My rabbit has has babies!

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Hi, my rabbit has dug a hole under her run, made a nest and had her babies down there. I can hear them but i cant see them as they are under a paving slab and soil. She keeps filling the hole back in with soil and hay. What do i do? Should i just leave them or can i have a look by moving the paving slab? I'm worried incase she does not feed them? Thanks Leanne
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You can look at them, but make sure to put things back the way she had them. She has them like she does to keep them from being cold.
Samantha
Sorry it took me so long to get back with you. I have been away from home.



Hi and thanks for answering my question, i also wanted to ask you if you know when the babies will come up from underground and into the hutch, and when they do can i fill the hole back in? Thanks Leanne

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They should start moving around really good at about 3 weeks old. Then they will likley follow mom into the hutch. Since she has a hutch, you could gather the nest and babies up and put their nest in the corner of the hutch-if it has a solid bottom. This would make sure they are warm enough. I would fill the hole in to make sure mom doesn't have babies under it any more and so that the babies cannot escape and get under there to get lost.
Samantha


Hello again! I have brought the babies up from the hole and into the hutch in a box with their mum. Everything seems to be going ok (there are 6 babies) I just need to know at what age will the babies stop feeding from their mum and eat pellets and at what age should i seperate the male from female and also when i do seperate them will the father be ok with the baby boys? Thanks Leanne
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Babies will be weaned at about 6 weeks old. They will start eating pellets around 4 weeks or so, but this is still to early to take them away from mom.  MAles and females need to be separated from each other by the age of 12 weeks, because some rabbit mature out earlier than most. The father will likly fight the boys. Boys getting along with other boys is not very probable. Usually fighting begins as they mature, and males will fight to the death. Each rabbit should have their own pen once they are 14 weeks for sure.
Samantha

Why is it that each rabbit needs to be in their own hutch? and if i was to get the male rabbits neutured would they not be ok living together?  Thanks again Leanne

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Each rabbit needs to live in their own hutch mainly because of breeding and fighting. Males will fight other males once mature to the death over dominance. Males and females housed together will be breeding after about 3 or 4 months. It is safest to put them all in separate pens for these reasons. Females raised together from birth will be fine together, but once bred or separated for just a short time, will fight also. If you get the males all neutered, then yes they all can go in  same pen together as long as the space accomidates all of them. 24X24 inch cage space for each rabbit in the pen is a good rule to follow.
Samantha