pregnant bunny keeps losing litters

Question
Hi,
I have a friend who has two holland lops, a male and a female.  The female accidentally became pregnant before she was 6 months old.  The bunnies were either stillborn or she did not feed them and they died.  Several months later she lost another litter.  I think they were alive when they were born, but my friend is concerned that the mother didn't attempt to feed them and they were cold and scattered.  She picked them up and warmed them with her hands then put them back with the mother.  When she went to check on them some time later, they had died and the mother was eating them.  I read somewhere that if you handle the babies too soon, the mother might eat them.  Is that just a myth?  Now she's taking pains to keep the male and female separate, but if she does want to breed them, what should she do next time to ensure a safe pregnancy and healthy babies?  THank you!  

Answer
Dear Melissa,

A mother rabbit will behave this way if she is very inexperienced, or if she is living in a stressful environment.  She needs to be away from the male rabbit, and in a calm, spacious place where she can feel safe.

It is also possible, however--especially if both parent rabbits came from the same breeder--that the two are too closely related, and they are producing inviable young.  I would have to know more about their genetics to say more.  

All that said, I would urge you and your friend to read the following article for more information:

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

The best thing for both bunnies would be to have them spayed/neutered so they can live as a happily bonded pair, and not have the stress of constant sexual frustration and birth of babies, all of which shorten the lifespan.

For the best information on rabbit care, please visit www.rabbit.org/

I hope this helps.

Dana