More baby questions

[Dave]

So, the babies are getting close to three weeks of age, are running around the cage with their eyes open and are starting to nibble on Jane’s greens and eat a few pellets and hay that are scattered across the cage bottom from Jane.  Every time I open the cage now Jane makes a break for it!  “I’m outta here I need a break from the babies!”  Is this an issue that could cause problems in the future?  Should I keep them separated so Jane can take a break if she wants but feed them when necessary?  I am trying to figure out a way to handle this without having to build a full zoo rabbit enclosure for the bunnies. 

Jane is in the habit now of moving the litter box to the middle of the cage and laying out on it because the babies can’t reach her up there. 

[Sarita]

I say keep them together still but give Jane her out time as you are doing. I think until the babies are 8 weeks you want to keep mom with babies. I understand she needs breaks too but I do know she will go back and feed them and they are eating on their own too which is great.

[Beka27]

If there’s a way for her to come in and out on her own, without the babies following, that would be your best bet. I have a 5 yo son and I feel the same way some time, Mama has to have some alone time! ;o)

[skunklionshow]

Mama needs her me time!  I believe in the wild, they only stay w/ them to nurse and then they are out & about.  When I had my cat w/ her kittens, she too would attempt to escape the “nursery”.  Back b/f I had AC in the extra room.  I had to build up a cardboard barrier on the door.  I had covered the whole door way, except for about 5 ” at the top.  Mama cat would scale that barrier to escape.  After she did that twice we decided that she needed some ME time.  We let her out of the room for a few hours a day and returned her back to her nursery w/ the babies.  Maybe you can do something similar?

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

What we did at my shelter was give mom a big condo with levels so that she could get away from the babies if she wanted. At three weeks of age we started to give mom and babies play time as well-out of the cage in our bunny proofed playroom. That gave them all a chance to stretch their legs and play, but kept them together to minimize stress.

If it’s not possible to build a condo, you coudl take some shelving material or cubes and make a ledge in the cage where mom can hop up and get away from babies too.

[Author]

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