Baby rabbits in winter
Discussion
Mubby said:
wild or pet? im guessing wild as you surely would go to see your pet rabbits more than once in 4 weeks?!?!
a doe can have more than 20 babies a year, and babies will breed themselves when only 4 months old. Spring and summer are the main reproductive times but they can anytime!
Pets, they have the run of the garden as i dont believe in keeping rabbits in little boxes ! No nest in the shed so they must have dug a hole somewhere.a doe can have more than 20 babies a year, and babies will breed themselves when only 4 months old. Spring and summer are the main reproductive times but they can anytime!
5paul5 said:
Mubby said:
wild or pet? im guessing wild as you surely would go to see your pet rabbits more than once in 4 weeks?!?!
a doe can have more than 20 babies a year, and babies will breed themselves when only 4 months old. Spring and summer are the main reproductive times but they can anytime!
Pets, they have the run of the garden as i dont believe in keeping rabbits in little boxes ! No nest in the shed so they must have dug a hole somewhere.a doe can have more than 20 babies a year, and babies will breed themselves when only 4 months old. Spring and summer are the main reproductive times but they can anytime!
I do not believe in keeping rabbits in little boxes either, hence why my two in summer mine have a 6x4 shed with levels and a run attached. And in winter have a large bedroom to run about in and run of the upstairs to play.
Maybe someone who is not savvy enough to seperate unneutered different sex rabbits, does not spot babies for 4 weeks and leaves their rabbits to run free with the danger of being killed by cats and foxes in my opinion should rethink bunny keeping.
Mubby said:
5paul5 said:
Mubby said:
wild or pet? im guessing wild as you surely would go to see your pet rabbits more than once in 4 weeks?!?!
a doe can have more than 20 babies a year, and babies will breed themselves when only 4 months old. Spring and summer are the main reproductive times but they can anytime!
Pets, they have the run of the garden as i dont believe in keeping rabbits in little boxes ! No nest in the shed so they must have dug a hole somewhere.a doe can have more than 20 babies a year, and babies will breed themselves when only 4 months old. Spring and summer are the main reproductive times but they can anytime!
I do not believe in keeping rabbits in little boxes either, hence why my two in summer mine have a 6x4 shed with levels and a run attached. And in winter have a large bedroom to run about in and run of the upstairs to play.
Maybe someone who is not savvy enough to seperate unneutered different sex rabbits, does not spot babies for 4 weeks and leaves their rabbits to run free with the danger of being killed by cats and foxes in my opinion should rethink bunny keeping.
Mubby said:
leaves their rabbits to run free with the danger of being killed by cats and foxes in my opinion should rethink bunny keeping.
This bit's a tad harsh! My two have lived outside for most of the time (all summer) and haven't been caught and killed once by foxes, neighbour's cats/dogs or the many red kites or owls that fly over our garden!Animal said:
This bit's a tad harsh! My two have lived outside for most of the time (all summer) and haven't been caught and killed once by foxes, neighbour's cats/dogs or the many red kites or owls that fly over our garden!
Of course it is, local pet shop has just told me many people keep theirs happily outdoors, its only young ones that are vunerable, and there are no foxes where we are, some people really think they know it all.5paul5 said:
How on earth can people judge someone they do not know! I rescued two adult rabbits from someone who was going to kill them, i do not know much about rabbits but kept them to avoid them being destroyed. It seems they dug a hole under a hedge out of sight to give birth. The young ones have all been gathered up and are now in a large hutch with their mother and doing fine. Thank you for your helpfull contribution.....Not.
I judge by what you have said! I personally find it quite shocking that you would bung the rabbits in a shed same sex not neutered, and leave them to it! have you never heard the term "breed like rabbits" its because its true you know! Animal said:
Mubby said:
leaves their rabbits to run free with the danger of being killed by cats and foxes in my opinion should rethink bunny keeping.
This bit's a tad harsh! My two have lived outside for most of the time (all summer) and haven't been caught and killed once by foxes, neighbour's cats/dogs or the many red kites or owls that fly over our garden!5paul5 said:
Animal said:
This bit's a tad harsh! My two have lived outside for most of the time (all summer) and haven't been caught and killed once by foxes, neighbour's cats/dogs or the many red kites or owls that fly over our garden!
Of course it is, local pet shop has just told me many people keep theirs happily outdoors, its only young ones that are vunerable, and there are no foxes where we are, some people really think they know it all.I certainly don't known it all nor claim to! but I do seem to know a tad more than you it seems... male and female unneutered rabbits will mate for starters.... and I check my rabbits are fit and healthy (and not pregnant!) daily!
Accidental pregnancies happen , but you didn't even try and seperate them, and this is what i find bizzare that you did not expect pregnancy! and now the babies are approx 4 weeks as you say, the mother could very well be pregnant again... (lets hope not and you now seperate them to avoid the inevitable)
Edited by Mubby on Friday 16th December 11:45
You really are coming across as a bit of an idiot, i did not bung the rabbits in the shed, they have the run of the garden and the large shed i have is their shelter ! As for breeding what makes you think i did not want them to ? Just didnt realise they would at this time of year. I am new to keeping rabbits and learning all the time, they are healthy, well fed and have a large garden to exercise/explore. Please keep your negative comments to yourself.
Don't let the fact that Mubby and you have got off on the wrong foot miss the fact that he's raised a couple of valid points. Yes, cats can be fine with rabbits - in fact one of my favourite memories is watching chase a neighbours cat onto a fence post and keep it trapped there until the bunny became bored - but there are risks there. And as I found out when the same bunny had it's head ripped off by a fox in a garden with 6 foot fencing - you have to be careful if you don't want dead bunnies.
