my rabbit just started collecting her fur so she'll be having babies soon. i need to know what i should give her (like a small box and hay??) and what i should do with the babies when they're born. thank you
Answers:
Get an open topped box just longer and wider than mom and 6 inches deep at it's lowest point at the mouth of the box so mom can easily hop in and out but babies can't crawl out. Just about any box will do as long as it's not too big.
Put some wood shavings in the bottom. About an inch will do. Put hay on top of that. Use enough hay to make a well or burrow with your fist for the babies. Put the box in the same place as she is depositing her fur. Put her fur in the well in the box. Then leave her alone.
If she insists on not having them in the nest box then you will have to put the babies and her fur in after they are born. Don't interupt her kindling (giving birth). That may bother her. Rule of thumb: if the babies aren't out ten minutes after the first one appears there's a problem. Unborn babies will likely be dead, breach (and die), or stuck (mom and/or babies die). So check every now and then for a moving mound of fur in the nest box but also be prepared to put out dead babies if they're stuck or opt for rushing her to the vet. Hopefully she and babies will be just fine. :)
Put the babies in the nest box along with any fur the mom has pulled out. If she has not pulled out any fur yet, give her some privacy and she will pull out her fur and cover up her babies.
Side note: Check the temperature of the babies with your hands. They should be warm and toasty. If not, place the nest box on top of a heating pad set on low. The babies will dig down closer to the heat if they want it. Make sure mom cannot get to any cords attached to the heating pad. Use the pad only if your babies are cool to the touch and only until they feel warm and toasty for about 30 hours or so.
If they are already warm and toasty then great.
Place the box in the mother rabbit's cage/pen (give her a pen). Don't worry about her feeding them. She'll do it only once or twice a day for just a minute or so and on her own schedule. If you are concerned they are not eating, check them in 24 hours for round bellies. You may actually be able to see the milk in their tummies.
Check the nest box every morning for dead babies and remove any you find. Handling the newborns from day one is desirable for socializing the babies and will not keep mom from caring for them.
Give your mother rabbit a constant supply of fresh water in a water bottle or clean bowl. Give her a small handful of timothy, oat grass, or orchard grass hay every day. Give her as much pellets as she can finish off in one day.
It's okay to give her the occasional treat of dark greens (one leaf) or small slice of fruit but only 3 - 4 times a week and only if the babies can't get to it (like when they're older and jumping out of the nest box).
I do NOT give baby rabbits greens until 4 months of age in order to prevent the number one killer of baby rabbits - enteritis (diarhea).
If your babies should develop soft stools, it is okay to give them one or two tablespoons of uncooked, old-fashioned oatmeal (not the quick-oats or instant) daily until their stool firms up again. That should only take two or three days max.
You don't need to worry about weaning the babies. Mom will take care of that. Mom rabbit weans her babies at 5 - 6 weeks of age. However, since this is a critical stage for the babies so they should stay with mom and nurse and eat pellets and hay until 8 weeks of age. At 8-10 weeks of age they can safely go to new homes. Not sooner. They will certainly be ready by 10 weeks.
Please read "Storey's Guide to Raising Rabbits" by Bob Bennett so you can learn more about rabbit care. You'll love it.
I hope you can find good homes for your rabbits. Enjoy the babies.
keep the baby bunnies...
u can try to go to the pet store and ask the stuff for help hope that help and good luck!
the babies will feed with the mom you have to let them with the mother...
Leave them and mom alone. She will take care of them.
give her a little extra hay and make sure that you have the male rabbit separated from the babies when they are born or he will kill the baby bunnies. Everything else the mommy bunny will be able to take care of.
I would call a local pet shop
Off to the vet with you!
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