I GOT A GLIMPSE OF THE BABIES IN THE TUNNEL

[bunnyjames]

I FINALLY got a glimpse of the baby bunnies my rabbit had in the tunnel!!!!!! Im so excited to see that they seem to be alright!! They can breathe in there afterall, even though she packs in with dirt!!! I guess their momma DOES know what she’s doing after all! There some pictures below, I hadn’t been able to take pics cuz i ALWAYS got dirt. but i guess today i got lucky. SO i need a final answer, do i leave them in there and wait for them to come out on their own or do i still try to get them out?! They look pretty comfy in there. my only question is how will they get out, cuz as you can see in my other post she really packs in that tunnel with dirt!! But im definately excited to see that they are alive! today they are 10 days old. (oh so i called the vet that sees my bunnies Zoe and Chomper and she told me i would be able to tell if the momma is feeding her bunnies if her teats are empty, i didnt get this at first but today i finally got it, when i picked her up in the morning before she went out to feed the babies her teats felt swollen it felt like she had a water bag around the area of her teats, when she came back out and i carried her they werent swollen ANYMORE! it didnt feel like she had water bags) Im so excited to see that she is a great momma!

 look at all that fur!!

[mrmac]

Little babies!

[LizzieKnittyBun]

Wow! Well maybe Momma won’t shed much for a while… lol

[Deleted User]

if you can get them out now, do it, get them as soon as you can. If you can’t, wait till they come out. That’s all you can do.

[jerseygirl]

I agree, get them out if possible. At least indoors you can be more assured they’re safe. Outdoors they are always at risk of been dug out by another animal. How many do you think there are? I can see 2 of the cuties.

[bunnyjames]

Well jerseygirl the last pic i took i counted 4!! But yeah definately tomorrow the officer from the animal shelter is coming to see if he could take them out so im really excited! Does anyone know at what age the babies can be spayed/neutered? Im planning on getting all of them spayed/neutered and then giving them away, that way i can personally make sure they are going to great homes. Also can i get my female spayed right now even though she just had the babies?  Oh here’s a picture of the proud momma!!

[jerseygirl]

She’s very pretty!

Once the babies are weaned and some time has passed for her to regain weight if she’s lost any then she should be fine for the spay. Are you feeding her extra at the moment? At least there’s no risk of further pregnancy since your buck is neutered.

The babies would be roughly ready to be fixed around 4-6 months of age. The boys can be done as soon as their testicles have decended – so possibly 3 months old. It depends alot on the vet too. Will the shelter be helping you with this? Some shelters now even do very early spays on females but I don’t think it’s all that common.
Big thank you from me for taking on the responsibility of their future!!

[MissKris&Koji]

I’m sure your vet and maybe the shelter would be able to say for sure, but I’m guessing you can’t spay until after weaning (4-8 weeks then). Presumably she needs her fully functional hormones to nurse, and once they’re on solid food… maybe then? So maybe sooner, but I don’t see any reason to rush it. I’d just wait until they are weaned from her so as not to mess with mommy instincts.

Hopefully the shelter will help you get the babies spayed/neutered. If you have a litter much bigger than 4 that could get quite expensive! I don’t know if they will if you’re taking responsibility for the babies, but since it was their error I should hope so.

Also ditto on the good on you to make sure they get good homes. I think House Rabbit Society has some info to help people who need to find homes, to screen and locate a home. I’m pretty sure I saw that in a thread somewhere. Hopefully someone can link you to where-ever that was.

[lashkay]

It’s down the road, but I would suggest you ask $15 per rabbit for them when the time comes to find homes for them. Some people will pose like they have good intentions and then will sell the rabbit to an experiment lab for the $15 the lab will pay for them. If they’ll pay$15 for a bunny, you can be reasonably sure they want to give it a good home.

[Beka27]

I have missed this litter as I was on vacation all last week. Momma can be spayed when the babies are weaned at approximately 8 weeks. I wouldn’t do it before then since they will still be nursing and the spay will be stressful for her.

[bunnyjames]

So the guy from the animal shelter came today in the morning but we had no luck they are in there pretty deep and the way then tunnel is prevents from using any of the equipment he had. BUT I dont feel so stress anymore since they seem to be kinda safe in there. And instead of putting some of that chicken wire around I took the top of an extra cage i had and put it over that area and secured it. And yes jerseygirl the momma did loose alot of weight she is super thin (she is weighing 2lbs. 6oz righ now, which has me worried), vet said it was because she was too young to give birth, I’m feeding her alot of Alfalfa and give her extra timothy based pellets and give her lots of fresh greens, but she seems to go for the Alfalfa more then the fresh greens or pellets. Also yes the animal shelter is helping me with the neuter/spay they are giving me a $30 voucher for each bunny. I’ll probably end up paying about $100 for each bunny if i take them to the SPCA to get it done, my vet charges me $380 for males and $400 for females. and thanks Becka i guess i will wait till the babies are completely weaned and the momma has gained weight to get her spayed. Ill post up pictures once the babies are out =) the guy from the shelter said that would probably be once they are 1month. Hoping they can find their way out.

