My bunny is acting weird!

Question
QUESTION: Hey! i have asked questions before about my rabbit having babies.
Well she had them and they are growing up well. The problem is the mummy rabbit has stopped eating (she sometimes nibbles) but she isn't eating half as much as she should be. She is still drinking and pooping normally but the eating less is worrying me. Also her babies will be 4 weeks old on Thursday but everytime they try to feed from their mother she growls at them and hops away! they try and try then eventually they give up! they are eating solid food and drinking water but are they not to young to stop feeding from their mum?

I am starting to worry incase they are not being fed and incase my rabbit is seriously ill!

Please help as much as possible so i can put my mind at ease about the babies and my baby bunny!

Thank you
Cheryl

ANSWER: Dear Cheryl,

Any time a rabbit is not eating, it's a major cause for concern.  Please get her to a good rabbit vet immediately:

www.rabbit.org/vets

and please read:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/sickbun.html

so you'll know what to do in the meantime.

The babies should get four more weeks of mother's milk, so if something happens that she dries up, this won't be great for them.  But if this *does* happen, I would not rush to give them supplemental formula, since sometimes that can do more harm than good.  

In case of emergency, you can use this:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/orphan.html

But I'd avoid doing that unless it's absolutely necessary, if they're eating and drinking on their own.

I hope this helps.

Dana

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

QUESTION: Hey, thanks for your help. Well i had taken my rabbit to the vet and found out that she was carrying more babies. Well she had 3 last night but they are extremely small. is there any chance that they are under developed because she was feeding other babies at the time she was pregnant.

My rabbit is fine now, she is eating well and put on a healthy amount of weight. her babies are fine and eating solid food!

Thank you for your help is was much appreciated
Thanks. Cheryl

Answer
Dear Cheryl,

Yikes!  Well, I hope she's not been with the male since she gave birth to the last litter, because if she has, then she's pregnant *again* and this could really threaten her health and even her life.  Please have the male neutered ASAP so this won't happen again.  It's for the health and safety of mama and all her babies.

Yes, it's quite possible that the new litter is small because she's been spending so much energy feeding the first litter.  If you have to feed any of the new babies, I hope the information here will help:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/orphan.html

as well as this one:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/surpriselitter.html

to help set up everything for best chance of survival and health.

Good luck!

Dana