Ok, my baby bunnies are now 18 days old and I've seen them out of the nestbox twice.... The last time I did this was years and years ago. What is the minimum age they can be separated from their mama? The floor in the cage she is in needs repair desperately...some stray dogs were biting at it and have pulled it off the staples and way down....but I'm afraid to move them too soon. Help please....
4 weeks minimum, 8 weeks recommended. Why can't you put them in a temp thing, then fix the hutch and put them back?
The mama is so spacey I'm afraid to move them until they can survive on their own. It's her first litter, she is happy with my hands in the cage but I don't think she would like pliers and a staple gun.....And my nestboxes are attached off of the back. They were out of the box yesterday am, hopping around the cage. Talk about cuties! Snowbunny herded them patiently back to the nestbox, then barricaded the door with hay!
Due to a doe becoming ill (mastitis), I know that many kits can survive on their own if they are eating and drinking by day 21. However, I don't recommend weaning this early as I believe that kit survival is reduced. Growout times are much slower also. My experience is only with New Zealands, Californians and a herd of 100 does. Perhaps others have better luck and growth rates. If I find it necessary to repair an occupied cage, the animals are moved into a transport carrier while the work is being done.
I will move them to a carrier while I fix the cage, but hopefully I can hang on til 4 weeks...that way, if the doe goes spastic, they have a better chance of survival. thanks all!
Place the doe in a carrier and the kits in a box. Fix cage, puts some hay in it (to eat) return kits and then mom. I have never had a problem moving them this way. Even spacy does! I have even transported 2 week old kits and mom to a new place several miles away without losing any. (long story to why) But I would fix the cage before problems and kits get out. Denise