[Michelle&Lolli]

They are so cute! At least she is a good momma!

My cousin has a female bun she breeded. (grrrrrr) Only she didn’t know what to do so she buried them and left them there. By the time my cousin realized she’d given birth the babies had died. Yeah, my cousin’s not too responsible and hopefully this has made her not want to breed her bun anymore. Again….GRRRRRR!!! It’s one thing when a bun comes to you already pregnant. It’s another thing when you intentionally breed.

[bunnyjames]

OMG! thats scary Bunbuns1!!! did your cousin’s bunny abandon them right away or over the course of days?! Im scared now!! my bunny visits them every morning to feed them but literally packs in the dirt to hide the tunnel!! I worry the babies wont be able to get out, they are 11 days old right now but kinda scared that when its time for them to get out they wont be able to dig there way out! Thats really sad!

[jerseygirl]

This shelter should be paying for the entire cost of the neuters in my opinion. You adopted a “buck” and got given a pregnant Doe. You will already be out of pocket by fostering the babies and are doing the shelter a favour in this. I really hope they can do more but I also know that shelters have their limitations.  If that’s all they’re willing to do I understand your wanting to take care of it and to be assure they’re in good hands. 

[Beka27]

Either that, or you might have the option to surrender the babies to the shelter once they are weaned… But then of course, you have NO SAY in their future…

[jerseygirl]

Moz, I don’t think you need worry about Zoe abandoning them. She’s been an exemplary mother so far.  Is there any news? Is it just a waiting game now? I’m so impatient!

[Michelle&Lolli]

Yeah, Zoe is a GREAT momma!

Some females rabbits – whether domesticated or wild – simply do not know what to do with the first litter and will abandon them. This is what my cousin’s female apparently did. But Zoe is showing to be an exemplary momma from the beginning so absolutely nothing to worry about! I shouldn’t have shared that. I’m sorry.

[bunnyjames]

Hey Guys!! well thanks jerseygirl and Bunbuns1 for asking, i was gonna post earlier an update but been super busy with work. But i have really good news just yesterday when Zoe went to go dig out the the tunnel the babies came out!!! she no longer goes in she just digs out the tunnel and the babies are there waiting for her, she stands over the entrance of the tunnel and the babies feed from under. So amazing!! There is 3 in total and the colors truly surprised me, one is white, the other one is completely black, and the third is grey!! Ill post a pic. tomorrow. once the kits are done feeding she licks each one and then nudges them with her nose to go back into the tunnel and she closes it up. But Since i dont work tomorrow im just gonna bring them into the house and fix up a place for them in Zoe’s cage, im doing this until tomorrow since i dont have to be in rush to get to work. I do have a couple of quest. though ive NEVER raised baby bunnies so im kinda clueless.i was thinking of cutting up a carboard box and filling it up with timothy hay and use that as the nest for the kits, would that be okay? or should i go buy some other type of bedding? Also should i have a special type of pellet ready for when the babies start eating solids? and if so what kind? right now im feeding Zoe and chomper an Alfalfa based pellet (kaytee Forti- Diet) chomper is 1yr and 3months and Zoe is 5 months. I also give chomper timothy hay and Zoe gets Alfalfa hay since i read that nursing rabbits should have plenty of Alfalfa hay. Also is there anything i can give zoe since she seems pretty thin and her fur seems pretty dull since she had the babies she is also shedding alot,i dont know if it might be due to a vitamin deficiency due to the stress of the pregnancy and nursing. All your guys advice would be greatly appreciated, raising baby bunnies is way too stressful!!

[Sarita]

I would give Zoe the alflafa pellets right now as well. Usually right after a litter mom gets skinny for some reason. You can give the same pellets to the babies too.

The cardboard box and the hay sounds like a good idea to me. I think that would be fine and if it’s not Zoe will let you know.

