is Momma bunny abandoning her kits?

[Binks]

Hi again, as you may know, my rabbit recently had 7 babies all alive and well, she’s been eating lots for the past 10 days and feeding them consistently. Her babies are very healthy, round, and are extremely active. Their eyes have not started to open yet (now 11 days old) but they are very actively trying to escape their nest and either seek out Mom-bun or simply pile up outside to sleep…??? what

Ever since Mom-bun accidentally saw one crawl out, she has been very anxious about keeping the nest closed and has started to slow her eating. She seems to have forgotten or chose not to feed them the night after this incident. So to ensure the babies stay inside the nest I have decided to raise the walls of the nest altogether, also raising the entrance to it so the babies may be less motivated to climb out.(nest is a large upside-down plastic box, raised about 3 inches higher with cardboard). But ever since this new improvement, Mom-bun doesn’t seem to want to go inside to feed them at all anymore, and guess what- the babies are still escaping… I actually sat and watched as one simply climbed up a hay wall, stumbled around, and continued to gracefully fall out onto some cotton balls (set on the ground outside the nest for just such an occasion.)

I took them all out at one point to raise the nest and placed them all in a temporary blanket lined box- no one even tried to escape it and were all very cozy and content. I’m not sure what their motivation is for escaping the actual nest, be it curiosity, or simply trying to stretch… though the nest itself is quite large and the babes can go just about anywhere inside. A theory is they might simply be too hot? Suffocating? Worse? I just don’t know… can’t seem to find anything helpful on any websites either.

As frustrating as the escapees may be, I’m worried they’re not being fed anymore because I raised the nest. Is Mom-bun abandoning them because of a taller nest? Is she simply rejecting the nest? Maybe the entrance is to high/small? She still jumps on top of it to rest, but doesn’t appear to be going inside at all. Her cage is right by my bed and I will usually hear her blocking the nest entrance after a feeding while I’m trying to sleep (she digs and shoves everything in front of the entrance, food or not, no excuses!). I have not heard any routine digging, and have not seen her inside (her tail usually sticks out of the nest while inside) for 2 days now.

While there might be a simple solution staring me in the face, I just can’t seem to find it… I have also never had such an active litter before! This is also Mom-bun’s first litter, just in case that might be part of the issue… any kind of help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

edit: there are currently 3 babies outside of the nest right now just sleeping in a pile, loving life … time may be important 

[Muchelle]

I don’t know about this, but if you think the babies’ or mother’s life is in danger you shouldn’t wait for a response on the forum and call immediately your vet. Even a phone consultation might be a life saver!

[jerseygirl]

Can you see if she is still lactating?
How often did you see her go to feed them before? Im wondering is she has just reduced it to once a day but it’s at a time when you haven’t seen her? I suppose you’d see changes to the entry of the nest though, if that were the case.
Since they’re all in a cage, could you just have the nest in a corner in something like a tray and no top? So just some hay and fur to place over them if still needed. You could put a blanket over the top of the cage at that end to make it feel more enclosed.

Ever since Mom-bun accidentally saw one crawl out, she has been very anxious about keeping the nest closed and has started to slow her eating.

I’m also wondering if perhaps she has other kits coming, conceived at a later date?

I recommend you post about what’s happening on the forum Ive linked below also. There are many more members experienced with Mums and babies. The link will take you to the relevant part of the forum. http://www.rabbitsonline.net/forumdisplay.php?f=20

[Binks]

Oh yes she is lactating 100%, and I have seen/heard her go in the nest at least once every night. It’s only since the babies started escaping that she has just… stopped feeding them… but I can’t force her to feed them… I’m thinking the nest is just not needed anymore??? the babies are just having none of it! 

The nest is in the back corner and takes up one third of the cage (large cage, large nest, large rabbit) I don’t quite understand what you mean. The top is not removable. The nest is very enclosed and safe with only one entrance.

