OOPS...babiesUnexpected, Unplanned Litter Support
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This happens way more commonly that people may think! Due to a huge surplus of clueless breeders and pet shops many bunnies are sexed incorrectly, and well, bunnies tend to reach maturity before you know it so ensuring bunnies are the right genders is crucial! Bunnies are notoriously hard to sex though, so in some rare cases you may even find a reputable breeder gets it wrong, this is very unlikely though. Even as young as 8 weeks old a bucks testicles can descend and impregnante another bunny, so selling a buck and doe together is never really a good idea (I do not sell buck/doe siblings). More and more often I am receiving messages from owners who have 2 does, to find out they actually have a buck and a doe. This is not ideal, and can be very unsafe for the bunny, especially if they are pregnant young. But as we know, accidents happen.
If you see any signs your bunny is pregnant or find out one of your bunnies are incorrectly sexed. First step you should take is, SEPARATE, I know it may be sad splitting the bunnies up if they live happily together, but this needs to happen. You could create side by side living so they can see each other but you MUST have at least an inch gap between both bunnies pen sides and added small mesh. Believe it or not bunnies can mate through the bars of a hutch or run!! If you keep the bunnies near each other you must also ensure the doe has a safe space where she won't feel threatened by the other bunny. Most Does increasingly get hormonal, irritable and territorial when pregnant. After separating the buck and doe, book your boy in for a neuter procedure. Please note he will still have to be kept separate from your doe- bucks can be fertile for up to 8 weeks post op! I would strongly not recommend letting your buck interact with the babies or put him back with your doe until her babies have left and she is spayed and recovered. You will need to rebond them both after this.
Did you know a bunny can get pregnant in BOTH uterine horns? Yep, you read that right... Bunnies have 2 uterine horns so theoretically can get pregnant with 2 litters with different due dates- CRAZY RIGHT?! This is pretty dangerous on the doe due to lack of nutrients for both litters of babies and herself so it is not too uncommon for a bunny carrying two separate litters to miscarry one of the litters unfortunately...Did you also know that the doe, if living with the unfixed male still, can IMMEDIATELY get pregnant again after giving birth? By separating the unfixed opposite sex bunnies, not only does this prevent further pregnancy but this also will long term, reduce the stress for the doe as she will not be pestered by the buck.
Back to back litters are VERY cruel. I personally believe that no ethical breeder would do this or pet owner should allow this knowingly (Once is an accident, even twice if immediate pregnancy post birth but more than this is very reckless) and please beware of the red flags when getting your new bunny such as: Both parents living together or The mother already having a younger litter! Accidents however, do happen but it is important to correct this and prevent it happening again.
Did you know a bunny can get pregnant in BOTH uterine horns? Yep, you read that right... Bunnies have 2 uterine horns so theoretically can get pregnant with 2 litters with different due dates- CRAZY RIGHT?! This is pretty dangerous on the doe due to lack of nutrients for both litters of babies and herself so it is not too uncommon for a bunny carrying two separate litters to miscarry one of the litters unfortunately...Did you also know that the doe, if living with the unfixed male still, can IMMEDIATELY get pregnant again after giving birth? By separating the unfixed opposite sex bunnies, not only does this prevent further pregnancy but this also will long term, reduce the stress for the doe as she will not be pestered by the buck.
Back to back litters are VERY cruel. I personally believe that no ethical breeder would do this or pet owner should allow this knowingly (Once is an accident, even twice if immediate pregnancy post birth but more than this is very reckless) and please beware of the red flags when getting your new bunny such as: Both parents living together or The mother already having a younger litter! Accidents however, do happen but it is important to correct this and prevent it happening again.
Signs that your Bunny is pregnant...
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So Nesting is probably the most common and to some, alarming sign. Some bunnies nest early but quite a lot nest and pull fur during labour. You may walk in on your doe running round with hay in her mouth. The most obvious sign that a rabbit is beginning to nest is if she's piling up bedding or digging into a corner of the Hutch. A nesting rabbit may also pull her fur out to line the nest. A doe *usually* pulls fur when in labour or a couple of days before she is due but it is not uncommon for them to nest early. If you have 2 does and one starts to nest this does not necessarily mean that your other bunny is incorrectly sexed. False pregnancies are not uncommon in unspayed (even spayed) does, especially from 6 months+. But if you find out your little Milly, well, has a Willy. Expect babies.
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Another big giveaway is that your bunny begins to gain weight, though bunnies don't always get a 'baby bump' you may notice your does stomach gets a little rounder, and she has more of an appetite.
At around the 2 week mark the does stomach will start to grow dramatically. You may find she feels a little bloated and 'full'. In the late stages of her pregnancy. |
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The biggest giveaway if your bunny is pregnant Is seeing kicks and movement! So many people notice gut movements on their bunny and immediately thing they are pregnant. Baby kicks should not be confused with gut movements which are much more regular, circular, wave motions across the bunnies lower stomachs. Baby bunny kicks are sharp flicks from within or short pushing movements from under the skin. usually kicks are visible from day 26+ of gestation. Please watch this video to help you to determine if you are intact seeing baby kicks or gut movement!