You will be a good step mom :~)

[bunnyjames]

I finally got them out, YEEEEAHY!!! there is 3 in total, I put them in Zoe’s cage in a cradboard box with timothy hay. Zoe seem to not have really liked that i took them out but is getting used to the fact that they are now inside HER cage she seems a bit confused but is calm about it and keeps on going in and out of the cage sniffing around and then coming back out she does this every 5min. Hoping she wont reject them she seems annoyed by the fact that the babies just sense she is in the cage and they go running to her trying to feed.  so here’s some pics.lof the cuties the brown one is the biggest and chubbiest of all. I was wondering if these bunnies will also be dwarfs, zoe is a dwarf and from my understanding the dad is also a dwarf. (16 days old)

[Monkeybun]

What cuties!! You may actually want to have them separate from Zoe, as she will need time alone without them. She will get very annoyed with them constantly wanting to feed.

My fav is the first little otter one The third has the best Disapproving Face though hehe

[Doe of Chai]

AWWWWWWWW! Way Too Adorable! Good Luck Step mom

[jerseygirl]

I’m happy to see them safe indoors! They look really great for their age. Was there one lost though?
I agree with MB, it is important to allow Zoe her space from them. Maybe let her have her cage and put them in a washing basket or something? Big enough for her to jump in to feed them.They may move around but I doubt they could climb out at this age. You could even sit a peice or cardboard on top. That would be fairly easy for Zoe to move when she needs to.

[LizzieKnittyBun]

omg… I can’t believe you didn’t explode from having so many baby bunnies in your house!!!

[Michelle&Lolli]

EEEEE!!! Omg….so precious! I want them all! lol Look at those tiny ears and feet and faces and noses and and and……awwwwww

Yay for being able to get to them! I bet it’s such a relief to have them indoors now and not under your house as it seems they were. lol

[bunnyjames]

No jerseygirl there wasnt a lost, BIG surprise, maybe because the litter was small. But yeah feel way better now that they are inside. And thanks for the idea of putting them outside the cage. I will leave them in the box but leave them out by her cage, im just wondering how that will work though? will she know to go in there? im kinda worried still about her not being content with the fact that i took them out. But i guess only time will tell. So stressed =(

[MissKris&Koji]

I bet she will adjust, it does sound like she’s been a good mom. Besides, you can take comfort in the fact that it is possible to bottle feed baby bunnies if you have to, though of course not ideal!

Those babies definitely look like dwarfs with those little triangle ears. So cute! I like the white one. You can just send that one here.

[LoveChaCha]

SQUEEEEEEE! All different colors!! How unique!! Will you be keeping all of the bunnies?

I squeeled over the black otter baby!!! So darling!

[lashkay]

Congratulations on finally having brought them in. I’m so glad the BB Forum is here to assist you in taking care of them all. They are precious…and so big, and yet so little. Pat yourself on the back, you’re doing a great job!

[Monkeybun]

We will, of course, require frequent pics of the darlings

[MissKris&Koji]

Pictures, pff, I want videos. I hear babies are clumsy. I want to see clumsy wandering babies.

[Beka27]

They are beautiful! I am so thankful they are all safe and they look very healthy! We will be requiring frequent updates. Fortunately, there were only 3, so if you did want to keep them, this is something you could possibly do.

[Deleted User]

you really got them out! They are lucky to have had you watching out for them! I can just imagine those tiny buttons zipping through your yard with no concept of safety if they had come out one day on their own… now they are safe! Yippeeeee! I am also glad there are only three. I love the white one. Oh, I love that one!

[LittlePuffyTail]

Awwww…they are so adorable! My fave is the little white one.

[bunnyjames]

Thanks to all of you for your guidance and advice ALL of you helped a GREAT deal!!! Zoe woke me up today at 3:20am she was desperate to get out of her cage, and to my surprise she hoped right over to the box and fed the babies so im guessing she has accepted that i moved them into the house.I tried to put them in the cage with her for a while but all they want to do is feed and Zoe runs away from them. I worry that one feed every 24hrs isnt enough but i guess she knows best, after all they wouldnt be so healthy and chubby if they werent getting enough, right? One question though i didnt find any droppings inside their box is that normal? Oh and sadly im not keeping any of them, i cant afford 5 bunnies, im planning on giving them away, the black one already has a home ready for him/her once he/she is 3mon. The new owner is already bunny proofing her home and bought the cage and all supplies necessary for when she gets to take it home, she in fact already has a name for the bunny which is Wednesday.  I provided her with this website so that she could start getting advice and info for her new baby, lol, and already explained how bunnies even though they look so cuddely they sometimes really dont like to be cuddled. THANKS TO ALL OF YOU!!! And of course ill keep you posted!

 

 

[bunnymum16]

theyre soooo cute!!!!white one reminds me of my bunny Chace when he was a baby.good luck with them.keep posting photos.theyre adorable.

