So my two “female” rabbits just had 4 babies. BIG PROBLEM.

[babiebun]

4 months ago, we bought two “female” rabbits from a nearby petstore named Caramel and Vanilla. Now, it’s apparent that Vanilla is MALE. Out of the blue, Caramel had a litter of four in her cage. We never saw any warning signs because Caramel was the one humping first, and we double checked Caramel’s ween wong, and she IS a girl. We’ve never seen Vanilla try to hump until recently, and we just assumed that Vanilla was trying to gain dominance over Caramel. Plus, we could never check Vanilla’s weener because every time we tried,she’d thrash and scratch our arms really bad. 

Here are the main areas of concern: 

 

1) One of them isn’t moving much and is looking very feeble. I’ve read that some buns within every litter die. 

 

2) We need to find good homes. Petstore? Last place I’m going to send them! We might be able to keep a few, but I’ll put some on Craiglist just to be sure. 

 

3) We’ve held of on fixing the buns because of the expenses. The closest animal clinic that fixes rabbits charges $230 per fix, so my parents said it was too pricey and that Rabbits don’t need to be fixed. The cheapest place that fixes rabbits charges less than a $100, but it’s in another state four hours away, so it’s undertstandable that my dad would be lazier to drive. I’ve had trouble convincing them for months, but now, my dad is finally convinced that a spay/neuter is necessary. Can they get fixed within a few days? I know Vanilla is, btu Caramel just gave birth. However, she seems as good as new, jumping and binkying around, etc. The place four hours away says that an overnight stay is needed. I’m thinking that since we are going on vacation, we can just leave them there for a week, which brings me to my next point. 

 

4) I won’t know what to tell my friend. Caramel and Vanilla were going to stay at her house, since we are going to Canada for a week on the 26th to visit family. It’s already a big favor to me that she’s going to take them in for free, but to have +4 newborns!? She has no idea how to take care of them! My dad has already bought the tickets to Canada, and we can’t cancel that. 

 

5) I have no idea how to take care of newborns. I’ve only built a nest for Caramel out of a shoebox and hay. I’ve moved her kits in there and covered them with her tufts of fur. Do I just leave them alone? And Caramel really wants to get out of her cage, but Vanilla may try another mating ritual with her. (My buns are normally free roam with lots of running space) 

 

The vacation is complicating things further, especially because there are newborn littlebuns involved. 

 

What are the best options for me right now? 

 

A/N: When will they start t grow fur?? 

 

I will be on here to reply lightning speed! 

[Sarita]

First off, hopefully both are separated as the female can get pregnant right after birth.

1. I’ve not heard this but babies must be kept warm to digest mother’s milk. So make sure they are out of drafts – mother usually will make sure they are as she makes a nest.

2. Not sure Craigslist is any better than a petstore but in any event, they need to stay with mom at least 8 weeks before weaning.

3. Yes, you can fix Caramel as well and she can still nurse but you may want to wait awhile – in fact, I would discuss this situation with the vet to see what the vet recommends. But get Vanilla neutered asap.

4. Caramel will take care of the babies, she (Caramel) just needs to be taken care of – plenty of pellets, veggies and hay as she is feeding the babies – once the babies are old enough, they will eat just what mom eats.

5. Yes, you can just leave them alone and take care of Caramel. You do not want Caramel and Vanilla near each other at this point…even after Vanilla is neutered his sperm will still be viable up to 4 weeks so not together for that time either.

[Valkyrie]

Time to start talking up your buns to all of your friends to try to find them homes with people you know! Maybe even post it on your Facebook with pictures when they are old enough to go. At least with Craigslist (as opposed to pet stores) you can try to screen people, just make sure to charge more for the baby bunnies than the local pet stores sell rodents for to avoid people trying to buy them as food for their snakes. You could also ask your local pet stores if they have a bulletin board that you could post an add on. The stores in my area do this even with animals they sell themselves, but I’ve heard we are just extra friendly here in Canada.

Also, is your friend going to your house to look after the rabbits or are they going to her? Mother rabbits are very flighty and if they feel stressed or in danger they will kill the babies. This happened with one of my rabbits when I was a kid and I still tear up thinking about it!

[kamdynandsunshinesmom]

I just want to say my friend had the same problem you had they went to a petstore to buy a rabbit for her daughter for easter ( I know it was a bad idea) the petstore told them it was a female months later when they took it to a vet to get fixed they found it it was a male. I would definately keep caramel and vanilla seperated!

[MoveDiagonally]

You’ve gotten some great advice.

Make sure you separate your male/female pair. Keep them away from each other (they can breed through cages). A nursing female can get pregnant pretty much immediately after giving birth so if they had any time together after that you could be expecting another litter in 30 or so days :/ Also keep in mind that your male can still impregnate your female up to 30 days after he’s neutered.

[LBJ10]

I don’t think you need to worry about how to care for baby buns. All you need to do right now is provide them with a warm place where mom can make a nest and make sure mom gets plenty of food. She will do the rest.

I agree with the others. Your buns needed to be separated NOW, it could already be too late. You don’t want any more babies. Your girl is still young too, so back to back litters would be really bad. Another reason to separate them.

I think if the everyone could stay put while you are gone and the bunnysitter comes to take care of them, it would be a lot less stressful for mom.

[jerseygirl]

4) I won’t know what to tell my friend. Caramel and Vanilla were going to stay at her house, since we are going to Canada for a week on the 26th to visit family. It’s already a big favor to me that she’s going to take them in for free, but to have +4 newborns!? She has no idea how to take care of them! My dad has already bought the tickets to Canada, and we can’t cancel that.

I suggest just telling your friend what has happened. There really isn’t any extra work she’ll need to do as the Mum will look after the babies. As long as she understands sometimes babies don’t make it. By the time you leave for vacation, the babies will be even more independant.

When really young, you really only need check they get full bellies. You should start seeing fur by day 3.

In separating male and female they may be a little stressed. So if you can set up something so they are side by side but can’t mate obviously, this may help calm them. It’s also good to give the mum enough space to get away from the babies.

Here’s a link to all House Rabbit Society articles on baby rabbits. Good info here.
http://rabbit.org/category/care/babies/

[jerseygirl]

And, these links might be worth checking to see if low cost desexing available in your area:

http://www.nootersclub.org/lowcostspayneuter.htm (for rabbits, look for the rabbit symbol next to the clinic)

http://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Low_Cost_Spay/Neuter_Clinics

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