five day old rabbits.

Question
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Followup To
Question -
I have about six / seven five day old rabbits in the mothers nest. I found one that had died at three days old and last night one was out of the nest and seemed to have been dragged onto the shed floor where it had been mutilated :( I didnt think females moved their young so what has happened? They are all in a secure shed so nothing else has been in there and all the other babies seem fine. I dont touch the babies and only check on them visually once a day which the mother is fine with. The mutilated baby rabbit was alot bigger than the remaining babies and I am wondering whether it just crawled out of the nest on its own?!

Please help as I am worried sick that she is going to kill the rest of them.

Thank you.
Answer -
hi michelle- my guess is that the doe dragged the young one out whilst it was feeding, this is quite common and I think it was the doe that mutilated the baby, some does do this, keep a good eye on her.  anymore coming out you will have to put back , once they have there eyes open all should be well.
the doe will have panicked when she saw the baby out the nest and so will have attacked it.as  say some does do this.
dave.

Thanks for that! She is an excellent mother so I couldnt understand why she had killed one?! I can only check on them twice a day as I am at work but do you think this will happen again (I know you arent psychic but I am very worried about them!).

With regard to the babies do I leave them where they are when they are moving around or can I move them so Snowy (the doe!) can have her house back!

Sorry for all the questions. This is my first litter and I want them all to be happy and healthy!


Michelle x  

Answer
ok michelle, dont move them at all , leave the doe to carry on with them but keep a good check on her- at 7-10 days their eyes will be open and then they start movig about and may come out the nest dont worry, they should then be ok.they need to be with the doe for 6-7 weeks.
dave