Rabbits that you have bought into the world and that you have good homes lined up for any that you are unable to keep.

Please familiarise yourself with the information on this website. And PLEASE do not allow any more breeding

rabbitwelfare.co.uk

Rabbit Care

Explore essential rabbit care tips for happy, healthy bunnies. From housing to diet, find expert advice and resources to ensure your rabbit's well-being. Learn more
rabbitwelfare.co.uk rabbitwelfare.co.uk
 
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Also if there's an older litter still together bear in mind that they become fertile at just three months old!
 
The boy offspring will be fertile (at about 3 months) before their sibling females but will be able to impregnate mum if she's not already pregnant. Girls tend to be nearer 6 months. So it's important to separate out the boys, especially away from mum.
 
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