well dangit!

[boundarybunnyco]

checked on the bunnies after work. Tamsen, first time mommy with 8 babies, two days old, has eaten some. they were ALL out of the nest box. the box was not tipped over. one was eaten clear up to its front legs, one was dead but untouched, one was missing a front leg and dead, and one was completely gone. four were in the corner of her cage in a new pile of fur. yesterday when I fed her she bit me hard, so I'm thinking she's overly stressed and nervous. something must've spooked her last night. I cleaned everything up, put new hay in the nest box, put the fur and live babies back in the nest, and gave her extra pellets, hay, and BOSS. she has been extremely protective, and she pulled so much hair it looked like she killed a pillow in there. I think she must have just panicked. should I leave the babies with her or not? if it matters, she is only 6.5 months old.

 

[ohiogoatgirl]

awww sorry to hear about the lost kits. wish i had an answer but i'm a newbie and i dont believe i've ever heard of that. the only thing i can think of would be... i once saw my dutch doe tip over her nest while trying to move it around in the cage. maybe the nest tipped while she was moving it around and she just freaked out after moving the first few and stressed she ate the others.

hope someone with more experience can give you a better answer. <hugs>

 

[arachyd]

I answered on HT but I'll post here in case it helps someone else. I would question whether she did it or some predator got at them. Rats are very good at keeping their presence a secret and baby bunnies' front legs go through wire very easily. Her stressed actions could be the result of something lurking around trying to get her babies the last 2 days. I would bring the kits inside except for feedings until they are big enough to run around.

 

[boundarybunnyco]

I have thought of that, but last time I did so they all died.

 

[MaggieJ]

I agree with Arachyd that this sounds more like the work of rats than of the doe herself. She sounds very stressed... and no wonder. In this situation I would heave a sigh and clear room in the house for the whole cage. I prefer to keep the kits with their mom if at all possible and since the doe is stressed too a safer environment may help her to raise her remaining kits.

 

[fuzzy9]

How awful........sorry about the kits you've lost. Poor momma.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Poor Mama! I agree it sounds like rats- nasty creatures- they are very opportunistic. I would second Maggie's suggestion and bring them inside. Also buy a bunch of traps and see if you catch the culprits. Rats like peanut butter and dog kibble. They can be very smart, so sometimes you need to bait the traps without setting them at first until they get confident that they are safe.