Again, not understanding what you mean, she has only been with a male once in one day and one time and has gone through the full 31 days of pregnancy… and 10 days late? doesn’t seem reasonable. or possible.

Thanks for trying to help, I’ll look into the website. I just thought I’d try here first as to try to make as less un-needed and one-use accounts as possible.

…I just feel so helpless..I don’t want the babies to die…

[jerseygirl]

Hopefully someone else here will have more of an idea and some advice for you too, definitely not trying to steer you away from Binky bunny. . I was thinking you might more about this issue of Rabbits Online. Even check old thread there if you prefer not to make an account or post on there.

Is the cage you have more like those hutches with the enclosed sleeping area?

If you think the babies bellies are not looking full, you can try putting them on her while you hold her. I think you can even give a bit of cooled boiled water to keep them hydrated.

Can you see if they are peeing?

[jerseygirl]

This might be useful. Its the relevant part from HRS article but rest of it is to do with wild rabbits.  http://rabbit.org/faq-orphaned-baby-bunnies/

The Bunny is DOMESTIC (i.e., pet rabbit, NOT wild) and Really Orphaned – How do I care for a domestic baby?

Baby Domestic Agouti Bunny

Baby Domestic/Pet Agouti rabbit baby

Remember that both the domestic pet rabbit and wild bunny moms only feed their young usually once in the middle of the night. Don’t assume the mom is not caring for them if you don’t see her nurse them. Check their tummies to see if they are round and the babies are warm in the morning–this means she is caring for them. In the rare situation that you have an orphaned domestic bunny, such as when a domestic rabbit mom is sick or refuses to care for her young, you will need to feed the babies. Overfeeding is a leading cause of death in these youngsters which results in fatal intestinal disease.

If truly orphaned, use KMR KITTEN powder formula (can also use Meyenberg Regular Goat milk found at Safeway in the milk section or Whole Foods until you can find the KMR KITTEN formula), and follow the directions on the can.  It may be easiest to start with a 3 cc/ml syringe or an eyedropper.  Some use pet nurser nipples on the end of a luer lock syringe, or a teat cannula on the end of a syringe. Feed only with the bunny sitting UPRIGHT, and point syringe down towards bottom or side of mouth, so if too much comes out, the baby does not aspirate! For those who are slow to learn nursing, SC fluids may be necessary to prevent electrolyte imbalance or dehydration (check with a vet on this only!!).  Domestic buns with closed eyes should be fed 2 x a day, and the number of feedings gradually decreased until they are weaned. If their eyes are still closed, you need to stimulate their bottoms with a warm moist towel after feedings to help them to pee. (Domestics are weaned about 6 weeks compared to wild bunnies who are weaned about 3-4 weeks for cottontails and 9+ weeks for jackrabbits). Bloat is commonly associated with too frequent feedings and too much at one time.

Feeding Amounts for DOMESTIC/PET Orphaned babies*:  Feed twice a day up to these amounts:  Newborn– 2.5 cc/ml each feeding.   One week old: 6-7 cc/ml each feeding.  Two weeks old: 12-13 cc/ml each feeding.  Three weeks to six weeks: Up to 15 cc/ml each feeding (a.m. and p.m.).  Note this is for DOMESTIC, NOT WILD bunnies.  Each bunny varies.  If this is a smaller rabbit, he will consume much less.  Do NOT overfeed!  Contact an HRS contact, rabbit vet, to be sure.

*After each feeding it is important to make the bunny defecate and urinate (if the eyes are not opened yet) to keep the intestinal tract and urinary system running smoothly (only UNTIL their eyes are open).  Use a cotton ball moistened with warm water and gently stroke the anal area until the bunny starts producing stool and urine and keep stroking until the bunny stops. You are reproducing the behavior of the mother rabbit who would lick her young to stimulate them to go to the bathroom and to keep the nest clean.

