rabbit newborn kits

Question
Hi!
My daughters rabbit gave birth for the first time last night to 5 kits.  We weren't sure she was pregnant, and didn't suspect it til yesterday.  I put a nesting box in yesterday but it was too late, and she didn't use it.  The kits were born on the cage wire.  She did build a nest, but she pushed all the hay and hair down into the bottom of the cage below the wire.  One of the kits was dead, but as of right now the other 4 are still alive.  She is ignoring them.  I did move them, and put them on a piece of white felt to get them off the wire of the cage, but is there anything I can do now to help her to mother them?  I am afraid it is cold and they are freezing to death.  This is her first litter.

thanks for any help you can offer.

Joanna N in MA

Answer
Hi Joana,

Why don't you try to salvage the nest, or if not, make a nest out of hay and cotton wool and put it in the nestbox. Then put the babies in. The babies cannot survive in the open. They need to be covered to keep warm, otherwise they will die of hypothermia. A wire cage really is not ideal for breeding as you have seen for yourself. She may or may not look after them but it is their best chance of survival.

Hope this Helps
Toni