When to remove momma?

[Susie570]

I've read different things about when to separate the mom and kits. Our babies are 4.5 weeks old and definitely eating solids, but still sneaking the occasional suckle. It seems everyone agrees that babies shouldn't go to new homes before 8 weeks, so wouldn't it be best to keep them with mom until then? Or should they be moved sooner? :?:

 

[Zass]

Your your intuition for this one, since there isn't a hard and fast rule.

I feel that mine do better if weaned later, but my does actually nurse all the way up to 8 weeks. (Note: this does not mean that the kits continue to only take just milk. They start nibbling solids before their eyes open, but will take milk as a supplement pretty much as long as a doe will allow it.)

People who wean earlier often do so because the doe has already been bred and they want to give her a break(a few days to a few weeks) before the next litter. Or because the does stop nursing at 4 weeks and is upset by the presence of the babies.

If my does have a place to get away from the babies they are much less upset by their presence, and the kits eventually learn that seeing their mother doesn't automatically mean "feeding time" heh.

 

[macksmom98]

I am really new to all of this but I believe the main concern I have seen on this issue is just to make sure there is no chance of having them all together if there is any possibility of sexual maturity. You do not want unplanned pregnancy of the mom or any babies-so leaving them until that time would not be good. Otherwise I believe I would leave them together until 6 weeks or so, and leave one in for a little while with mom after removing the others just to help her milk dry up a little more gradually. That's about the earliest I would do it-see how others respond tho I may be wrong

 

[Zass]

The earliest sexual maturity possibility that I know is : 8 weeks for very small breeds and 12 weeks for larger ones. It's not really common though. Most are surprised if they get a buck who has become viable at 16 weeks.

 

[EnglishSpot]

I removed four of the six kits when my doe started looking and acting anxious all the time, right around four weeks. She was a lot more calm with only two in the cage with her, but as of last night she'd had enough of them, too. To note, my doe is due to kindle this week again, so that may be a factor. I plan to see how long she can tolerate this next set of babies since I don't need her pregnant right away again.

 

[Dood]

I feel that it is more stressful if kits are suddenly cut off from milk, momma and their siblings when they are sold at 8 weeks so my pet bunnies are removed from moms cage at 6 weeks at the latest and those that have been reserved are caged individually at 7 weeks to help get them ready to live on their own.

My meat rabbit kits are removed when I need the room for newborns so usually at 6 weeks

 

[Susie570]

Momma doesn't seem stressed to be with the babies (she did seem stressed when they very first started coming out of the nest box and following her around, but I put in a box for her to sit on and now she seems pretty chill with them), so I guess I'll take my time with them. She's already out of the cage, having 'floor time' for usually at least a few hours a day, so that probably helps. I plan to start taking deposits at 6 weeks and letting them go at 8 weeks, so I guess from 7 weeks I'll start separating them out, the largest ones first. Thanks everyone

 

[Dood]

Not stressful on the mother but traumatizing for the kit to loose so much at once when sold which is why I like to do it gradually in stages oops, just realized you were responding to English Spot :roll:

 

[Susie570]

Not stressful on the mother but traumatizing for the kit to loose so much at once when sold which is why I like to do it gradually in stages oops, just realized you were responding to English Spot :roll:

yes but certainly thank you for the info of it being stressful to the kits as well. I mean, honestly I suspected it would be, but hopefully not as much as it otherwise would be, since they are all being handled regularly and often. <br /><br /> -- Mon Mar 16, 2015 10:26 am -- <br /><br /> So... I've just finished building my first deluxe rabbit condo. I've taken Momma River and moved her from the 30x36 (where her kits are) to the new digs.

I'm sure there won't be a problem having her separated from them during the day, but at almost 7 wks, should I just go ahead and leave her out overnight too, or should I put her back in with them at night? Or should I leave her out tonight, put her back in tomorrow night and start spacing it out, or ?? I can't tell if she's still letting them nurse at all anymore, I felt her teats and they all seem to feel pretty normal now, maybe still a little puffiness in her chest teats. I'm really not sure.

River did seem a bit stressed out when I put her into the new setup yesterday for a while, so I took her back out after maybe half an hour, but now she seems comfortable and willing to explore.

Thoughts??

River enjoying her new luxury home (side view)


Front view - exploring

 

[Marinea]

Nice condo there.

At seven weeks, everyone should be ok with the split. I wouldn't stress her out more by moving her back and forth, or the kits either.

 

[Susie570]

Nice condo there.

At seven weeks, everyone should be ok with the split. I wouldn't stress her out more by moving her back and forth, or the kits either.

Thank you I normally have fresh mint growing outside, but I don't think it will be available for a few weeks since we just got out from under snow. Should she be ok, even if she still has some milk?

 

[Marinea]

At seven weeks, I doubt she is producing much milk and should be fine.