Expecting First Litter *PICS*

[RustyPocket]

Hello everybunny.

Back when I bred Fawn to Rubin on 29th and 30th August and 1st Spetember, I thought waiting a month will drive me crazy, but now it seems like it all went by in a minute. I tryed palpating, but I couldn't feel anything. Luckily, Fawn was quite a good hint giver, so when she started "tunneling" (she didn't really tunnel, but she did try to dig burrows under her straw/hay bedding) and when she suddenly got plumpy last week, I was almost completely sure she is pregnant. Today I took my transporter apart and put it into two shady corners of colony to make sure she has a choise on where to build a nest. She took it right away and started sniffing around. I did check her today (I didn't really do it last month, you know, to prevent any handeling) and can tell her teats are pretty big and pinkish. So, she could kindle any day now, depending on when the mating was successful. Here's two pictures of her nestboxes:




For more, check my blog (link in the signature).

So, what can I ecspect for the first time. I mean, we had many litters before, but it was not my rabbits and my parents did all the work around. Also, this is the first time we have a doe that will kindle in colony and not a cage. Is there something I should do/shouldn't do to make it easier for Fawn to deliver and take good care of her babies. I will keep you updated with what happenes and stuff. Anyways, thanks for reading. -Marko

 

[Dood]

Rabbits pretty much do it on their own.

The main concern is kits being scattered around and chilling so hopefully she builds a nest and has them all there.

If there are other rabbits in the colony the can try and breed/mount or just pester the doe during labour causing her to leave the nest and birth kits elsewhere and this was a big problem in my first colony

 

[RustyPocket]

If there are other rabbits in the colony the can try and breed/mount or just pester the doe during labour causing her to leave the nest and birth kits elsewhere and this was a big problem in my first colony

Thanks. There are no other buns in the colony. The biggest problem of mine when first opting for colony was getting another doe, because Fawn is really mean to any other doe I tryed to put her together with, even if they were outside in the yard, she would run into and attack any other doe (including own mother and sisters), so I kind of figured out the safest way of obtaining another doe would be simply leaving one of her baby does with her.

 

[Dood]

That is likely your best option but some does are just anti-social and are intolerant of the offspring after a month or as they become sexually mature so please keep vigilant

 

[Marinea]

With two possible nest boxes, I would make sure to check them both to be sure she doesn't have some in one box and some in the other. Once she has them, I would make sure all the kits are in one box, and I would remove the other.

Good luck!

 

[RustyPocket]

With two possible nest boxes, I would make sure to check them both to be sure she doesn't have some in one box and some in the other.

No need for this one.

FAWN KINDLED.

And she didn't do it in either of the nestboxes

When I got back from school, my grandma told me Fawn had pulled fur, and I walked in the stable and saw small pile of fur in between the two nestboxes. I was like :shock:. "You have two nestboxes, yet you decide to be special" was the first thing I told her. I didn't really think she had babies since the nest was so small. So I returned after half an hour and decided to sneak a peak of her nest. SHOCK! There is something in there. I removed some of the fur and saw tiny slugg-like creatures crawling around. I didn't really expect the babies to get around for another day or 2. There is six of them, all pretty much the same size, some of them are darker and some slightly lighter (I know it's mostl likely to different modifiers, but I would love to have Oranges, Fawns and Creams). When I returned this evening, she had built quite a nest, pulled out pretty decent amount of fur (it always shocks me that short haired breeds have so long fur, and so much of it). Here's a few photos of babies and the nest.


I am surprised that Fawn built her nest this good for the first time. There is some bedding and fur under the babies, as opposed to my fear of having them in the concrete floor.


Kits' bodies aren't coloured yet, but I really like their yellowish heads.


Putting a finger (accidentally) over the flashlight, I took this photo from which it's ovbious that kits had their dinner already.

So, that's pretty much it for now. I don't want to disturb the nest any more and will handle babies in a few days. For more photos you can visit my blog.

 

[Sagebrush]

Congratulations! They are adorable little wiggle worms

 

[shelly027]

I have a dwarf rabbit that has not had her kits yet. she is 37 days today. this is her first time being pregnant. but over this weekend when we checked her private was swollen for a few days. so I gave her some tums. and she was eating less food. but now when yesterday when we checked her no more swollen and she is back to normal eating habbits but you can still feel and see movements in her tummy. so what should I do? I'm new at this. please help....

 

[MaggieJ]

Shelly, I know you are new here and are concerned about your doe, but please do not post about the same problem in so many places - especially not in someone else's thread on a different topic. No one is going to be upset with you on this occasion, but please bear this in mind when you post in future. Thanks!

 

[RustyPocket]

Hello again. Here I am today with some fresh photos of babies. Surprisingly, Fawn makes a wonderful mum and so far all the babies are doing great. I thought that we could lose a kit or two simply because she is a first timer plus it is the first time I am have a doe kindle in the colony and stuff. I guess I simply should have more hope for Fawn. So, here are pics of 4 days old baby bunnies. Seems like they are even in colour, but I swear there are two that look really pale when compared to others. I guess we will see in about a week or so. OK, enough me talking, here's the real thing:


The nest is getting bigger and bigger daily. Is it normal for doe to pull fur and build nest even few days after she kindeled?



I would say that they are more orange the Fawn used to be.


Here's one of the babies, one of the "darker" ones. Note tiny white dots on it's side, they have it on their heads as well and it looks a lot like dandruff. Is it something I should get concered about?


Fawn turned out to be such a sweet mother. I don't remember her licking me ever since she hit her puberty age at 3-4 months old, but no she does it happily whenever I get to see babies. She also stopped nibbling on my clothes and even ate from my lap without doing any dramas. I sortof want her to have babies all the time.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Congratulations on the litter!

Funny rabbit- I guess she prefers the "open air" nest option!

Note tiny white dots on it's side, they have it on their heads as well and it looks a lot like dandruff. Is it something I should get concered about?

Nope- perfectly normal. Not all kits have it, but they often have flaky skin when their fur is first coming in.

I don't remember her licking me ever since she hit her puberty age at 3-4 months old, but no she does it happily whenever I get to see babies.

Licking can be a sign of affection, but it can also be that she is licking salt from your skin. Does she have a salt or mineral block? We had a member that almost lost a bunch of rabbits because they were on a grain and hay diet and had no access to salt.

 

[RustyPocket]

Licking can be a sign of affection, but it can also be that she is licking salt from your skin. Does she have a salt or mineral block? We had a member that almost lost a bunch of rabbits because they were on a grain and hay diet and had no access to salt.

Thank you. Huh, it didn't occure to me. I did get a rodent salt lick last Spring and offered it to Fawn and Rubin, but they didn't pay attention to it. Seems like I have some searching to do.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I did get a rodent salt lick last Spring and offered it to Fawn and Rubin, but they didn't pay attention to it.

I first offered the mineral salt licks to my rabbits when I was feeding weeds, grains, and hay, and like your rabbits, a lot of them seemed to ignore them. They did eventually start to use them though.

My rabbits are on pellets now, but even so they all have a mineral salt lick in their cages. I just break chunks off of a 50lb block, and the chunks have a dull rough surface. I can tell they are using them because they become smooth and shiny as they lick them.

A friend of mine is convinced that the reason some does eat their newborn kits is due to a lack of salt or minerals in their diet, so I always double check my pregnant does to make sure that they still have a block in their cage.

If you can't find your salt lick, I would offer her some table salt in a separate dish in her pen until you find it.