New kit help

[lanabellj9]

Hi there,
Can anyone advise please. Recently my mini lop gave birth, kits are 8 days old. Kits were safe in a nesting box being fed well. This morning they have been moved from the nesting box into a different part of the hutch. All look like they have been fed. Do I move them back to the nesting box?

 

[InspectorMorse]

Hi there,
Can anyone advise please. Recently my mini lop gave birth, kits are 8 days old. Kits were safe in a nesting box being fed well. This morning they have been moved from the nesting box into a different part of the hutch. All look like they have been fed. Do I move them back to the nesting box?

Yes.

Rub your hands in hay/straw that will have the Does scent on before touching the kits.
How old is the Doe and is this her first litter? The kits were probably latched on to feed and the Doe moved away from the nest before the kits finished feeding, so they were scattered.

Have you checked the Doe is lactating ?
Are there any other adult Rabbits housed in the same area as the Doe and her litter?

 

[lanabellj9]

Yes.

Rub your hands in hay/straw that will have the Does scent on before touching the kits.
How old is the Doe and is this her first litter? The kits were probably latched on to feed and the Doe moved away from the nest before the kits finished feeding, so they were scattered.

Have you checked the Doe is lactating ?
Are there any other adult Rabbits housed in the same area as the Doe and her litter?

It's her second litter, she is lactating, very defensive. Yes, there is another doe in the area with them.

 

[InspectorMorse]

It's her second litter, she is lactating, very defensive. Yes, there is another doe in the area with them.

Is the other Doe pregnant? I would remove her from the nursing Doe as she could be being extra aggressive as she’s stressed with having another Rabbit near her babies. If she’s stressed she is more likely to leave the nest when a kit is still latched on. Her milk production will be reduced too.
How are the kits doing now?

 

[lanabellj9]

Kits are doing well, very full bellies! They seem to be best buddies again at the moment. I've put some extra enrichment toys in with them.