Provide a soft nest area in a box with clean towels, and cover the babies so it is dark until their eyes are open. Do NOT provide extra heat if the room temperature is at least 65 to 70 degrees F because excessive heat can be fatal. If the room is cooler, then you may place a heating pad on a low setting under no more than HALF of the nest so the bunny can move to a cooler area if it gets too warm, and be sure there is no way the mother rabbit can get to or chew the electrical cord!

For domestic rabbits, if you have a healthy adult rabbit at home and you can collect cecotropes (the soft, chain-like droppings that the rabbit usually eats) then these can be mixed with the KMR to give the baby bunny normal bacteria for its intestinal tract. Only one cecotrope per day for 4-5 days is needed. This is particularly important for rabbits under one week of age. Also good is to sprinkle acidophilus powder, also called “Probiotic” from human capsules in the milk a little each time for healthy flora for both wild and domestic bunnies.

As soon as their eyes are open, you may introduce the bunnies to plain alfalfa pellets, hay, such as oat hay, timothy, alfalfa. Please refer to the handout Care of Rabbits for more information on diet for domestic, pet rabbits.  You may reach care@rabbit.org for domestic/pet rabbit questions.  Below is the email for wild rabbit questions:  wildbunnyrehab@gmail.com (wild)  (If links above did not answer your question).

(See above for wild rabbits). For all rabbits,  avoid ANY regular milk, puppy formulas, etc.  Use KITTEN formulas like KMR.  Avoid Esbilac. Feed only upright.

Sources: Caring for Cricket – What Not To Do When You Find a Wild Baby Bunny by Julie Smith and Handout by Midwest Exotic Animal Hospital, and additional wild bunny info by M. Wilson (HRS educator and rehabber).  For questions not answered about wild rabbits above, email: wildbunnyrehab at gmail.com

You can pick up the babies and see if they are feeding by checking the size of their stomachs (should not be sunken in), the pinkness of their skin and activity level (they should not be blue in color or sluggish in movement) and the amount of time that you hear them crying (baby bunnies should be quiet most of the day….if they are crying constantly then they are not getting fed). If they are warm, mom is most likely feeding them, but again, she only comes back in the middle of the night.~ http://rabbit.org/caring-for-orphans/

 

[Binks]

I posted on the website, hopefully getting a response soon. 

It’s a large dog crate/cage. It’s well secured and very open spaced. One floor only.

I’d rather not use any force as to break trust, Mom-bun is also very stubborn and only lets me hold her when she wants to be held, leading to difficulty putting her back in her cage, Also while the babies are pouring out of the nest and going near her she hops away, not wanting to feed them- I doubt she would let me hold her upside down, or even still for them at this point.

I cannot afford to purchase any sorts of ‘extras’ such as kitten milk or whatever it is so feeding them myself is out of the question. The babies do seem to be holding up alright, still as round and warm as ever. 

I just don’t know what to do to keep them inside the nest- or to let Mom-bun know she can go feed them! 

this is so frustrating….

[jerseygirl]

If they are round and warm, she probably is feeding them.

Sometimes the mums will move them back into the nest themselves.
Maybe line the whole crate with good straw or hay? If they stray from the original nest, the straw will provide some insulation.

This is worth a read, if you haven’t yet seen it.  If anything, it might reassure you that she is feeding them.

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

[Binks]

Mom-bun cannot put the babies back in the nest, the entrance to the nest is not ground level anymore, and she does not seem to care if they are outside at the moment… eeeehh .. I’ll do what I can.. running on 4 hour sleep, she made lots of noise demanding food last night, she’s not even eating most of it.. this is strange. I’ll go ahead and put the 3 babies that are outside back in and just hope for the best, thank you so much your time and help I really appreciate it!

the article was useful, thanks. I’ll try not to worry anymore.

edit: y’know what- I have a fairly sized mango crate, I might just replace the nest with it… I’ll think about it some more… it wouldn’t have a top lid though so the babies might not be as warm. Hmm..

[Author]

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