Rabbit humping her babies at 4wks

[Pocketmew]

I looked around online and just got a lot of conflicting information…I have a rabbit who recently had babies, they’re 4 weeks old at the moment. I found her outside my apartment complex, big white rabbit. Perhaps the pregnancy is why she was abandoned, I dunno. Anywayss I’ve done a ton of research when I found out and the babies have been absolutely thriving. Now at 4 weeks however mom rabbit has been super hormonal and trying to hump the babies nonstop. I feel it is a bit dangerous because she is pulling their fur. I have separated her from them for today and when I let her back in the pen she still tried to hump them after about 30mins. She is also seemingly refusing to nurse them. They try but she runs off. 

I really don’t know what to do, as I’ve already tried giving her her own space and getaway areas. I can tell its less of her annoyance with them, and more crazy hormones. I’m scared to just separate them permanently though because I know kits are weaned 4-8 weeks preferably 8 if you can.

[LBJ10]

Bunnies hump to show dominance. Have they been kept together 24/7 before this? How big is the area? Perhaps mom just needs a break or somewhere to get away. Her frustrations could be manifesting themselves in the form of humping.

 

Due to the nature of this post, I’m also required to post the rules in case someone else is reading this after doing a Google search. Since this was not intentional breeding on your part and the issue is the behavior of the mother, I’m going to leave the thread open for people to comment.

 

D.   Discussions of Breeding and Rabbits as Livestock: Discussions involving intentional breeding (of any animal) and meat & fur rabbits are not allowed.

 •     Accidental Litters:  We do not have the experience to advise you. We do not allow ongoing threads on the matter because the information then goes out to google search results, inviting more of the same. Only a couple of members have some experience with this, but we are unable to make sure the advice given is reliable; we are not a site or forum that has a wealth of experience in this matter and it would be better for your bunnies to find reliable resources for pregnant/nursing does and their babies.  Please visit Resources and scroll to “Oops Surprise Litter”.  Other forums like Rabbitsonline.net, that cater to a broader range of experience, may also be of help. (Your post may locked or deleted once resources are given.)  And of course, be sure to seek vet care and advice. Do not use the forum to give or sell bunnies as well. Since we don’t allow prolonged discussions regarding this, the thread will be locked. We hope you will find the above resources useful. Please feel free to to ask about other aspects of caring for your bunny!

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[Pocketmew]

I do know they hump for dominance. The area is quite big, the largest I could possibly buy. I don’t have the dimensions off the top of my head but it was a good 200$+ to get, and it has extra attachments to let them roam. I always let her out to roam the house during the day. She is in the cage at night, and has access whenever she wants.

I thought it was a break too, but that doesn’t seem to be the case because she gets so much time away. I tried blocking them off but the instant she is with them again she humps…

[jerseygirl]

I agree, it’s likely a combo frustration and hormones. As far as I know, they’ll ween off milk around this age. Some may have occasional feed over coming weeks but they should be okay. They’re eating hay etc?
The importance of them being with mum up to 8 weeks *I think* is so they’ll have access to her cecatrophes to help them build good gut flora.

How is she about being handled? If you’re super concerned, you might be able to hold her and bring couple babies over at a time to allow a quick feed. I don’t remember how long…I’m thinking they only need like 10-15 seconds??

Perhaps her milk has already dried up?
Are you feeding her unlimited food?
Anyway, I think they’d be ok from this age, especially if they’ve done well so far. It is important to watch their poop when they come off milk. You may have already read up on this.

[Pocketmew]

They’re eating hay and pellets. I thought that it might be okay but I’m super paranoid. The mama doesn’t like being held unless to be pet, and I attempted letting them feed but she wouldn’t have any of that. Her tummy area is super red so I don’t know if maybe she is simply tired of nursing or dried up. I’m not quite sure how to tell if the milk supply is dried up? She is fed unlimited Hay and “baby rabbit food pellets”.

[LBJ10]

From rabbit.org:

As the babies begin to wean, at four to six weeks of age, they lose the guardianship of the mother’s milk/stomach enzymatic reaction and gradually develop the adult pH of 1-2. Often babies will seem to do fine until this critical stage is reached. It is at this point that both the mother’s milk and her cecotropes begin introducing the necessary adult flora (to digest solid foods) into the babies’ gastro-intestinal tract.

Has she been producing extra cecals/cecotropes?

[jerseygirl]

That’s good, the baby or junior feeds have higher protein, which she’ll need while nursing. I wonder if she has mastitis??

Have you read any info by Dana Krempels? She’s well-respected.
I just read this which mentions about the 4-5 week period. My info above was not accurate. She does say important they still get some milk.
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/surpriselitter.html

You can contact her for more advice here if you like.
http://www.allexperts.com/ep/703-35789/Rabbits/Dana-Krempels-Ph-D.htm

I’d also search previous responses she’s given to others.

[jerseygirl]

Haha. LBJ, were on the same wavelength!

[Pocketmew]

She has been producing extra cecals. I also do not believe she is dried up as she still feels heavy underneath. Perhaps I should give her a day off and literally only introduce her to them during times she’d normally feed them. I know its usually around 8am/8pm. Not sure if that’d just cause more issues though…

I do not believe she has mastitis, I researched it a bit and she doesn’t have any swelling. it looks like she is pulling hair again actually, because there are bald patches and it is red. Maybe a false pregnancy episode??? Would that cause her to hump the little ones? 

[jerseygirl]

That sounds like a good plan. It’s great you know her routine. Hopefully she’ll naturally want to feed them then.

Pop some of the excess cecals in with the babies.

[jerseygirl]

Did she have the babies after you took her in or did you find them all? Do you have any other rabbits?

It might just be her hormornes… I have heard rabbits can carry 2 different litters but have never come across anyone having seen that. They have a 2 horned uterus.
I’d be very surprised if that is what’s going on and have my fingers crossed it isn’t!!

[jerseygirl]

She would have had to been with a male right before you took her in. Actually, i wonder if could be false pregnancy also? If she was with a male while already pregnant , possible she could still ovulate. That would be enough trigger false pregnancy which would show up around this time.

[Pocketmew]

The cage I bought was actually a used one that I got at work for a huge discount due to it being used. When I got it, it had bits of fur from the previous “tenant”. If the previous rabbit was a male could the smell start it alone?

[LBJ10]

I think the smell of another bunny would spark some sort of reaction. I don’t know if it would lead to a false pregnancy, but I suppose you never know.

I think you’re on the right track. Mom would only feed them twice per day anyway, so allowing her to visit them during her “normal time” only might help. Like I said, she is probably just frustrated. If nothing else, at least try to pick up any extra cecals she leaves behind and put them in with the babies. It sounds like milk and cecals are both important at this stage, but you can’t force it. I would think having more of one than the other would be better than neither.

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