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fathers of newborn bunnies

22 11:20:08

Question
We have 2 rabbits that was housed with chicken wire between them. They decided that breaking through the wire and snuggling together was what they wanted to do. You guessed it...baby bunnies. They bunnies lived less then one day. My question is, will the father kill newborn bunnies if they are together? I am not sure if he killed them or if it was just not a right time for momma or what.
Thank you,
Marilyn Tuttle

Answer
Dear Marilyn,

Father rabbits are usually not aggressive towards babies, and it's not likely that he killed them.  The mother might have, if she was stressed, and in her inexperienced, groomed them too enthusiastically.  But sometimes first litters die for other reasons.

Before you have another accident, please read:

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

and

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

The two bunnies can live very happily together once they're spayed/neutered (and preferably inside, where they can be litterbox trained).

You can find a good rabbit vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

Good luck,

Dana