Friday, May 14, 2010

My rabbit gave birth to 6 babies, but she keeps jumping in the nest and stepping on them. Will she hurt them?

It doesn't seem like she is nursing them, but instead trying to eat the hay. Any advice would be greatly appreciated?My rabbit gave birth to 6 babies, but she keeps jumping in the nest and stepping on them. Will she hurt them?
Some times first time moms can be very nervous and will jump in and out of the box. They can hurt the kits. if I have a nervous mom I take the nest box out of her cage and only let her feed them twice a day. I place the nest box on a table, place the doe in the box and cover the whole thing with a towel. let the doe in the nest box for about 15 minutes. the take her from the box and check to make sure the kits have been fed. They are fed if their bellies are round and full looking. If she didn't feed them try again in an hour. Do this twice day about 12 hours apart. Once the kits are about 2 weeks old you can return the nest box to her cage and she will take care of them on her own from that point on.


Sometimes the doe just needs a';lesson'; on how to care for her kits.


I have been raising rabbits for 16 years and do this with does who are nervous or who seem to not be caring for the kits. it has always worked for me.My rabbit gave birth to 6 babies, but she keeps jumping in the nest and stepping on them. Will she hurt them?
its fine, next time she gets pregnant just check her nails check they arent long and dirty





the rabbit should be only going in the nest once or twice a day, its an instinct thing, dont check them often each day,mamma will feel she is being watched because she has babies and will abandon them
They are fine, mom bunnies only nurse their babies twice a day and even when they are very little the start to nibble on hay in the nest. No worries it's all good!

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