Bunny disaster

[Jess P]

I had bred my mini lop doe last month and thought maybe she didn't take because there have been no signs. No weight gain, no territorial behavior, and no nest making. Well this morning she had shed a lot but I thought it was due to the extreme heat we have had here. Turns out she was nesting. I can't believe I didn't think of it right then because that is honestly a huge sign. She gave birth while I was at driver's ed and I came home to find two babies. Both white. Both dead. Momma was eating one of them and the other was lying there. Thankfully the mom is alright. I think the heat did it in, and it was her first litter. I am sad, but I know it was for the best. I am going to wait until next year.

 

[strass]

It's always tough when you feel like you should have known and could have done better.

Just look at it as a lesson to be learned from and next time you will be better prepared.

Also, it may have been the heat...or maybe not. It's possible that there was something wrong with them and that you couldn't have done anything to help.

Sorry about your Bunnies.

 

[Ashley]

Bunnies are notorious for eatting there young. And if it was her first litter its very understandable as they normally do.

 

[rabbitsfizz]

Up her protein levels immediately before kittening- I used to offer my mice meat, I'm not sure if rabbits could cope with it but the meat either got eaten or left and I never had an eaten litter.

I'm afraid I never had this problem with my rabbits but I have lost litters and know how heartbreaking it is.

Never mind she will be fine next time- I would not wait till next year though, I would mate her quite soon.

:

 

[justjinx]

Sorry to hear about your lops! I used to lose an occassional litter of rabbits and it is very saddening. I did not have problems with them eating the babies but some does do eat them. i second the increase in protein. is there a reason you are waiting til next year for another litter or do you not have access to a buck? best wishes! jennifer

 

[Jess P]

Thanks for your support.

I have been having problems eating because I am a bit disturbed right now from what I saw.

I will increase the protein, what should I use? I didn't think she was going to kindle so I wasn't prepared.

I am going to wait until next year because it is too hot and we are going to build her a much larger hutch.

I own the buck.

 

[Ferrah]

Sorry about your bunnies.

I breed Holland Lops which are notoriously hard to breed. Mini Lops are generally easier to breed than Holland Lops.

When I breed my first time does I do sometimes lose the first litter. Sometimes the doe doesn't know what to do. She might not build a good enough nest or she might get over excited and sit on them. Sometimes they are stillborn or it may have been a difficult birth. I have been breeding Holland Lops for 8 years and I still lose litters from time to time. Its unfortunate and sad, but sometimes it is just out of your control.

If you try breeding her again I would put her on an 18% protien rabbit pellet and offer her some alfalfa hay or cubes. I would not get too worried about the doe trying to eat the babies. In the wild if the litter died the doe would clean up by eating the kits so the nest didn't draw predators.

I hope you have better luck with your next litter. Also, sometimes does are just not cut out to be mothers. It's up to you to decide when to stop trying and to try another doe.

 

[JumpinJackFarm]

I have lost a bunny litter the same way a few times :no: And they always were the first litter. Some Does do well in almost any situation and others are very sensitive. The one thing I learned very Early in raising rabbits is they only feed their young a few times a day??

: They look like they have abandoned the nest or are not feeding. But that is their nature. So sorry for your loss.

 

[rabbitsfizz]

Yes, I forgot to say, the babies would have been dead- I'm afraid. She was not eating live babies, so get that picture out of your mind!!

I too have had big rabbits kitten outside nesting boxes- I even had a young does I had not separated kitten in the big cage unexpectedly- these were NZ Whites, though, big and tough.

As with our horses, the more refined anything becomes, the harder it is to breed.

Don't beat yourself up over this.

:

 

[Jess P]

The babies were pretty large, or atleast the one I could see. My buck is a large mini lop, she is a bit smaller. I know I shouldn't beat myself up but now I wonder how I would be if one of my mares in the future loses a goal. How do you all keep yourselfs together?

I will get a higher protein feed for her when it comes time to breed. I think I will be waiting until her new, large bunny hutch we are making will be done. My buck, Whisper, already has one and I want her to have a long one for the babies.

I chose mini lops because I read they are easier breeders than the other breeds I was interested in that have the lopping ears.

We'll see how the next one goes, She has been looking at me like "What happened? Whats for lunch?" so I don't think she was really bothered at all. I couldn't find any teats on her though? Unless I wasn't looking hard enough

 

[Pandora]

Last year I lost the one and only foal I was ever expecting. It was hard and still is considering I lost the mare a month later to an unrelated thing. It's hard losing animals especially babies, but if it is something you want to do, than pursue it. Nature does take care of its' own as the mama Lop proved. Like mentioned, it's natures way to have the mom eat the dead so as not to attract predators.