Let me start out by saying I've been breeding rabbits on and off for 10 years. I'm well aware of new mom's not caring for kits but these 3 bunnies have me stumped.
This happened to me last summer so I think the summer heat may have something to do with it. Then maybe the food I'm feeding? However, I was hoping to get a few opinions.
We live in S. Texas and my bunnies are kept in an outdoor shaded area. I've been feeding Wendlands Rabbit Pellets. It's not my choice pellets (Manna Pro) but Wendlands is $13/50lbs vs Manna Pro's $18/50lbs. I feed pellets free choice. Pregnancy momma's & mom's with babies also have access to coastal hay and all bunnies get a tiny handful for Timothy Hay daily.
Momma #1: failed to raise her 1st 2 litters. She nested so heavily it almost looked like she smothered them. Pulls more hair then I have ever seen. Babies were not eaten. Just purple and squished under all the hair. Finally on her 3rd litter she had 1 live. She raised it up to just shy of 4 weeks old. I was so happy. It was a beautifully marked Tri Mini Rex (what I'm working on). I never touched the baby in fear of new momma rejecting it. I was planning to pull it out at 5 weeks old. However, just before it turned 4 weeks old, I came out to it missing... only it's head remained. :x
Momma #2: 2nd Time momma. Raised her 1st litter. OK. Not great. She didn't pull fur. A few didn't survive but overall she managed to raise a couple of her 1st babies. Now 2nd litter she did perfect. Pulled fur. Had 8 babies. All were doing GREAT until eyes opened. Barely 3 weeks old. I came out to carnage. She had killed 2 and eaten feet off of all but 3. They were all over the cage. I don't know if she pulled them out or if they had hopped out. The only one uninjured was still in the next box. Now I left 3 of these babies with her (2 are missing a few toes). She has been great since this incident and raising the babies. They will be weaned soon.
Momma #3: 2nd Time momma. 1st litter was only 2 babies but she did great. No problems. 2nd litter of 7. 4 days old. I heard squealing this morning. This is a long awaited litter from my new show quality buck. I was SO excited. She had just eaten the feet & ears off of most of the babies Only 2 are untouched. I have not touched these babies. I had not even checked on the rabbits this morning when I heard the squealing.. I know they were happy last night. I could see them all unharmed and wiggling around the nest. I've brought the babies inside for today. I have a doe about to kindle I'm hoping I can foster the 2 uninjured babies over to her tonight... the others I will put back and hope momma figures it out. :/
ALL of these momma's had food, hay & water. Not anything out of the norm.... I can't find any reason for them to do this... Other then they are "newer" mom's. This has all happened in the last few weeks. WHILE this was going on I had 2 experienced/older moms raising litters flawlessly.
Did I just have a run of bad luck or am I missing something? It is summer and very hot. I know that can stress them and my litters are usually smaller. Babes dehydrate quickly and all.... but eating/killing healthy babies? I've switched to Wendlands food over the winter and so far all the rabbits have been doing well with it...
Ideas?
This happened to me last summer so I think the summer heat may have something to do with it. Then maybe the food I'm feeding? However, I was hoping to get a few opinions.
We live in S. Texas and my bunnies are kept in an outdoor shaded area. I've been feeding Wendlands Rabbit Pellets. It's not my choice pellets (Manna Pro) but Wendlands is $13/50lbs vs Manna Pro's $18/50lbs. I feed pellets free choice. Pregnancy momma's & mom's with babies also have access to coastal hay and all bunnies get a tiny handful for Timothy Hay daily.
Momma #1: failed to raise her 1st 2 litters. She nested so heavily it almost looked like she smothered them. Pulls more hair then I have ever seen. Babies were not eaten. Just purple and squished under all the hair. Finally on her 3rd litter she had 1 live. She raised it up to just shy of 4 weeks old. I was so happy. It was a beautifully marked Tri Mini Rex (what I'm working on). I never touched the baby in fear of new momma rejecting it. I was planning to pull it out at 5 weeks old. However, just before it turned 4 weeks old, I came out to it missing... only it's head remained. :x
Momma #2: 2nd Time momma. Raised her 1st litter. OK. Not great. She didn't pull fur. A few didn't survive but overall she managed to raise a couple of her 1st babies. Now 2nd litter she did perfect. Pulled fur. Had 8 babies. All were doing GREAT until eyes opened. Barely 3 weeks old. I came out to carnage. She had killed 2 and eaten feet off of all but 3. They were all over the cage. I don't know if she pulled them out or if they had hopped out. The only one uninjured was still in the next box. Now I left 3 of these babies with her (2 are missing a few toes). She has been great since this incident and raising the babies. They will be weaned soon.
Momma #3: 2nd Time momma. 1st litter was only 2 babies but she did great. No problems. 2nd litter of 7. 4 days old. I heard squealing this morning. This is a long awaited litter from my new show quality buck. I was SO excited. She had just eaten the feet & ears off of most of the babies Only 2 are untouched. I have not touched these babies. I had not even checked on the rabbits this morning when I heard the squealing.. I know they were happy last night. I could see them all unharmed and wiggling around the nest. I've brought the babies inside for today. I have a doe about to kindle I'm hoping I can foster the 2 uninjured babies over to her tonight... the others I will put back and hope momma figures it out. :/
ALL of these momma's had food, hay & water. Not anything out of the norm.... I can't find any reason for them to do this... Other then they are "newer" mom's. This has all happened in the last few weeks. WHILE this was going on I had 2 experienced/older moms raising litters flawlessly.
Did I just have a run of bad luck or am I missing something? It is summer and very hot. I know that can stress them and my litters are usually smaller. Babes dehydrate quickly and all.... but eating/killing healthy babies? I've switched to Wendlands food over the winter and so far all the rabbits have been doing well with it...
Ideas?