Surprise litter! Questions!

[bumblebee]

So my two bunnies, Jelly and Peanut, surprised me with a late Christmas present yesterday morning. I am now a grandma of 5 baby bunnies 

I’ve been meaning to get Peanut neutered but obviously it’s too late now. I will get him fixed asap.

In the meantime, I have a few questions since I’m still in a little bit of shock, haha.

It doesn’t seem like Jelly, the mom, is feeding the babies. This morning they were still skinny, not round bellied like they should’ve been. Since I was a bit worried, I put Jelly on my lap and fed the babies myself. Is it possible that Jelly will know to feed them herself tonight or should she should’ve already fed them herself? I’m scared that she isn’t mature enough to know, but then again, she pulled out the fur and prepared a nest. I’m scared the babies won’t make it

Thanks! 

[Monkeybun]

Make sure to keep Jelly and Peanut separate until eh is neutered, or Jelly could have another litter. They can concieve pretty much immediately upon giving birth.

Check to see if the babies are fed later, if not, you may have to help Jelly out.

[jerseygirl]

They certainly appear healthy.

Hope these articles can cover some of your questions.

http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/surpriselitter.html 

http://www.kindplanet.org/rabbitbabies.html

http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Newborn/Feeding_newborn.htm

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

A few things:

First-rabbits feed in the am and pm and are not witht he babies otherwise-this is a prey animal thing-adult rabbits smell but babies don’t. So to keep predators away they feed twice a day and otherwise want to be away from the babies. Although you aren’t seeing feeding, they’d be gone if they weren’t being fed.

To check-pick them up (YES it’s fine to pick them up-I mean don’t play with them and invite guests over and be rowdy of course lol) but you can pick them up-if their bellies are full-they are being fed.

SEcond-very very likely the runt of the litter will not make it. This is common and may happen. It’s hard but it’s nature ande not your fault. Ifyou notice mom taking a baby out and moving it away-put it back but don’t expect it to make it It’s very sad-but it’s like watching the nature channel and seeing the lion eat a zebra-it’s just nature at work

Third-provide UNLIMITED veggies hay and pellets to mom-she is eating for many now-and the babies will start to eat solid food right away too. There are many who say babies should not have veggies early on but as long as they are washed (dirt, bacteria and pesticide free) it’s fine. Chop them finely to prevent choking and ease them into it.

Their eyes should be open around 10 days old and they will have fur at around 2-3 days. They NEED TO NEED TO NEED TO stay with mom until at least 8 weeks old (This is a health thing-but also a legal thing too!)

They will need time out to play at around 2-3 weeks old-you will be surprised at how quickly they grow.

The main things I can think of are checkiing for full bellies (Though if they aren’t being fed there are not great chances-you can bottle feed goats milk) and ensuring they are warm. Give mom plenty of privacy. And lots and lots of food. Animals know what they are doing-just check and let mom do the rest

[Monkeybun]

And, of course, pics are required as they grow

I’d also like to note that my Monkey was the runt of the litter, so its always possible for them to survive, although if one of the litter is to go, its usually that one.. Monkey makes up for being a runt with a whole lot of attitude tho

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Yes I missed that-it’s in the fine print when you sign up here JUST kidding But seriously more piccies

Yes I will agree with Monkey-we had four litters at the shelter I volunteered in-and we didn’t lose one runt-but it’s very common-so don’t blame yourself if it happens

[TARM]

Alfalfa pellets for nursing moms!

[bumblebee]

So I’m pretty sure Jelly didn’t feed them last night/early morning because not all of them had round bellies. Some of them might’ve been round due to the force feeding that I gave them last night.

They all seem to be growing, but slowly.

This is from today, Day 3.

This is the one that’s growing the fastest. She/he has Jelly’s black spots, haha.

[Monkeybun]

I <3 baby buns

[TARM]

I fostered a mom and 7 babies and I only saw her feed them once. I’d say she probably is feeding them you just havent seen it.

[bunnytowne]

PLEASE do not overfeed the babies  it can kill them.  The mom feeds 2x    say like 11 pm or later and 4 am  thereabouts.  This is normal.

