Comments on: Dang Rabbit

By: Cathy

Cathy — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:54:40 +0000

First off, I’m glad I found your blog. We also have chickens, rabbits, and bees. I grew up in a city in a very clean, grocery store-oriented environment and for me there’s a very steep learning curve.

I understand about the rabbits. We started our rabbit adventure one year ago and have had mixed success. I think our main problem was buying rabbits from a local who didn’t want rabbits anymore. Now we know why.

Last summer we had three does (all our does) have litters in which all the kits died. In our case — which may be different from yours — it was the nesting material. We had switched hay, and the new hay wasn’t mixing well with their fur. We did find some of the babies alive and tried to warm them, but they all died. After we changed the hay our success rate went back to normal. But I still get nervous whenever I check on the rabbits after they kindle.

Regardless, good luck with the next litter. I’ll watch for updates.

By: esperanza

esperanza — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:34:43 +0000

@Stefaneener- I know. It really sucks to not now exactly what happened. I thought of a heat lamp. I have to figure out the electricity issue. I think it would have even been enough to just line the box with something soft and warm.

By: stefaneener

stefaneener — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:11:36 +0000

So sorry about this. We only had kits once, no problem, so I know nothing. The cold weather is a toughie though. I wish you had a direct cause, ’cause then you could fix it, you know?

Maybe a heat lamp instead of a bra. . .

By: esperanza

esperanza — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:33:46 +0000

@El- I envy your bunny’s promiscuity.I hope this was just aberrant behavior for Lisa.

@Arin- Thank you! I will let you know next time she is due.

By: Arin

Arin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:01:00 +0000

Poor baby bunnies! Sounds like Lisa needed a postpartum doula. Please feel free to ask me to check in on any of your animals at any time, since I am home most weekdays with the kiddos.

I draw the line at carrying baby bunnies in my bra, though. Sorry.

By: El

El — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:55:07 +0000

I’ll ship you some of mine! Our “boy” bunnies had kits a few days ago. grr. Not that you’d want mini-Rex bunnies but still.

We actually built a bottomless box as their nesting box. They’d done a fabulous job of filling it with straw for sleeping and I guess kindling. Yipes.