I am so confused!

[Attal.Rabbits]

I am so confused as to win my rabbits can leave there mother. They are almost 5 weeks and i was going to get them adopted out at 5 weeks. the mother rabbit will be having a litter at the end feburary. They are eating on there own and drinking on there own and eatnig pellets. I have sperated them from there mom and let them visit her twice a day. they seem to be really doing good. I have read so many posts saying they should be with there mom for at least 8 weeks because they can die of bloating. and such and digrestive issues if they leave her any sooner. but some say 4 weks is fine some say 5 weeks some say 8 weeks. i am sooooo confused! i am ready to get these guys settled into there new home. what age can they leave there mama!?

 

[LeAnn24]

Bunnies can be fully weaned and separated from their mother by the time they are 5 weeks old. However most states require that they be at least 8 weeks old before they can be sold.

 

[Dood]

In most states it is illegal to sell a rabbit that is younger than 8 weeks old.

You can start to wean them at 4 weeks and eventually place them in a separate cage but the stress of placing them in a new home by themselves can cause the diseases you mentioned.

Rabbits are very susceptible to stress related diseases and they will benefit from living with their siblings until they are 8 weeks and their digestive systems are more mature and they can handle the move to a new environment.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

:yeahthat:

 

[Miss M]

I usually leave mine with their mother until they are 6 weeks, but there are some that are fine at 4 weeks. It probably depends on the rabbits. Some are probably genetically predisposed to be stronger at 4 weeks, while others will contract enteritis.

But yes, most states don't let you sell before 8 weeks.

 

[Attal.Rabbits]

Thanks everyone, I am going start letting them visit there mother only once a day starting tommrow, then will go a few days and see how there doing. then after that i will start seprating them in there own cages gradually. i will put two in each cage then after a few days or so will have them in there own cage. then probably hopfully by 7 weeks i will let them go to there new home

 

[Demamma]

I leave my little rabbits together until they are about 3-4 months old.

 

[Frosted Rabbits]

I like to just start housing the youngsters in a cage next to their mother-- they have the benefit of visual and scent contact-- sometimes even grooming through the wire--they will still learn from Mom-- safe sounds, scary sounds--
Having the youngsters eating everything their mother eats before the separation occurs goes a long way to preventing the '"weaning enteritis" that so many young rabbits experience. Just think, if you sell a youngster that can only eat ONE food, and the new family floods its guts with something totally different-- who gets blamed for resulting issues? But, sell a kit whose digestive system has already been introduced to a variety of foods, and has the flora to digest them, the transition to a new home and diet becomes a much better experience for all concerned.

 

[ladysown]

easiest way to wean kits?

Move mom and kits to the cage you want to wean the kits in. Leave mom in with them for 2-3 days and then remove her to her own cage. Makes it really easy on the kits.

 

[Attal.Rabbits]

Thankes everyone! great advice. the babies have been seprated from there mom for about a week now, and they are happy. they do see there mom once a day still but i am starting to make it g longer and longer and in a few days they wont need there mom anymore