If you do feed them yourself make sure they don’t get overfed and rub their tummies to help digest.  When I was a young girl I did have 5 babies in the house their Mom stopped feeding them or died I forget but at 4 am  they would wiggle and scratch around in the box I had them bedded in  and wake me up to feed them.   lol

I fed them with baby bottles.  I had plenty of them. None of them died from overfeeding. 

Their Mom Jelly is it? It is normal for her to ignore them at K&K said.  She gave you some good info too.

About overfeeding  when I was young a cat had kittens so I took them in the house while Mom was gone.  They fed and she walked away but there was one my fav.   I put it back to nurse and made the cat stay til the baby stopped feeding.   Well big mistake I made it overfeed and it died. It’s tummy was huge. Therefore I get a little nervous about overfeeding.

I think they take what 3 drops kits (baby buns) do?  You will do ok don’t let me scare you.   

[skunklionshow]

When I had an oops litter, though none survived, I attempted to monitor weight gain via a technique I used w/ foster cat litters.  I weighed them daily on a postal scale and recorded their weights.  This was VERY helpful, b/c sometimes “eyeballing” is just not enough.  W/ my last feline litter one baby started to lose weight, we did some observations & additional feeds, and discovered that his sisters would steal his nipple when he was eating.  He would then climb up to mama’s face and she gave him a bath.  I ended up keeping mama and the boy and he still loves his mama tubbies today after 7 years!

I ditto the feeding info that everyone is giving.  I also believe that I made the mistake of keeping them too toasty.  I added a blanket on top/ around the cage and hot water bottles.  IDK.  I was also scared that mama bun was smushing the bunnies b/c I didn’t give her time out of her cage and she would just run back/forth in the cage, often running on top of the kitts.

LOVE the pics!!!!  My fav are the tiny bunny ears and buck teeth on the kitts.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Yes I’m pretty sure she’s feeding them-can you take pics of their bellies for us? All those bellies look VERY full from what I can see

[bumblebee]

Yes she has been feeding them lately!

Yesterday morning she was pulling out fur again and then she jumped into the nest and sat there for a good 5 minutes.

Then I checked this morning too for their bellies and they were round!
I’m happy now that I’m sure she’s feeding them

[Frankz]

OMG! I’m no expert on babies but…<3 LITTLE BABY BUNNY EARS! -Wants-

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Yesterday morning she was pulling out fur again

She hasn’t been around the male again has she? She could be pregnant again (rabbits breed like-rabbits) if she has been? Just worried that the fur pulling could mean more on the way…I’m sure it’s nothing though if they haven’t -visited-each other again.

Many more pictures though!! We need to see wittle ears and bums

[Monkeybun]

*poke poke*

Update pics please

*poke poke*

hehe

[bunnytowne]

poke poke        I 2nd more pics.

[bumblebee]

Here they are!

These pictures are from today (1/9) and tomorrow they will be a week old.

 
Daddy and his babies.

 
The one on the right is the runt =( He was always the skinniest when they were younger but now it’s really obvious since they are all getting bigger and fatter. I hope he makes it.

Here’s all 5!

=)

[Monkeybun]

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeee! I <3 babies! <3 <3 <3 *snugglesnuggle* I sooo want the one with the more of the dark markings… he/she is gonna be sooo purdy! Of course.. I’d take em all if only the hubby wouldn’t notice for a few months…lol

Oh oh oh! LOOK! Itty bitty baby bun tails have itty bitty bits of fur on them! hehehehe

….hubby is giving me strange looks with all my wiggling and giggling and making odd noises, so I better go let him know that I’m not in fact going insane…

[jerseygirl]

haha monkeybun, that one will look like Kafrns(Your) Rabz! Very sweet! Peanut is also a looker. The colour around his eyes make them appear even bigger. Hope he’s just visiting there and not in with the family. I don’t mean to lecture – you seem to know what you’re doing.

[Sarita]

I hope you don’t have Dad and Mom still together! If so, you are in for another litter.

[bumblebee]

Oh no, when I take the babies out, either the mom is always in the cage or the dad.

[Lintini]

Look at those little tails!!! Eeeeee!!!

[katie, max & penny]

babies!!!!!!!!!!

[Author]

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