The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Other => Rabbits => Topic started by: melodrama on June 24, 2011, 05:19:15 pm
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We have two domestic rabbits that are kept in a two tier hutch at our home. Unfortunately, last night the catch must not have been closed properly (think it was me :() and they escaped. Believe it or not, after 2 hours of searching and cajoling I managed to get them back home safely. However, there were quite a lot of other rabbits hanging about - all of whom scampered as soon as they saw me; leaving mine looking at me wondering what I had done to scare off their buddies. Is the probability of my two females having been taken advantage of quite high? If so what is the liklihood of pregnancy? If the chances are high I would be grateful for any advice on gestation period, separation etc.
Melanie x
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I would think fleas and other beasties are as likely! ::) ;)
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I'd say pretty high!
Rabbits dont ovulate until they mate, ie they dont have a "season" until they've been at it like rabbits ;)
they gestate between 29 - 33 days, so this time next month could see the patter of tiny paws!
you could leave them together til about 25 - 28 days, they will strip fur from their dewlaps for nesting (my girls do this when theyre feeling abit hormonal, not always a sign of impending birth!)
and quite importantly ... keep that door catch on, rabbits can carry a second litter of a different age at the same time
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Thanks very much for everyone's advice. I will defo keep the latch on - been out to check it 2 or 3 times tonight already!! I'll keep you posted. Little blue - I had no idea they could do such a thing - never intended bredding them, just pets. I'll be more careful from now on and keep an eye on them - i take it I'll be able to tell if they are pregnant??
melanie x
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I didn't either... til the "buck" gave birth to litters a week or so apart!!
I know so much better now! :D
you cant always tell that they are pregnant, No.
they might "nest" (but see my other post) or become much more aggressive, eg if you go to pick them up as their time approches.
If they're outside, they might dig more, to make themselves a burrow.
they might look a little bigger, or get larger teats, but its not always easy to tell.
If/when they do kindle (give birth) do not handle the kits. They'll be bald & helpless, and easly rejected/killed/eaten by mum if she feels threatened. Or if she feels the environment isn't suitable (including if she gets too hungry or thirsty)
If she pushes them out of the nest, you're wasting your time trying to put them back, and hand rearing is difficult.
good luck,
Little Blue, and the rabbits!
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Thanks everyone. Unfortunately, the rabbits got out again in the night and are nowhere to be seen. Looks like there may have been a faulty catch on the hutch or something because I definitely didn't leave it open last night. Now wondering how I'm going to break the news to the kids when they come home today :( :( :( :( :bunny: :(
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Aw, sorry to hear that :(
check there's no holes too.
they may have found a way to "bump" the door, they're not daft!
Ours used to push up the floor of a double hutch, so the guinea pigs fell to the bottom, and the bunnies spent the night jumping from one floor to the other!
And dont feel too guilty, they are just answering the call of the wild - we lost an escapee not long ago too.
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Thanks little blue. I think they were bumping the door until the catch moved and off they went. I have seen them many times today and think one is still within 20 ft of the house but after spending hours trying to catch her she went under a trailer from the building site opposite us and hasn't come out but then it is piddling with rain so maybe she just doesn't wanna get wet!! I keep trying but seen no sign for hours now. Its an odd feeling though and they are NOT marked for living in the wild - white as white can be. The local hunting birds will spot them miles away so even a glimpse to know they are still alive is welcome right now. x
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Maybe you could try leaving food & water down in the hutch - they could return, especially if the weather is bad. Just watch-out for your veggie plot ;)
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do you have / can you get hold of a humane trap?
and set it near where you think they are... with their favourite treat
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Do you know anyone with a large fishing net - long handled? We once caught a wayward bunny with one of those. After chasing it all over my friend's garden! >:( She had left the catch off ::), gone on holiday, and I was feeding them. Went down there and they had gone!" One was under the hutch but the other was wily!
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you could contact Cats protection as they have the sort of size of trap you would need which they use for catching feral moggies, they might be willing to lend it.
agree white rabbit in wild = lunch for something....
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we have spotted munch, one of the bunnies again today - she is looking very scared but has managed to stay safe and dry by finding a little hole in the house being built next to us. Not the best place for her and she won't really come out today because its raining but at least I know she's ok for now. I will contact cats protection and find out about these traps because food isn't working. No sign of the other one tho :(
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our 1st rabbit spent a good year loose in our garden until she was PTS thru old age. since wev bin up here, of the 3 escaped rabbits, 2 were killed by the dogs and 1 caught after many weeks of trying. fingers crossed. live fast, die young, i think!
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We now have both bunnies safe and sound within their hutch. Who knows how many babies we might have coming though. At least they are safe and sound. Thanks to everyone for all your help.
