She gave birth...now what!?

[rawketstarling]

I wasn't sure if my doe was pregnant, but I counted the days and figured it was any time now, so I put in a nest box. Sure enough, this morning I went out there and she's got 6 babies, all alive!! I'm all flustered and twitter pated, so I'm not sure what to do! She'd had them outside the box, in a nest of hay and fur (she lives in a floored hutch), so I scooped them up into it. I did touch them, so now I'm worried she won't come near them again??
Also I have no idea what to do now! How can I tell if she's nursed them? How often should she go see them?
She's a first time mom, I'm a first time breeder. We're learning together!

 

[Zass]

I did touch them, so now I'm worried she won't come near them again??

Relax.

The doe isn't going to abandon her babies if you (or anyone else) touches them.

I check on and handle all my kits daily. You will know if they are fed because they will have nice plump tummies. It can take a couple days for milk to come in, and rabbits only nurse once or twice a day...

How often should she go see them?

Do not be shocked if you never see her near them or feeding them.
Most rabbits would rather not be seen nursing.

 

[MaggieJ]

Relax! Take a few deep breaths. Better now?

Sounds to me like you and your doe are doing just fine. You don't have to worry about touching the babies. That's an old wives' tale that the doe will abandon them. It would have been nice if the doe had used the nest box, but she did build a nest so all should be well.

As far as whether the kits have been fed, you will need to pick them up and look at their tummies. If the tummies are somewhat distended and full, they've been fed. If they are shriveled and wrinkly, then they have not been fed. Sometimes it takes a bit of time for the doe's milk to come in, so don't panic if they haven't been fed yet.

This thread may be helpful:
fed-vs-unfed-kit-pictures-t3052.html

Ah, it seems Zass beat me to it!

 

[Susie570]

Others have already given you great advice, I'm just posting to say 'Congrats'

 

[Marinea]

Congrats! Sounds like the both of you are doing well as first timers.