rabbit had one kit yesterday more today??

[cjgibson2009]

Yesterday my rabbit had a kit stuck halfway out when i went to check her. I got it out but it was already cold and appeared to have a broken neck. I put her nest box in but figured that all the other kits would have died. Sometime today after 6am (the last time i checked) she had 4 more. They seem ok so far but my concern is that theyre like 4 days early. Is there anything i can do to increase chance of survival? I thought that rabbits gave birth within an hour or so..how common is this?

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Is she a first time mom or a small breed rabbit?

Sometimes they have a large kit that is difficult for them to pass through the pelvis, and those kits are born looking "stretched", and are born dead.

First timers (especially those that have trouble delivering the first kit) will sometimes get so scared from the pain of giving birth that they will stop their labor. This happens with humans as well, and is perfectly normal.

They seem ok so far but my concern is that theyre like 4 days early.

If it is very warm where you are the doe may have delivered the kits early as a way to prevent herself from overheating and dying. Summer litters are sometimes born early for this reason, whereas a doe that kindles in winter may hold them longer especially if it is a small litter.

If you can post pictures of the kits we may be able to tell you if they look premature or if instead you might have gotten your dates mixed up.

 

[cjgibson2009]

She's a Rex. I'll try and take pictures in the morning. The one that was dead was definitely stretched in appearance. So far the other ones are doing well. I checked and rechecked the date and they were born at 24 days gestation. I also think it had to do with the heat, their hutch is kept in the shade and is definitely a couple degrees cooler. I've tried the bottles with ice but they don't seem to get near it. Do kits born this early ever survive?

 

[ladysown]

yes, sometimes they do. if they are still alive now at least you have hope.