Help, 12 bunnies?

[North Star]

I have been away from raising rabbits for 25 years, I bought some a pair of 12 week does and had them together in the same cage, they are smaller than my other does. Last month I tried breeding them both for the second time, first time last fall didn't take. I went out this morning to feed and there was fur pulled and a pile of buns, 12 in all. I removed the rabbit who I thought wasn't the mama as the buck I put he is just ignores the does when I put them with him, I know I need to get rid of him
I got a nest box and put a little hay and the fur and put buns in there taking a count, there are 12, got in house and told hubby we have 12, he said he didn't think 12 was possible for one doe.
The dilemma, what to do now? What if both had buns?

Any help would be great, what should I do?

 

[Dood]

The mother(s) of the kits will have fur missing from the belly and the teats will be full of milk - or at least within the next 24 hours

Some does can feed 12, while some have trouble with 5 :shock:

You will just have to check the kits each morning to see if they all have full bellies. I try and foster kits to does with smaller litter or I cull down to 8 kits, or what ever that particular doe can handle. If you don't want to cull the runty kits you can try splitting the litter.

What I've done is pulled out the 4 fattest kits each morning so the smaller ones get a chance and return them 24 hours later and pull the next 4 fattest for 24 hours and so on. Others make 2 litters of 6, one litter gets fed in the morning and the other in the evening.

 

[North Star]

Thank you Dood, I will go check their bellies. They all look to be plump healthy kits.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Make sure to give the other doe a nest box in case she is also pregnant.

 

[North Star]

I will give the other a nest box, I don't think she is pregnant.

I split the litter to 2 nest boxes and will switch them out so everyone gets fed. This is her first litter so I hope this works out.

Thank you for all your help. Anyone else who has advice I welcome it

 

[Miss M]

It should work out just fine that way. :good-luck:

 

[North Star]

I do hope so Miss M.

I will go out and switch nest boxes before I go to bed.

 

[Sagebrush]

I would keep both nestboxes in the house and just take the one to be fed out, that way there she is ready to feed them when you take them out and you do not end up with a box of kits missing multiple feedings in a row.

 

[ladysown]

I wouldn't have split them. Many does can handle 12 just fine and you don't know if you don't try.

sometimes, as Dood says, you just need to remove the fattest for 24 hours, but best to just let her make a go of it so you know what she is capable of. It's good to know these things in case you ever have to do an emergency foster.

 

[Miss M]

I wouldn't have split them. Many does can handle 12 just fine and you don't know if you don't try.

sometimes, as Dood says, you just need to remove the fattest for 24 hours, but best to just let her make a go of it so you know what she is capable of. It's good to know these things in case you ever have to do an emergency foster.

That is a very good point.

 

[North Star]

You are so right ladyown.

I put all the buns in one nest box this morning and will keep and eye on them, I wouldn't be so concerned except this is her first litter and when I had rabbits before they only had litters of 5 or 6.

Thank you everyone for your wisdom, I will keep you updated on the litter.

Vicki