Brand New Kits

eskaisbell · Mar 23, 2021

Ok I have a problem. I know I'll probably catch a lot of judgement for this but the health of these babies is more important than my pride. So my bunnies had babies about a month ago which was a surprise for us because we were told they were both girls/sisters. Well we separated them immediately into separate hutches.
Well my darling 5 year old thought the dad Bunny should be with the family the morning after they were born, and put them together, we caught it within a few minutes. Well apparently that wasn't fast enough. I found four new bunnies this morning. So now I have a litter that is 4 weeks old and a litter that's one day old from the same mom.
I feel really terrible, I'm overwhelmed. I need to know if all 7 kits are able to nurse? And should I have any concerns about older babies and newer babies interacting?
Obviously the older kits will be separated in the next 2 weeks so they cannot reproduce as well. And I now have locks and zip ties on every door to the cages until I can get dad spayed/ neutered.

Mariam+Theo · Mar 23, 2021

First off, no one needs to be rude about this topic because this was an accident. It could have happened to anyone, so be nice!

Second, the first litter of babies needs to be weaned. They cannot all live together because the older babies will not let the little ones eat. Here is a link to weaning baby bunnies, but I'm sure the breeders on here will have more helpful information. Good job on locking the boy up, always be double checking the locks. Are the cages near each other? If so, you should probably move him to a different room so if he does somehow get out of his cage he is far away from the mom.

Third, why have you not sent pictures yet? We all love baby bunnies on here!!!

eskaisbell · Mar 23, 2021

Thank you for the good advice, and for being kind!

I'm sad to already separate the 4 week old babies but figured that'd be best. Here are some pictures of my sweet 4 week olds - Fluff, Dot and Bugs. And then a few of the newb

orns - all bald and wonderful

eskaisbell · Mar 23, 2021

Oh I had another question, will weaning the babies off this early hurt their gut health? I read they need to nurse up to 6 weeks for the correct ph balance? Is there something I can do to help? They're eating pellets, hay and drinking water all really well! Also, if they're weaned should I find homes now or still wait for 8 weeks? Thank you!

Preitler · Mar 23, 2021

They will be fine. It's not the optimum, but there is a reason does can get pregnant right after giving birth - because rabbits can handle it, back to back litters do happen quite often.

If you don't seperate now the new kits get the short straw, which would be way worse.

I would keep them together until 8 weeks, for the warmth they give each other, and for socialising.

Jadette · Mar 23, 2021

Some of my does naturally refuse to nurse their kits around 4 weeks. I have seen no difference in the health and development of my kits when they were weaned at 4 weeks, 6 weeks, or 8 weeks. I think your kits will be fine as long as they are eating hay and pellets with no issues.

zuppa · Mar 23, 2021

Hi, things happen and we have to deal with it, at 4 weeks it's a bit too early for weaning but you will have to separate older kits and feed them separately, so mother can take care of the younger ones. Also you have 4 older and 3 newborn kits in total 7, that's not too many to be honest rabbit can nurse 8 at a time or even up to 14 kits. What I would probably do in this situation, I would leave the new kits with mother so she can nurse them fully, and I would provide a very rich diet for her so she had no problem with milk, and I would try to schedule one additional feeding for the older kits, but make sure newborn kits get full bellies first and I would calculate what time between feeding she could feed the older ones.
But it can be a bit tricky, I would definitely try this but it is all new for you and it is VERY important that newborn kits get full bellies every day and if this won't work the older kits will survive.

So your mother is still very young and giving birth to two litters within 4 weeks is very exhausting so make sure she gets unlimited high protein and calcium pellets (junior pellets with min 16% protein and min 1% calcium), unlimited means that she gets about 4 normal daily portions, so 40 gram x 4 = 240 gram a day. Older kits also get unlimited junior pellets, hay and water as usual. I would also offer mother and older kits rolled oats in addition to their ration, and some dried herbs as well. But avoid mint since it will reduce her milk.

Preitler · Mar 23, 2021

Not what I do. I was in that situation a few times, and it was no problem to wean the 4 week old a few days before giving birth to the next litter. The milk isn't always the same, the young ones need the colostrum. The second pregnancy is already enough strain on the doe.

zuppa · Mar 23, 2021

eskaisbell said:
Obviously the older kits will be separated in the next 2 weeks so they cannot reproduce as well. And I now have locks and zip ties on every door to the cages until I can get dad spayed/ neutered.

