1st Litter of Rex Bunnies

Question
My daughter has a rex rabbit and she just had her first litter of bunnies (4) three of which were still born and one very fat. Since three were still born should I worry about the one that survived? It is moving and making noise but is very cold.  I had to move it to a warmer spot but not sure how the mother will react now that I have touched it.  This is my first experience with having a litter of babies.

Answer
Hi Susie

The best thing to do for the baby is to move it to a warmer area like you did but keep in mind that it is summer time and you don't want to over heat the mom.  Try covering it with more of the mom's fur.  Hopefully she will take care of it and in a few days it will have its own fur and it will be nice and warm on its own.

You don't have to worry about a rabbit neglecting its babies if you touch them.  Rabbits don't usually care to much.  If you ever do have an extremely aggressive rabbit and are in fear of the babies lives then just rub the moms fur with your hand so you have a bit of her fur on your hand and then rub it on the baby before you put it back.  Honestly I have never in my life seen a rabbit kill its babies because they were touched by people.  This is certainly not about you because you didn't know but there are so many foolish and ill informed people that they often cause the demise of the babies by trying to hand feed them believing they have been abandoned.  Rabbits actually only feed their babies about once and occasionally twice a day.  Other than that it is their natural instinct to stay away from the nest.  It is just far better to leave a baby with its mom than to try to raise it by hand.

Congratulations and good luck with the baby.

Pam

I am so sorry Susie.  I know how hard and frustrating it is but don't give up.  I have had so many rabbits that haven't made it because the mothers had poor instincts the first 2,3 or even 4 times.  It is also ok to rebreed her 48 hours after the loss of her litter, just in case it happens again.

Good luck

Pam