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So you have found a litter of babies...
Sometimes bunnies can hide all signs of being pregnant and one morning you may of woken to the shock of a nest full of babies! First things first, don't panic. Mama bun should follow her instincts and look after her young without any intervention. Ensure that the babies are all alive, sadly sometimes babies can be born DOA so it is important to remove them if there is any as they can cause the other babies temperatures to drop. Make sure that all babies are cleaned and alert. After a quick check, cover the little ones up in the fur the mother has pulled. You only need to check the babies 2/3 times a day to ensure all are in the nest and fed well. For the first week of life the babies will begin to grow fur and almost double in size. I would recommend to increase your Does food and also start feeding some forage to support milk production. Milk Thistle , Dandelion , Nettles are what I feed my does post birth plus this 'Get Well Soon' Blend from Lottie's Little Rabbitry to help keep her calm and heal her as like most mothers post birth, she may be a little sore.
ARE MY BABIES FED?
BABY MILESTONES | 0-8 weeks
1-2 WEEKS OLD
So at this stage the babies will begin to grow rapidly and fur up. Babies eyes will begin to open at around 7-12 days old on average, after this stage, they will likely begin to bimble out of the nest.
2-3 WEEKS OLD
Babies will begin to be more active out of the nest and you may see them start to binky! At this stage they may begin to nibble on solid food such as hay, pellets etc. I personally chose to add 'Carrs Entracare' Into the water of the doe & babies to prevent any upset tummies as they begin the long process of moving on to solids.
3-5 WEEKS OLD
At this stage the babies will start looking more like bunnies! If they are lop breeds they will begin to lop, if they are long haired breeds like lion heads they should start getting fluffier. This is the ultimate cute stage!! They will be eating a lot more solid food now and relying less on mama buns milk, though they will be almost fully weaned they will still be feeding off her. They will love to play and binky so ensure you have lots of toys as stimuli for them. If you have a nest box, when the babies are approx 3/4 weeks it is time to take the nest away- this also prevents any bacteria growth due to all the pee & poop from the last few weeks etc. I begin to feed my little ones forage at this stage - my top favourites are "Floral Fantasy" and "Confetti Meadow Blend"
6-7 WEEKS OLD
At this stage I begin to feed my does Mint - The mint will help to dry up the does milk. The babies will be weaned now at this stage and very comfortable on solid food. You may decide to separate the babies from the mother at this stage though this is not essential.
8-10 WEEKS OLD
This is the age when babies are ready to leave for their forever homes. This is dependent on the breed/size of the babies etc. Sometimes if babies are a little small I hold them back till 10 weeks etc (my bunnies are Mini lops). I personally do not let any leave under 600g. For giant breeds, babies should not leave until 10+ weeks. When babies leave, I recommend feeding "Chill Pill" forage and "Chamomile Loofah" to your doe to keep her calm- as babies leaving can be very stressful on the mother.
So at this stage the babies will begin to grow rapidly and fur up. Babies eyes will begin to open at around 7-12 days old on average, after this stage, they will likely begin to bimble out of the nest.
2-3 WEEKS OLD
Babies will begin to be more active out of the nest and you may see them start to binky! At this stage they may begin to nibble on solid food such as hay, pellets etc. I personally chose to add 'Carrs Entracare' Into the water of the doe & babies to prevent any upset tummies as they begin the long process of moving on to solids.
3-5 WEEKS OLD
At this stage the babies will start looking more like bunnies! If they are lop breeds they will begin to lop, if they are long haired breeds like lion heads they should start getting fluffier. This is the ultimate cute stage!! They will be eating a lot more solid food now and relying less on mama buns milk, though they will be almost fully weaned they will still be feeding off her. They will love to play and binky so ensure you have lots of toys as stimuli for them. If you have a nest box, when the babies are approx 3/4 weeks it is time to take the nest away- this also prevents any bacteria growth due to all the pee & poop from the last few weeks etc. I begin to feed my little ones forage at this stage - my top favourites are "Floral Fantasy" and "Confetti Meadow Blend"
6-7 WEEKS OLD
At this stage I begin to feed my does Mint - The mint will help to dry up the does milk. The babies will be weaned now at this stage and very comfortable on solid food. You may decide to separate the babies from the mother at this stage though this is not essential.
8-10 WEEKS OLD
This is the age when babies are ready to leave for their forever homes. This is dependent on the breed/size of the babies etc. Sometimes if babies are a little small I hold them back till 10 weeks etc (my bunnies are Mini lops). I personally do not let any leave under 600g. For giant breeds, babies should not leave until 10+ weeks. When babies leave, I recommend feeding "Chill Pill" forage and "Chamomile Loofah" to your doe to keep her calm- as babies leaving can be very stressful on the mother.
