Doe eating babies limbs??

Question
Our doe gave birth lastnight to seven bunnies, one appeared to be runt or a "peanut". We placed them all in the nestbox with the fur & extra shavings.. Only touching them minimally to check they were alive & to put in box. This morning two were dead, one definately bloody, and of the five remaining four have atleast one limb missing (eaten). Only one has all four limbs left, we removed the dead ones & replaced them together, Unsure of what to do next? Two are missing both hind legs but all 5 are alive. Will the mother  kill them? or eat them? Any help would be appreciated. The mother is about 6 months old. Thanks

Answer
Dear Jeanine,

A doe six months old is too young and inexperienced to do well with a litter.  She's a baby herself!  She is overgrooming them, probably due to stress and not really knowing what to do.  Yes, it's possible that she will kill the babies, but she is not doing this intentionally or out of meannness.  She's just a baby.

Please get the injured babies to a good rabbit vet:

www.rabbit.org/vets

for evaluation.  They may be saved, but might need antibiotics and other medical attention.

If the mama continues to show evidence of overgrooming and nervousness, remove the babies and try to raise them yourself:

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

Note that shavings are not healthy for mama or babies.  Please replace those with fresh straw or hay and keep it clean and dry.

For more information, please read:

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

and

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

I hope this helps.

Dana