I feel Horrible

**many houseapes** · 12-21-2008, 02:38 PM

After nearly 8 months, our female bunny had some kits...& she had given no warning that she would be having them like she's done in the past.
Well...I woke up this morning & let the dogs out - when I went to let them back in, Asia had found something to gnaw on...I could have cried.....somehow that dog got ahold of one of the baby bunnies

I have no idea how she got it b/c the rabbit cage was latched. I went to check our doe & there were 2 more babies on the cage floor (holes are not small enough for a baby to slip through) - We had a cold front during the night & the cold got to them. I had tried to revive them with the hairdryer. I managed to get one to breathe, but the little thing didn't last long. I feel bad.

**jacqueline** · 12-21-2008, 02:51 PM

i'm so sorry. i'm so tenderhearted towards animals, that just breaks my heart. i hope you're doing ok.

**Marie78** · 12-21-2008, 02:56 PM

Oh, that's so sad. Did any of the baby bunnies survive? You couldn't have known she was going to have them, you did all you could when you found out.

QM · 12-21-2008, 03:01 PM

I'm so sorry that happened. What a tragedy!

**homesteadmamma** · 12-21-2008, 03:10 PM

I'm so sorry this happened.

**FrugalMomof3** · 12-21-2008, 05:46 PM

I am so sorry this happened.

**brook** · 12-21-2008, 05:46 PM

I used to have a large rabbitry, raising New Zealands, Satins, Rex, and Jesery Wooly's. The Jesery Wooly's are my favorites! I am very sorry for your loss, but you can rebreed her right away or wait for her kits to get 4 weeks old, remove them at 6 weeks old and give her a two week break before she has new babies.

(for those that may want to get bunny for themselves or children)

The day a doe is bred, you count day 1. Twenty Seven (27) days later you put in a nesting box. You stuff it with straw or shredded newspaper. The doe will burrow in the straw, begin to pull the fur from her tummy and wait. Day 31 (sometimes day 30 and sometimes day 32) she gives birth. If the doe uses the box for a litter box she is not bred.

When kits are found on the wire (before 2 weeks old) it is because they latched on to a teat and as Momma jumped out of the nesting box.. the kits came with her.

New babies can wiggle out of the smallest holes. There is a wire called 'babysaver' if you are building new hutches or cages and are going to be breeding for showing or pets.

Contrary to popular belief, you can handle new born kits and the mother will still except them. This is especially true if you handle her, stick your hand in to feed and water her. Your smells and the smells of the family are familiar to her and she thinks nothing of it.

If it is going to be an exceptionally cold night, you can bring the nesting box into the house for the night and return it later in the morning when it gets warm. Usually a doe only feeds her kits for 5 minutes and once or maybe twice in a 24 hour period.

If you find a kit on the ground or floor of the case and it is not moving.. stick it in your bra or have the kids take turns warming it against their tummy's. It takes about 45 minutes to an hour to warm them.

I loved my rabbits, loved being with them, keeping records, cross breeding, breeding for size either larger or smaller, breeding for colors, and being in the quiet of the rabbitry.

What breed of rabbit do you have? how many does and bucks? how many did she have in her litter?

again for those wanting a pet bunny... did you know they can be litter box trained for the house? yes they sure can be.. but watch the electrical cords... they will chew them and we don't want them to get hurt.

**BlessedMomof2** · 12-21-2008, 05:50 PM

I'm sorry this happened.

**madhen** · 12-21-2008, 07:34 PM

I once spent all night reviving and resuscitating a baby goat who eventually died. I know how hard it is to feel that hope when they move, only to lose them. I am so sorry you had to experience it.

**pip** · 12-21-2008, 08:18 PM

I'm sorry.

**Debbie-cat** · 12-21-2008, 08:20 PM

Awww, I am so sorry. It is horrible not only when animals die but when they die so young.

**Thrifty Mom** · 12-21-2008, 08:25 PM

So sorry the babies were lost... We once had a cat that brought wild baby bunnies to the house & I was so upset. I was not upset when that cat ran off & didn't come back.