Doe is terrible with kits

[Precious]

I have a bunny that is a new mother. Netherland dwarf. About 6 months old. She is a terrible mother. She didn’t make a nice nest or feed the kits so we made her feed them on our lap .. at 36 hrs after birth.. then wasn’t sure if she produced enough so we used one of my other does who only has 1 kit to feed the babies last night Then put them back in with her. Today she is digging making nest everywhere.. very confused.. the kits have crawled out of the nest to her but she digs and sent them flying.. i have been watching. I reset the terrible nest .. put kits back .. then moved them to where i thought she may have wanted a new nest but her behaviour worries me that she may hurt one of them as she’s digging and stepping on them so I have pulled the kits out. Yes they look fed.. round bellies. But should I allow her to keep them or is it possible for another doe who has been feeding 1 kit at 10 days old to take on 4 more kits? Thank you for any input

[Asriel and Bombur]

Not many people will have experience with kits and mothers here, as this site prohibits the discussion of intentional bunny breeding. Rabbits Online would be a better site as they have a section on breeding. So they’ll be able to offer much better advice than most members here could

[jerseygirl]

Yes, certainly check out rabbitsonline.net

I’ve certainly heard of other Mum’s fostering kits. They do much better that way then trying to syringe feed.
I would try get them to suckle from the ND to keep her producing milk. They are more likely to get the colostrum they need in the first days. Then the other doe may take them on if it’s safer.

The ND is young, only just sexually matured herself. On top of that she’s dealing with hormones that come in to bring on birth, and then the milk.
I’ve heard a lot of first time Mum’s aren’t great, especially the dwarf breeds.

[Author]

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