Rabbit babies

Extract from Rajis book 'Milking babies from rabbits'

With Rajis permission I am going to list some does and don'ts of rabbit babies, breeding/nursing does, nest box and weaning.

Rabbit babies DO's

1. Put in a nest box on the 28th day of pregnancy
2. Make sure the nursing doe has plenty of fresh water to drink
3. Fill the nest box with dry grass
4. Check the nest box 24hrs after she kindles and remove dead rabbit babies if any
5. Check the rabbit babies daily to be sure they are being fed and to be sure the doe does not need help feeding the kits.
6. Clean and disinfect the cage two weeks after birth, just before the babies start coming out of the nest box.
7. Feed the young babies dry grass/feed and fresh water once they start eating hard food until they are 4 months then you can introduce fresh green and vegetables.
8. Separate the rabbit babies from the doe at 3 months in Extensive breeding or at 4 weeks in intensive breeding.
9. Separate males from females at 3 months old
10. Fatten the males for slaughter from 3  to 5months (2 months)

Rabbit babies DON'Ts

1. Don't touch the babies immediately after they are born.
2. Don't put the nest box in too soon.
3. Don't use hard objects as nesting material.
4. The nest box should not be move from it original position.
5. Kids should not be allowed to handle the litter/litter box without supervision.
6. Too much or loud noise around the does hutch should be avoided
7. No stranger should be allowed close to the maternity  hutch without supervision.
8. Do not leave the buck together with the doe before, during and after kindling.
9. Scattered baby rabbits should not be left on the hutch floor. Pick them up, warm them up, place them in the nest box and put the nest box back to where the doe is.
10. Male and female rabbit babies from the same doe should not be allowed to stay longer than four months together.

10 Baby rabbit facts

 

With a gestation period of four weeks the baby rabbits are born blind, deaf and hairless on the 30th or 31st day from mating.

 

These ten baby rabbits facts are worth remembering for every rabbit breeder.

1. Baby rabbits open their eyes from the tenth day
2. Baby rabbits depend solely on the mothers milk until they are two weeks old
3. By two weeks, new born rabbits are fully covered with fur, have functional eyes and ears
4. Baby rabbits start eating solid food from two to three weeks fro birth and will begin to come out and run around at this age
5. Baby rabbits born same day by same doe are called litter (collective name)
6. Baby rabbits begin to wean from the mothers milk at three weeks
7. The early morning cecal droppings from the nursing doe which the baby rabbits eat helps in introducing the necessary micro flora that aids digestion of solid food in them
8. Between the ages of one month and three months, baby rabbits can be sexed
9. Baby rabbits have fragile digestive system and should be fed mostly dry fibrous feed until they are four months to introduce fresh greens and vegetables
10. The mortality rate in baby rabbits is higher between two to four months when they wean from the mothers milk

 

There are tons of baby rabbit facts on the net. You might have some and want to share it with the world... drop it in the comment box below someone might find it useful.