I think my rabbit is rejecting her 1st litter

Question
QUESTION: Hi Dave,

My doe gave birth on the 17th and I did not know she was due yet, so I didn't have a nest box in the cage. I was able to gather all the kits and place them in a nest box filled with her fur and paper shredding. There are 8 kits total, all still alive. My doe has not been feeding the kits and has pretty much no regard for them at all (jumps in the nest on the kits). My friend told me to feed the kits by putting my doe on her back and putting the kits on her to suckle 2-4 times a day. I have been doing this for 2 days now and she still hasn't taken it upon herself to feed them on her own. This is her first litter and I know sometimes they don't really know what to do, I need some advice. After I hold the kits to her to feed I wipe there bums with a warm moist Q-tip to encourage them to go to the bathroom. I've held a few up to my doe and she does lick their bums, but not always. I don't understand what is going on with her. If she continues to not feed them should I continue to hold them to her, or feed them a formula? If they do need hand feeding, do you know what the best milk to use is? I truly appreciate all and any advice you can give me. Thank you in advance.

Alicia

ANSWER: hi Alicia your first problem was not having enough hay in the cage so she could build her own nest
secondly all does need to be on their own to feed them and so not want to get interfered with or they may reject them
don't try and feed them yourselves just let her get on with it.most does feed at night when nobody is around.
if you see they are not growing feed them on cows milk and usually i put some mashed up bread soaked in milk so they can suck on this if they want to.its best if you feed them to remove the doe before hand and when you have fed them put her back..
Dave.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dave, I'll begin by saying I know Alicia and her doe. I don't think you're an expert on lagomorphs, or know more than common knowledge regarding them. There was enough hay in the cage for Alicia's doe to make a nest. She just chose not to do so. Maybe because it was her first pregnancy or maybe she was too young to grasp what was happening. Also, yes you can give kits cow's milk, however goats milk would be the best choice. (I'd mention that when future questions come in.) Next, it does no harm if a human feeds kits themselves so I'm not sure why you said not to. You also said the doe will "just get on with it." This is absolutely nothing more than a possibility or wishful thinking. MANY does, especially young mothers and first time mothers reject their litter and don't feed or care for them. I figured a rabbit expert would know this! As for the milk-soaked bread.. Never had I heard of this and it's probably not a good idea considering high carbohydrates aren't good for rabbits! Although I may have came across rude I'm not meaning to, however I do think it best to not relay information if you're unsure of it's validity, especially when it comes to a living thing continuing to live or.. not. Lastly, Alicia and I have (since her post) been caring for these kits, feeding them ourselves by holding them to the mother's teets and making a nest ourselves and placing them in it. We've even got the mother to acknowledge and accept them. Thanks to the help of one or two people actually knowledgable on the subject. Out of 8 kits born, we have 8 kits who are alive and now on day 4 receiving care from their mother. Thanks...-Nick

Answer
hi nick TX for your answer which i do not find offensive but i have never tried to feed the kits to a doe in all my 12 years of showing.
and i have only given cows milk when i thought it was necessary.
what i do when they have their eyes open i put some soft bran flakes in a small food bowl and the baby's like to chew on them then slowly introduce a dry mix.
Dave.