Lop eared rabbit - new mother

by Michelle
(England)

We were told we had 2 girls, went to cage during the week to find we had at least 7 babies. Removed the rabbit we now know is a boy and rushed out to buy another cage. Not sure what to do next except I've been told she is probably pregnant already. Any advice please.

****Karen Sez****
Yes, I'd say there's a chance the doe is pregnant again. If so (and it may or may not be so), your doe will be needing excellent nutrition so she can feed her family and grow the new family. So, provide her with all the excellent quality rabbit pellets she wants, and fresh water 24/7. You can also check out the conditioning formula at http://www.raising-rabbits.com/conditioning-rabbits-for-show.html and supplement her feed with a high-oil supplement such as this one - a tablespoon or so per day.

On day 27 or 28 from the day you found the babies, you'll need to wean and remove the babies, and give nesting materials to the doe for the next litter. Not to worry about the early weaning - rabbits in the wild do this for every litter. Just ensure the little guys get plenty of grass or alfalfa hay every day along with their pellets (to prevent diarrhea), and they'll be fine, most likely.
K