Older kits have to be separted at 9-10 weeks boys from girls, so you still have plenty of time and it is best to keep them together for the next 4-6 weeks. Besides you won't be able to sex them until they are 8-9 weeks, well sometimes it is obvious but sometimes not that easy (as you had a chance to learn with your two sisters already)

Usually boys can be fertile from 9-10 weeks depending on breed, but girls can get pregnant from about 14 weeks, so they won't be able to get pregnant until that even if boys will be mating full speed. But best time to separate boys from girls would be 9-10 weeks, then girls can stay together for a couple more months and boys for a couple more weeks, until they start humping each other then they must be separated to avoid fighting.

eskaisbell said:
Oh I had another question, will weaning the babies off this early hurt their gut health? I read they need to nurse up to 6 weeks for the correct ph balance? Is there something I can do to help? They're eating pellets, hay and drinking water all really well! Also, if they're weaned should I find homes now or still wait for 8 weeks? Thank you!

No please don't rehome until they are 8 weeks at least, even if they are not getting mother's milk they still together and any dramatic changes could kill them, also it is illegal rehoming babies under 8 weeks (in some states under 6 weeks but later is better)

Re rehoming, you can start looking for new homes for them but state that they will be available from when they are 8 weeks old say 23rd April

eskaisbell · Mar 23, 2021

Wow so much good information! Thank you everyone! ❤

zuppa · Mar 23, 2021

eskaisbell said:
Wow so much good information! Thank you everyone! ❤

Keep us updated

eskaisbell · Mar 23, 2021

Well this is good to know. I didn't even want to separate them from mom let alone each other! I'll keep them together at least 8-9 weeks then! I've already been giving mom unlimited access to hay, pellets and water so I'll just make sure to keep that up. She gets a good helping of fresh greens daily as well (i.e parsley, cilantro, dill, green leaf lettuce) and a few treats a week like a few bites of apple or banana, hope that is OK.

zuppa · Mar 23, 2021

eskaisbell said:
Well this is good to know. I didn't even want to separate them from mom let alone each other! I'll keep them together at least 8-9 weeks then! I've already been giving mom unlimited access to hay, pellets and water so I'll just make sure to keep that up. She gets a good helping of fresh greens daily as well (i.e parsley, cilantro, dill, green leaf lettuce) and a few treats a week like a few bites of apple or banana, hope that is OK.

Yes that's great you can offer more greens to her now and fruits as well. What pellets you feed her normally? Did you change them to high protein alfalfa pellets when first litter was born?

eskaisbell · Mar 23, 2021

Yes alfalfa pellets for mom and babies! Here are my 4 week old fur balls, just snuggling right now

JBun · Mar 23, 2021

Cute little fluff balls

If at all possible it would be the least stressful on the 4 week olds if they can be kept in the same area they are used to, and to move mom. Just if possible.

Next is, don't change or add things to the 4 week old's diet unless they develop serious digestive issues that need to be resolved with diet changes(usually restricting to a grass hay diet, provided they are eating it well). In particular, don't feed high carb/sugary foods like fruit, carrot, grains. These can cause a harmful alteration in the gut flora, and baby rabbits are particularly susceptible to carbs not digesting properly and making it into the cecum, resulting in these harmful changes.

Changing the diet of recently weaned rabbits can stress them and lead to serious digestive illness developing. So being very careful and strict with the diet is very important. And feeding lots of good quality grass hay(no mold, no noxious weeds, low dust). If any have poopy butt issues, more grass hay, less pellets(provided they eat the hay really well). Keeping a close eye on their poop. It will let you know if any problems are developing from weaning early.

Then it's just keeping them together and unstressed until 8-10 weeks old. At which point you can start finding good homes for them. By 10 weeks boys/girls need separated, or all if unsure of sex. After that they may be ok to be left together longer if none are showing signs of hormones and aggression or humping behavior. Often males need separating by 12 weeks, females can sometimes be ok til 4 months. But if unsure, be safe, separate by 10-12 weeks.

This is a good link explaining weaning diarrhea, but ONLY read if you can handle medical related info ok. THIS LINK CONTAINS GRAPHIC MEDICAL RELATED PHOTOS.
http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/GI_diseases/Weaning/Sevrage_en.htm

eskaisbell · Mar 24, 2021

Newborns made it through the night! I don't know why I was so worried about this but I was terrified something terrible world happen in the night. But I checked on each one and they have full bellies and are nice and wiggly

Older babies are doing great, active and eating well! Thanks everyone ❤

eskaisbell · Mar 27, 2021

Babies are almost a week old now, they're doing great! I'm surprised to find one of them has broken white and light brown coloring, that's very different than the other litter!
Both litters are thriving. Very proud of mama for handling this so well. She made a great nest both times and cares for them like a champ.

There's also a picture of dad just cuz