We had bunnies!!!!

jolly rabbit · #1 07/08/12, 10:58 PM

our 2 does finally kindled this morning, first ones! our grey rex had 12, and our black rex had 9. will they be able to feed all the kits? might seem like a strange question but it crossed our minds. will upload pics tomorrow!

Haven · #2 07/09/12, 07:06 AM

Congrats. Some people will take kits from a large batch and add a few to the nest will less kits for that doe to foster, assuming the foster mom is taking care of her 9.

Joan · #3 07/09/12, 08:46 AM

We had our first experience with fostering a few weeks ago. We have a NZ doe that had 11 and couldn't take care of them all. 1 was all skin and bones at a week old. We put the little guy in with another NZ doe (first time mom) who only had 7 and it worked! I'd watch and see if she can take care of them all. Isn't it exciting to see your first bunnies? I thought I'd get used to it but I still get excited and nervous for the moms when their time comes close. Congratulations!

jolly rabbit · #4 07/09/12, 09:05 AM

thanks and yes it was nerve wracking, want to make sure i wasnt doing anything wrong, my wife wasnt here to help out at the time, locked myself out of the house! it was a hectic morning lol.

Barnhouse · #5 07/09/12, 09:14 PM

Congratulations jolly rabbit.
I'm a first time popple person too. Having lots of fun. This litter of 8 will be 3 weeks old in a few days. Should I be putting out anything for them to eat other than what mama gets?

I have them in a stall in my barn so they have plenty of room to move around.
They all seem to be thriving except for the runt who I had to feed with a syringe a few times. He's about a third of the size of the others, but he's doing ok now without the extra feedings.

Looking forward to your pics J. R.

lonelyfarmgirl · #6 07/09/12, 11:25 PM

Your litter of 9 will be fine.

arnie · #7 07/10/12, 09:12 PM

Barnhouse your 3 week old kits should be eating some on there own if you are feeding good hay and pellits its ok iv herd that whole oats is rough on their stomacks don't feed greens I have given a very little bit of apple to the mama to keep up a good relationship and they nibble some with no bad effects .maybe I should have mentioned this to the people complaining of crazy meat rabbits lately while feeding every day or so I'll feeda little slice of apple or carrot even a leaf of horse weed and always : as with all the livestock say hello or speak to tbem in soft tones let them know your in the barn no suprises are coming this works wonders even with the livestock in pasture

Barnhouse · #8 07/11/12, 09:45 AM

Thanks arnie, I will follow your advice.
I didn't realize how nerve wracking being a new granny would be.

rabbitgeek · #9 07/11/12, 10:44 AM

I've used oats from the supermarket with success for young kits. Get the "old fashioned" kind which is less processed than the "quick" kind.

Don't feed greens to young kits. You can give them hay. And add a shallow water dish in case they don't figure out the water bottle. You can add marbles or rocks to the water dish if you are worried about them drowning.

Congratulations!
Bouncy kits is the fun part.

Have a joyful day!
Franco Rios

Macybaby · #10 07/11/12, 01:32 PM

my kits get almost nothing but fresh greens. That is what I start tossing in the pen as soon as they start to grow in the spring after the snow melts. So the kits start eating them along side Mom at about 3 weeks old. I put out a crock of pellets as they are too small to reach the feeder for the adults, but they always prefer the fresh food.

I start my adults off slowly each spring, building up to about a gallon of greens per adult each day. SO when the kits start leaving the nest, I've worked up to the full amount. Unless they are born in the winter, my kits have unlimted access to fresh greens as soon as they want them. Greens won't hurt kits, but a rapid change in diet will.

jolly rabbit · #11 07/15/12, 09:03 AM

its been crazy busy, rabbits and a new puppy and planning a wedding(Grrrr) happy to be married to the girl of my dreams not so hot on the planning part.
anywho here is a pic of the bunnies, these are full sized black rex (doe) mixed with a white/grey mini rex (buck) that was given to us. got some cool colors even some brown popped out!

farmerstac · #12 07/15/12, 10:24 AM

Congrats on the litter

dragonjaze · #13 07/15/12, 05:29 PM

SPOTS!!! omg, I love spotted bunnies.

floodthelast · #14 07/16/12, 11:35 PM

They are all beautiful.

jolly rabbit · #15 07/17/12, 11:18 AM

its funny, because my wife and i hated the doe that kindled this litter, she is a t total -----. but since breeding she has calmed down. and she is a great mom. so prolly will keep her

jolly rabbit · #16 07/20/12, 08:18 AM

new update, it was 91 degrees yesterday, and for some reason we lost 6 of our biggest and healthiest looking kits from one litter. and 1 from another.

we felt horrible.

so i tries relocating our hutches to a different spot we shall see if it works any better.