Surprise babies!!!

[MyMother'sPride97]

Hi everyone! I got my mother a couple of bunnies for Christmas this year: Gizmo and Mimzie. Typical, we were told they are sisters, but Mimzie gifted us with five babies yesterday!! I’ve been doing lots of research. We’ve been giving her plenty of greens, and we removed a wall from their run and replaced it with a cage for Gizmo, so he can still see and hear his family, though he is serparated. 

I only have a few questions. Since our babies were a surprise, I went to check on them yesterday, saw the pulled fur, and thought “Uh-oh!”. But the kits were already here! Whoops! So .. should I still make Mimzie a nest box? Or are they okay? 

And also, Giz and Mimzie live with my mom, and not me, so they are more used to her. Is it okay for me to touch/move the babies, or will she reject/hurt them if I do? Is it even okay for my mom to touch them? 

Thanks is advance! 

[Sarita]

Welcome – unfortunately this happens alot.

Here is our forum’s advice:

• Accidental Litters: We do not have the experience to advise you, and we discourage ongoing threads on the matter because the information then goes out to google search results, inviting more of the same. Only a couple of members have some experience with this, but we are unable to make sure the advice given is reliable; we are not a site or forum that has a wealth of experience in this matter and it would be better for your bunnies to find reliable resources for pregnant/nursing does and their babies. Please visit Resources and scroll to “Oops Surprise Litter”. Other forums like Rabbitsonline.net, that cater to a broader range of experience, may also be able to help. And of course, be sure to seek vet care and advice. Do not post pictures of the litters, unless you plan on keeping them.(or whichever one or so you plan to keep). Do not use the forum to give or sell bunnies as well.

[MyMother'sPride97]

Oh, okay. Thanks! & sorry for any inconvenience. 

[Sarita]

It’s not an inconvenience at all and hopefully you can find some better advice than we can give on the forum we recommend. It’s just not a strong point for our forum and we want to make sure you get the proper advice.

[MyMother'sPride97]

The links provided in your Resources were very helpful. Thanks!

[LBJ10]

Sarita gave you a good place to start.

For your nest box question, you’ll want to put the babies in some kind of box. You don’t want them to get lost somewhere. And yes, you can touch the babies.

[Roberta]

Ummm, Have you separated them ? Bunnies can breed again within seconds of giving birth…. Now would be an ideal time to get Gizmo into the vet for neutering….
As advised a box for them is necessary, something Mimsie can get into as they feed the babies standing up over them, usually once to twice a day, early morning or late evening.
Babies need to be kept warm or they cannot feed..
Please check out the links that have been provided as I found these resources incredibly helpful when this happened to me.
Mimsie is also going to need unlimited Hay, Greens and Pellets whilst she is feeding.

[Roberta]

Oh, and it takes a full month or more before Gizmo can be reunited as he will still have viable sperm for several weeks after being neutered… That’s how I got caught out.

Oh, I also noted that you have separated them… Sorry I missed that initially.

[MyMother'sPride97]

Thanks for the advice everyone! We have been following these instructions and it has been very helpful.

[Beka27]

You’ve gotten great responses to your original questions and Sarita shared the more appropriate resources for you to check out.

I wish you and your mom the best with the babies! Hopefully they all thrive and find loving forever homes!

I am going to lock this thread as we don’t keep accidental litter threads active. But you are more than welcome to post in the future regarding rabbit care (housing, diet, health, behavior, etc…)

[Author]

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