All kits died

I was given 2 Holland lops at 3 months old last June. We thought they were boys. Two days ago I open the top of the cage to find a mound of hair and under it 5 kits. Two were dead, they looked blue and the other 3 were pink. I didn't know what to do, so we took them out and put them in a box with the fur and hay but they all died later that night.


We have a two level cage and the buck wouldn't let the doe up. I noticed her head was down and she was in the corner. I decided to remove him and as soon as I did that, she popped up and drank some water and started eating. Was he not allowing her to go to her kits? I still have them separated but they seem kind of lonely. They were always together, cleaning each other, running together, sleeping next to each other.

So, my question is what took so long for her to get pregnant? They are almost a year old. Did the kits die because they are siblings? I guess I have to look to get him neutered. Also, being separated they are going to the bathroom in their litter boxes like good bunnies. Everything seems so much cleaner with them separated. Why is that?

***** Karen Sez *****
Why did it take so long? What I suspect is that they hit adulthood during their resting phase in late autumn, right? So there was no interest in breeding for quite a while. But in the dead of winter their hormones wake up, and voila - babies in January.

I'm not sure if this will come as good or bad news, but, I think your doe might be pregnant again. Now that they're breeding, the buck may have already rebred her. You'd best mark the calendar for 28 days after the birth of the first litter, and arrange to put a nest box in the cage at that time. You can expect the litter on day 31-32 or so. Of course I might be wrong, in which case the nest box will be empty.

It is very hard to say why the kits died. The 2 may have been stillborn, or maybe they chilled. Did any of them look harmed? Some bucks will stomp the babies, but just as many will nurture them. Or, perhaps the doe simply abandoned the kits.

If you want to keep the two animals housed together, then one of them will need neutering. The buck is a logical choice.

As to their litterbox habits, I hope you'll get some opinions here from others. My guess is that the peace and quiet afforded the doe allows her to mind her manners, and the buck is no longer distracted by the wonderful smell of the doe.

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Jul 12, 2015
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Diet
by: Anonymous

Should the Doe have anything special in her diet after she gives birth?
Jul 11, 2015
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starstarstarstarstar 		New Mom
by: Anonymous

My two rabbits are about 6 months old, and just had their 1st litter, but mother does not seem to have any interest in the babies. She made a nest for them, there are 7 and all appear to be healthy. Does the mothers milk come in right away, hoping for the best. Trying not to disturb the babies or the mother, don't know what else to do?

***** Karen Sez *****
Check baby tummies in the morning. If they're full, the mom is doing her job. The doe ignores the nest when she's not feeding the kits.
Sep 16, 2013
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starstarstarstarstar 		Confused dad
by: PatsyAnonymous

Hello again, just wanted to update you on the second litter from Browney, and the pending first liter of bunnies from Bella (another bunny that my son found and is now part of our family of bunnies). You know about Blacky getting Browney pregnant right after she had her first liter. She has delivered for the second time, 6 beautiful babies, their eyes are not opened yet but she is being a good mom. I immediately separated her and her new babies from father Blacky, in their own home. I had to place the 4 week old bunnies in the same large hutch/playpen with father, Blacky. But I was worried that Blacky and Bella would harm the 4 week old bunnies. They did not harm them, in fact they nurtured them, cleaning and loving them. In the meantime Bella started making her nest. I separated Bella from her new family and I think she is having her litter as we speak. Now that I have learned how quickly bunnies multiply I am more careful. My question is, once I have Blacky fixed, can he then be placed together with his two wives? As far as the babies, are they safe from getting pregnant for at least 3 months? I need to place the bunnies in good homes, but so far no one wants any baby bunnies. Concerned Patsy

***** Karen Sez *****
These are very good questions Patsy.
Browny would have best been separated from Blacky BEFORE the second litter was kindled. I guess you'll know soon enough whether or not she has been bred a THIRD time.

Yes, Blacky can go in with his 'wives' after neutering, but wait for six weeks to give his body time to eliminate all the stored sperm that isn't removed with altering. As always, be observant as you make changes in living arrangements, but you've already seen that Blacky is a nurturing fellow.

As to bunnies being with the dad, 3 months is usually a safe bet, except for the admittedly rare stories of 11 week old bunnies getting pregnant. I think I'd aim to have the dad separated out by 10 weeks of age, just to be safe.

Thanks for the updates, Patsy! Maybe we can help you find some takers for your bunnies: Leave a post on the Raising-Rabbits facebook page (www.facebook.com/RaisingRabbits)if you'd like, offering your pet bunnies for sale or for free! Let our audience know your general location, and if you're asking for any $$. You can even post a picture or two.
Sep 09, 2013
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starstarstarstar 		All of my kits died
by: Anonymous

At the beginning of this year around March or April I got two bunnies, male and a female. About 2-3 weeks later the male died (Don't know why though.) Not much after that we bought another one that was said to be a male. He got sick we took both of them to the vet and they told us he was a "girl." For that reason we kept them together. On the night of August 27 I started noticing the female plucking her fur out. I had no clue what she was doing and I took the ball of fur she had already plucked out, out of the cage. The next morning I woke up and there were 8 kits. I separated the kits from the mother and father. One looked like they stepped on it. Later that day two more died. After that we kept the male and female separated and the kits also. I tired putting the kits in with the mother but she would just either ignore them or stomp on them. I didn't know what to do so I asked some vets, I was told that I needed to buy KMR. We bought some and tried to feed the only four that were left, the other one died also. They eventually died, all of them. My rabbits are now separated and they seemed to be lonely. Should I put them back together in the same cage?

