Early Self-weaning

[Desert Rose Rabbits]

So, I've noticed that for the last halfish week or so Mama hasn't needed to fight off the babies. I'll have to look at my calendar, but I believe the litter is now 4 weeks old. I havn't noticed them bugging her for almost a whole week... honestly, I haven't seen any of them nurse. Anyways, this litter is eating everything I offer them, or that they see Mama eat, and (knock on wood) haven't had an GI issues, but I was wondering what the normal self-weaning age is? Also, if a litter is self-weaned, is there any reason to keep them with their dam? These guys aren't going to be pets, they're meat, and the only ones who will get much human contact are the kits that we hold back for future stock... so again, any reason for them to still be with their dam?

 

[SarahMelisse]

My dams usually wean their kits at around 4 weeks old. I start taking kits out of her cage (2 a day) when I sex them at about 5-6 weeks old just to be sure. Make sure they are eating and drinking on their own.

 

[Dood]

I don't think it is self weaning but that the milk dries up so they don't bother.

I've had 5 to 10 week old kits steal the milk of does who've just had litters.

And know of no reason to keep them with their mom as long as they'll have their siblings to cuddle with.

 

[Desert Rose Rabbits]

I don't think it is self weaning but that the milk dries up so they don't bother.

I've had 5 to 10 week old kits steal the milk of does who've just had litters.

And know of no reason to keep them with their mom as long as they'll have their siblings to cuddle with.

Thanks Dood, was wondering about that. It took her a while for her milk to come in and was wondering if she might have dried up. Think I'll go ahead and start moving the kits to the growout cage and not worry about it. They aren't trying to nurse at all.

 

[Nyctra]

I spend maybe a little too much time around my bunnies...and I've noticed that when they learn to eat and drink on their own, they just look like they've lost interest in mamma. But then comes the dawn/dusk milk time when they suddenly become a pack of wolves and hunt her down! :lol: It happens very quick, and once I caught 10+ week old bunnies hunting down mamma. (She was still really full of milk, it was weird. x_x ) lol
So, I don't think they're actually weaning themselves, and the doe may not be dry yet. I think weaning at that age is fine though.

 

[Secuono]

Does learn to just lay on their bellies when kits are around 2-3wks old. They refuse them all the time, but still jump over above them to feed on her time, not theirs. I've seen my does keep feeding this way for 6wks and longer. But you'll rarely see it unless you are out there near them for long periods of time. They stopped doing am/pm feedings and looked to be more of a random day time.