[jerseygirl]

Mmmm….wonder if you live anywhere near me?   Those babies are too cute. I would not be surprised they’ll get good homes quickly. Give Zoe a nose rub from me will you?

btw, I love the door in the picture you added earlier.

[LizzieKnittyBun]

Oh gosh… that picture of them with the remote control made me all melty and go ‘awwww’ out loud.

[mrmac]

Oh my they are so adorable! I am glad you were able to get them inside! More picutres please! Momma bun too!

[LittlePuffyTail]

I love the name Wednesday for a black bunny! Too cute.

[Beka27]

The mother should have a way to get to the babies at all times. Can you put an xpen around the area where the babies are and keep her in that space?

[Sarita]

Yes, what Beka said. They are cute. So glad you were able to get them.

[bunnyjames]

Thanks all for the bunny compliments, oh and jerseygirl just saw right under your screen name you live in Australia, I live in California =( i would have loved to give one of the babies to you. =( oh and Zoe does have complete acces to her buns i decided not close the door to her cage so she’s free to go see her buns anytime, she has full access to the whole house (not sure thats a great idea though). Im just kinda worried though i havent recieved an answer to one of my questions, i havent seen any droppings in the babies box is that normal for their not to be any poop droppings? i know they are eating cuz they seem to get heavier by the day and i see zoe feeding them.

[Sarita]

Not sure about the droppings but I wouldn’t worry if they seem healthy – they are probably there but tinier and somewhere down in the bedding.

[sarasaphantasia]

they are SUPER ADORABLE!

[Beka27]

Posted By Moz on 08/23/2010 03:17 PM
  i havent seen any droppings in the babies box is that normal for their not to be any poop droppings? i know they are eating cuz they seem to get heavier by the day and i see zoe feeding them.

I may be completely wrong but I think I remember reading somewhere that the mom will eat the babies droppings as an instinct so as to not attract predators? 

Maybe I’m imagining this tho.  I really don’t know much about babies and mothers. 

[FunnyBunnyLove]

I have been MIA lately, work and just life…lol but those are ADORABLE!!!

[Beka27]

I looked up a couple articles and it says the mom should be cleaning the babies’ genital areas to stimulate elimination. I wonder if she’s not doing this? This is something you could do with a little bit of warm water, I’m guessing.

[BinkyBunny]

Posted By Beka27 on 08/24/2010 05:48 AM

Posted By Moz on 08/23/2010 03:17 PM
  i havent seen any droppings in the babies box is that normal for their not to be any poop droppings? i know they are eating cuz they seem to get heavier by the day and i see zoe feeding them.

I may be completely wrong but I think I remember reading somewhere that the mom will eat the babies droppings as an instinct so as to not attract predators? 

Maybe I’m imagining this tho.  I really don’t know much about babies and mothers. 

Beka, I was about to mention the same thing! I too thought for sure I had read that somewhere. 

[Beka27]

^^^Right?! It sounds familiar but the articles I have bookmarked don’t say anything about that. Unless it was in a book? Maybe that “Why Does My Rabbit…?” Did you read that one Jennifer?

Regardless, I’m glad the babies seem to be doing well.

[BinkyBunny]

Beka, I did read that book and I just now went through the different pages that discussed kits and parenting but none of it stated that the mother will do this. — So now I am doubting. I did read that babies will begin to eat any fecals pellets that their mother has left behind because it helps them get the gut flora they need to start eating plant material. So maybe I just have somehow mixed it up. ???

[jerseygirl]

Chicago HRS says something along those lines on care of newborns. It suggest for caregiver to wash face and bottoms to stimulate elimination.

[Lintini]

So cute! What an amazing story to go along with them!

[jerseygirl]

Moz, I just have to post this link of a video here for you. I just watched it and it’s amazing how much the woman who made it has captured. It’s a wild rabbit that made a nest in her backyard. You can even see how she packed the nest between visits – just like Zoe!  Sadly though, you can see the Mama is not too healthy in it.
http://www.myhouserabbit.com/blog/page/2/  (Under heading:Wild Rabbit Movie)

[bunnyjames]

OMG!! jerseygirl that was so cute and sad to see those sick bunnies there. That is EXACTLY what zoe did i should have recorded. Oh and guys im glad to say that they are pooping, they lick eachother’s bottom and i guess that’s what does it. they are TINY little droppings though. LOL! Zoe will lick them now and then too. I think i can see more of their dropping now, since they are eating solids.

[LoveChaCha]

I’m glad babies are doing well! Can we get more photos? *poke*

[Author]

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