Melanie x :love: :love: :bunny: :love: :bunny: :wave:
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Forte Knox vs Colditz vs Alcatraz next methinks ;)
Glad to hear they are back safe & sound, even if a little worse for wear!
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100% chance of babies now.
The first link I've given you has basic info:
http://www.petmag.co.uk/rabbits/rabbitbreeding.html (http://www.petmag.co.uk/rabbits/rabbitbreeding.html)
This second link has more info re looking after a pregnant doe:
http://www.mypetrabbits.com/Article/how-to-care-for-pregnant-and-baby-rabbits (http://www.mypetrabbits.com/Article/how-to-care-for-pregnant-and-baby-rabbits)
My bunny has just had her second litter so if you have any more questions post here or message me and I will do my best to help from my ( her :bunny: ) experience. I doubt you will be able to tell by looking if they are pregnant but some small consolation is first litters are usually less - my girls first litter was just 3 kits.
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That second link was brilliant - thank you so much. I will keep a watch out and panic when need be ha ha watch this space x
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phew, glad they are back safe & sound, if a little more (ahem) street-wise! ;) :D
chastity belts, chains & locks on the cage and an escapee alarm needed now!
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Good to hear your bunnies are home after their adventure - have they been at large all that time?!!! Luck must have been on their side to keep them safe from cats, foxes, etc.
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- have they been at large all that time?!!! Luck must have been on their side to keep them safe from cats, foxes, etc.
One of them we got back last week but the other was out the whole time and we have 2 hunting cats at the house! We also live in the country so plenty of predators and they are both very bright white. How they managed to survive is amazing but I'm really glad they did x
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They were extremely lucky - padlock the hutch to stop the Houdini's!!
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lucky white rabbits! :)
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well I just went out to give the rabbits their nightly feed and one of them has pulled out her fur and made a nest! One of them was in the closed off part of the hutch a lot yesterday and the other one was kicking everything. Anyway today, the nest is made so I have separated them and now wait with bated breath. I know this might not be impending birth but I have a hunch......... Is there anything that I should be doing or not doing? I have read a few articles, including the links on here and think I pretty much just leave them to it?
Melanie x
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yep, better to leave her to it - if she gets stressed she might kill the kits.
Good luck & keep us posted!
:)
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Thanks LB I will, you have been a great help through this so thank you very much :bouquet:
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We have a baby - only one though - isn't that a bit unusual? I'm worried in case mum is having problems with getting the rest out. Help please x x
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Personally i have never had a doe need assistance whilst kindling, how long since you found the 1st babe?
Check she hasn't dragged any out of the nest on her teats. if after checking that and if she seems well in herself i would assume that there is only the one (unusual yes) or there was a problem with some of the kits and she's eaten them. sometimes a doe will accidentally nip a kitten whilst delivering and then get over enthusiastic with the clean up and eat the lil one :(
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I don't think there are any more - just the one but it seems fine and is warm to the touch. I don't want to go digging about in the hay too much though but I'll keep checking on them. Thank you x
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fingers crossed it will all be well then, watch out for cold nights though as one baby can't snuggle up to itself. the little beastie may grow like a weed as it won't have to share the milk with anyone! ;D
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congrats on number one!
hope all is well
:wave:
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I've lost my cable to attach my phone to the computer to show you a pic but I'll figure out an alternative tomorrow - the baby is gorgeous though, quite plump and cosy to the touch. Mum has covered the baby in hay and fur to keep it cosy and it is moving around quite a lot and is still warm to the touch so I am hoping it stays that way - I am so excited though because I have never even seen a baby rabbit before and it is gorgeous! Very happy bunny - and the rabbits seem happy too ha ha ;D
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and the rabbits seem happy too ha ha ;D
well yes, they had their fun... nothing like a bit of rough!! :D
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I am sad to say that the little baby rabbit died overnight. I then double checked this morning and there is a nest with another 3 babies in it quite a way away from where this baby was. I wish I had looked earlier but you live and learn. Fingers crossed for these 3 x
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sounds like she'd removed this one from the nest then, nothing you can do once mrs rabbit has made that decision.
good luck for the other three, try not to get too close as she'll object to the "human" smell on them
( I don't mean to imply that you are only "human" in quotes, sorry!!) :D
we've lost lots of kits, and I'm sure some were through our over - interfering...
:wave:
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I would'nt touch new born kits , i would wait until they were ready to leave the nest .
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I didn't touch them either, they just didn't make it. I made a point of not interfering at all so that my scent wouldn't get on them - feel sad though, none of them made it :(
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What a shame :( These things happens with animals. It was nothing you did or didn't do.
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How are the young bunnys?
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We lost them all very early confused, it was a sad learning curve :(