Please reply to me!

Question
My female and male rabbits live in my garden and my female is pregnant BUT i cannot lock her in one cage and let her give birth. Male usually stays away anyway because my female rabbit has made her own house underneath my shed. This is ok? I hope it is because i am not going to lock any of them in a cage where they are really sad!

Answer
Dear Sarah,

If you can't separate them temporarily, then please at least have the male neutered ASAP, so that when the mama gives birth he cannot impregnate her--which he will do within *minutes* of her giving birth.  Count on that!  If he does this, then she will give birth again before her first litter is even weaned, putting a huge strain on her, and putting both litters at risk.

You can find a good rabbit vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

Please read:

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

for instructions on how to prepare.  If you're going to leave her outside to use the burrow, be sure it's safe from flooding.  She will usually plug the entrance to the burrow when she leaves, after feeding the babies.  If your yard is relatively predator free, the babies should be fine.

Please also read

www.rabbit.org/health/spay.html

I hope this helps.

Dana