***** Karen Sez *****
If you put a buck and a doe together, you know what will happen. If you want babies, great. But this time, you will obtain a better outcome by letting the doe do her thing. You'll help her prepare by giving her a nest box on day 28. She'll pull her fur and kindle the kits on day 31-32. You'll have removed the buck at least 2 weeks prior to the happy day, and you'll not remove the kits from the dam. This way she'll know exactly what to do, as long as her innate instincts are adequate (and they probably are).

If you don't want any more kits, then it's separate living quarters or else get the buck altered.

Sep 03, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Nursing
by: Patsy

My bunny had 6 babies three weeks ago. Browey, the mom, nurses every nite because I place her in the hutch with her babies. I let her out in the morning. I have the hutch surrounded by a large play pen, she doesn't go in the hutch unless I close her in. She then feeds her babies and they are really growing fast. They are 3 weeks old and are eating lettuce. When should I stop placing Browey in the hutch, she now tries to get away from them. I don't want to force her in with them all night unless the babies need to be nursed.
I'm pretty sure the male, Blacky, has gotten her pregnant again. Does this cycle of having babies continue every 31 days? If so, am I right to think she will have more bunnies in about 10 days? Concerned.

***** Karen Sez *****
Yep, rabbits will be rabbits every 31 days until the doe's body becomes run down. Maybe Blacky needs a new cage?

The kits need the milk train until they are at least 4 weeks old. But you'd be wise to wait until at least 5-6 weeks of age before weaning the kits.


Aug 26, 2013
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starstarstarstarstar 		Rabbit pregnancy
by: Anonymous

My rabbit became pregnant and had 6 kits, luckily
Local pet shop had them after 8 weeks.
That was 3 months ago, I separated rabbits only to recently find 5 more the other day.
They have 2 wire meshes between them and have remained apart. I know others have asked but can they mate between mesh?
Thanks
Jun 13, 2013
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starstarstarstarstar 		Thanks Karen
by: Patsy

I will follow your advice and see how the two females get along together once they have had their babies. I have another question. They all use a litter box that I placed daily in their hutch. Once the females reach the 31 days of pregnancy do I move the babies to another nesting box? They are currently placing their fur in with the litter. If I place two boxes they use them both for litter. Also the third rabbit is a male. Do I just watch closely and when the female delivers remove the male or should I remove him now. Is there a possibility that he will get along or will he stomp the babies?

***** Karen Sez *****
Glad you asked! The problem isn't the male and the babies (usually), the problem is the male and the two does, whom he will gladly re-impregnate just as soon as they have finished kindling the babies. So yes! Take him out now.

About the nest box, it'd be really great if you can get the does to eliminate in one litter box and keep the other as a nest box. Or at least continue to clean out the box that will serve as a nest as often as necessary (keep and replace the fur). It might be a bit disruptive to do a shuffling act with newborn kits. Maybe once the kits are born the does will rediscover their manners? Not sure how you'll work it out. How about getting or making a real nest box?
May 31, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Confused
by: Patsy

I received three bunnies April 31, they appeared to be about 6 weeks old and all girls. On the 20th of May I noticed the black one climbing on one female and then about the 27th the other bunny. Since I now know (if the two are pregnant), that it takes 31 days for them to deliver, is it ok for All three to be in the same cage? Should I separate just the black one or can they stay together? Can the two females stay together and deliver together? When do I separate and when can I put them back together? They love to be close to each other. I am a new bunny owner and could use any and all advice.

***** Karen Sez *****
IF your rabbits are all females, then what you see as baby-making is just dominance behavior - showing each other who's boss.

IF somebody goofed at sexing these rabbits, then, yup, arrangements will need to be made! Whether or not you can keep all three rabbits together is a highly individual call which I cannot make. Some rabbits will be fine together, and in fact will nurse each other's babies. Others will become destructive.

So which are yours? I dunno. But you can leave them together and keep a close eye on them to start with. If they start fighting, then you'll know to separate all of them.

But your first order of business is to definitively determine the sexes of each of the rabbits, and then, whether or not any of the rabbits is pregnant.
Feb 11, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Missing Nipples
by: Anonymous

My husband looked for nipples on our Doe and we couldn't find any. We didn't see any when she had her first litter.....Should we be seeing them?

***** Karen Sez *****
Well, yes, they should be there. I haven't yet seen a doe without them. Outwardly, a teat is not much more than a little wart on the skin. The doe has up to 8 of them (rarely 10) in two rows, each of them roughly 1" to 1.5" away from the center line of the abdomen.

It might be easier to feel for the little nubs with your fingertips than to search visually, because of all the fur. Good luck!
Feb 11, 2013
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Thanks
by: Anonymous

Thank you for reply. Well, today is 28 and my doe is definitely not her usual run around self. I've had them inside since the weather has been so bad and have had them separated. I'm not exactly sure what a nest box is but my cage has a separation panel that can be put in and out so it separates to a little room. I'll put that back and pile in the hay. Hopefully she will do her business elsewhere. I hope she doesn't have them but we shall see. I was holding her by her belly just to see if I felt anything...I didn't. lol Well, it's the waiting game now.

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