First time rabbit mom not eating after giving birth
by Linda
(Colorado )
My doe is a 9 month old Flemish Giant that gave birth yesterday morning to 11 kits. 8 were stillborn, 1 died later the other 2 were cold. I got them warmed up and kept warm (thanks to this website). My doe did not use the nest box, she had them ALL over the floor of her cage. After getting the kits warm I put them in the box and covered them with a very warm soft baby blanket.
This morning I saw that the blanket was moved so I petted mom and checked the babies, both were fine and warm and the place where they were was a lot deeper so I know mom is taking care of them. But she is not eating very well and is thin, she is not eating her pellets and very little hay, I would think she would be very hungry by now. I gave her a 1/4 slice of apple last night and she ate that and a little sweet feed. What should I do?
***** Karen Sez *****Sounds like you've made the very best of a hard situation. Hopefully the kits' tummies are nice and round by now?
I expect the doe's appetite to pick up soon, for sure. In the meantime, how long have her pellets been sitting in the feeder? Several days? If so, I'd either waste them or put them into the feeder of a different rabbit, and offer her a fresh scoop of pellets from the feed sack.
Second, supplement with a source of oil -- whole oats, or black oil sunflower seeds, or a half-tsp of wheat germ oil on the (new) pellets. This will help put condition back on her body AND help her produce milk for the babies.
Third, I hope she is not experiencing an intestinal blockage. Ensure she has all the water she needs 24/7, and grass hay, so that the fiber can keep her guts humming along.
Your doe will likely have everything figured out the next time around.
Good luck!