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Old 24-08-2010, 11:31 PM
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Smile Baby bunnies!! Need help : )

Hello.....I've just acquired 2 baby bunnies. Both small, wriggly and cute. Unfortunately there was 3 but I just found them 30mins ago and there was one dead one lying in the hutch.
I walked in to the rabbit room (they have a room all to themselves) and heard a rustling sound in the hutch. I was wondering what it was. Maybe a small bird had flown in the window! Then I saw the dead one and realised that my 2 female bunnies weren't both female afterall. Mummy rabbit (Buttons) had made a nice little nest so I've put a small towel undernearth it, added extra hay in the hutch and gave her some more food. I have also seperated the 2 adults and just now have the Daddy bunny in a separate place. He has hay, food and water too but didn't seem to happy being separated at first. I separated them because I've heard of male bunnies killing their babies so don't want that to happen.
This was very unexpected and I've not had babies before so any advice would be very helpfull and appreciated. I'm worried they'll die for me not doing it right
I briefly touched the babies as I was putting the towel underneath them. They were both very wriggly and warm (and cute!!)
Have I done the right things so far? And what else should I do?
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Old 25-08-2010, 05:26 AM
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Re: Baby bunnies!! Need help : )

The male rabbit would have mated her straight after the birth, so expect another litter in 4 weeks time.

You have done the right things so far. Leave the mother to caring for them. Don't worry if you don't see her in the nest that often, they only feed them twice a day, usually when you are looking.
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Old 25-08-2010, 06:38 AM
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Smile Re: Baby bunnies!! Need help : )

Ok, thanks for the help. I'll keep an eye open for more babies in the next few weeks! There'll be bunnies everywhere!
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Old 25-08-2010, 08:12 AM
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Re: Baby bunnies!! Need help : )

Quote:
Originally Posted by immersion View Post
Ok, thanks for the help. I'll keep an eye open for more babies in the next few weeks! There'll be bunnies everywhere!
That's a joke? right??
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Old 25-08-2010, 09:01 AM
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Re: Baby bunnies!! Need help : )

As Sevenpets said you've done the right thing so far. Leave mum to look after the babies herself and let nature take its course so to speak.

Once babies are 8 weeks old and weaned (or worst case none survive do it sooner) get the mum spayed then you can rebond the two adults ( I would get the male castrated now as well to calm his hormones).

There is a big question I have though, are the two adults related i.e brother and sister? If so it may actually be better taking the babies to the vet to pts (as hard as it is to say and do), I say this because if they're related then there could be any amount of problems with the babies when they grow up and may not live healthy lives. A litter of three sounds quite small for a rabbit to me so there may have been more that were too sickly to survive the first night, which mum would usually eat to stop predators finding the nest (natural instinct).
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Old 25-08-2010, 06:37 PM
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Re: Baby bunnies!! Need help : )

the mum will probably try to build a new nest in 4 weeks time and will try to pull fur from any surviving kits that are running around, it would be best to separate them if this does happen. Just leave mum alone for now, dont do anything different apart from feed her a little more.

I would take dad to the vets asap they can get very smelly if left intact

did a baby die or a big rabbit?
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Old 25-08-2010, 10:43 PM
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Smile Re: Baby bunnies!! Need help : )

@ Tink82 - why would that be a joke?

Thanks for the help everyone. The 2 adults aren't related. My mum is having the daddy adult now (Sprinkles). I think there is just 2 babies but I'm scared to look closer (i.e move the nest a little) incase I cause Buttons (the mummy) to reject them. The vet said she might already be pregnant again!
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Old 26-08-2010, 12:55 AM
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Re: Baby bunnies!! Need help : )

I am currently raising some newborns (7!) myself for the local animal shelter. I have not had any issues handling them since the second day. Just make sure they are kept warm, I put some meadow hay in their nest for insulation. The mother seems to eat constantly, and we were informed to let her eat as much as she wants since she is nursing and needs the calories.

Lisa
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