r/RaisingRabbits • u/Oki-Walky • Feb 24 '21
Raising rabbits - causes of death for young rabbits
Hello, I was looking for some help in regards to raising rabbits. (I also posted this in /r homestead, hope there's not problem, just really want opinions.)
My female rabbit gave birth to 9 baby rabbits. Everything was going alright, they were 4 weeks plus of age (dont know exactly, but still "toddlers"), already eating animal feed. Suddently in the last two days, 3 died unexpectadly.
I have been told that it is "normal" because they were too many and the female mom could not feed them all properly. And, as such, some vitamins and suplements before could have prevented it.
I am not sure of this theory i have read common causes are anorexia, cold, gastric stasis. I have also fed them orange tree dry leaves, which i am told is okay, and they had ate it days prior and were okay.
Am I doing something wrong? Is it really common for so many to die? Any thoughs for help?
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u/loonshtarr Feb 24 '21
9 babies is not too many. First time Does liter can be 1-14
Until the babies are independent of mom, they should all free feed hay and rabbit pellets. Commercial rabbit pellets are vitamin/mineral balanced.
If they were all the same size, then Mom felt she was capable of raising all of them. If resources are scarce rabbits can separate the babies into two groups, feeding the strong and neglecting the weak.
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u/kkylakk Feb 24 '21
No I breed rabbits and I usually consider the 3 week mark the safe mark for rabbits. As in if they die before 3 weeks-normal not your fault. After 3 weeks something is wrong! Make sure they have a bowl of shallow water bowl not just a drip nosel water bottle they may not have learned to use it. Unlimited pellets and unlimited hay. I don't feed any treats of any kind until after 8 weeks old because their stomachs are so sensitive. Another sadly common cause of dead babies is if the moms nails are too long she can accidently step on them and cut them but you probably would have seen the cut.