I've got a pair now that have the run of the garden during the day but are locked away every night as a consequence. Whilst I've got 6 foot fencing all around foxes can jump that. And whilst I've not seen any about I spend my nights driving around and have seen how widespread they are - so personally I won't take the chance.
So if you want to take the chance of dead rabbits, that's fine - but don't blame people for trying to impress upon you the risks. At least then it becomes an informed decision.
As for breeding...well, most casual rabbit keepers seem to keep them neutered because as Mubby says you're likely to be inundated otherwise. Again, your call, but I'm glad that mine can't breed.
HTH anyway. I know when I first started keeping rabbits I was happy to soak up as much information as I could.
I've got a pair now that have the run of the garden during the day but are locked away every night as a consequence. Whilst I've got 6 foot fencing all around foxes can jump that. And whilst I've not seen any about I spend my nights driving around and have seen how widespread they are - so personally I won't take the chance.
So if you want to take the chance of dead rabbits, that's fine - but don't blame people for trying to impress upon you the risks. At least then it becomes an informed decision.
As for breeding...well, most casual rabbit keepers seem to keep them neutered because as Mubby says you're likely to be inundated otherwise. Again, your call, but I'm glad that mine can't breed.
HTH anyway. I know when I first started keeping rabbits I was happy to soak up as much information as I could.
5paul5 said:
You really are coming across as a bit of an idiot,
why thank you! not doing so bad yourself! something we agree on! 
5paul5 said:
i did not bung the rabbits in the shed, they have the run of the garden and the large shed i have is their shelter ! As for breeding what makes you think i did not want them to ? Just didnt realise they would at this time of year
Im sure you did want them to as I cannot believe an adult (assuming you are on here) would not know they would breed! therefore dont blow your own trumpet that you saved thier poor little lives! as your simply using them for breeding/money making without putting in the time or effort to care for them! (evidence for lack of care being not noticing the babies for 4 weeks or noticing the doe was pregnant!) I have nothing agaisnt breeders by the way, just ignornant people who know nothing of the animal they are breeding, therefor putting the animals and the babies in danger5paul5 said:
I am new to keeping rabbits and learning all the time, they are healthy, well fed and have a large garden to exercise/explore. Please keep your negative comments to yourself.
its a forum!?! where people post opinions and not only ones you agree with, you can perhaps look that up when you order your book "rabbit keeping for dummies" as likelihood is your doe is pregnant again. <sigh>
Edited by Mubby on Friday 16th December 15:26
tenohfive said:
Don't let the fact that Mubby and you have got off on the wrong foot miss the fact that he's raised a couple of valid points. Yes, cats can be fine with rabbits - in fact one of my favourite memories is watching chase a neighbours cat onto a fence post and keep it trapped there until the bunny became bored - but there are risks there. And as I found out when the same bunny had it's head ripped off by a fox in a garden with 6 foot fencing - you have to be careful if you don't want dead bunnies.
I've got a pair now that have the run of the garden during the day but are locked away every night as a consequence. Whilst I've got 6 foot fencing all around foxes can jump that. And whilst I've not seen any about I spend my nights driving around and have seen how widespread they are - so personally I won't take the chance.
So if you want to take the chance of dead rabbits, that's fine - but don't blame people for trying to impress upon you the risks. At least then it becomes an informed decision.
As for breeding...well, most casual rabbit keepers seem to keep them neutered because as Mubby says you're likely to be inundated otherwise. Again, your call, but I'm glad that mine can't breed.
HTH anyway. I know when I first started keeping rabbits I was happy to soak up as much information as I could.
all of the above, with christmas jingly bells on! I've got a pair now that have the run of the garden during the day but are locked away every night as a consequence. Whilst I've got 6 foot fencing all around foxes can jump that. And whilst I've not seen any about I spend my nights driving around and have seen how widespread they are - so personally I won't take the chance.
So if you want to take the chance of dead rabbits, that's fine - but don't blame people for trying to impress upon you the risks. At least then it becomes an informed decision.
As for breeding...well, most casual rabbit keepers seem to keep them neutered because as Mubby says you're likely to be inundated otherwise. Again, your call, but I'm glad that mine can't breed.
HTH anyway. I know when I first started keeping rabbits I was happy to soak up as much information as I could.
Miss Mubby
Edited by Mubby on Friday 16th December 15:19
Well at least mine are outdoors in the fresh air, they have the sights sounds and smells just like wild rabbits and as nature intended, they can run around and have freedom. Yours ? cooped up in a house in a bedroom, how sad and unnatural, enough said i think and my final comment on here as i have better things to do.
ok so after a long hot soak and thinking this over, I decided I would not apologise for what I have said, as really any adult that does not know rabbits of the opposite sex will breed in my opinion should not keep them, that is very basic rabbit keeping.
I perhaps did not say things in quite the right manner, however, being called an idiot and that I am keeping my rabbits cooped up cruely will do that to someone. especially when being called that by someone who does not recognise a pregnant rabbit or notice babies for 4 weeks.
I have never claimed to know everything, but I will say one thing I know a bit about is rabbits. I have been going on rabbit forums for almost 10 years, and succesfully ran my own rabbit forum for 5 years. I have also volunteered and fundraised for various rabbit rescues over the years. and so I have met hundreds of rabbit rescuers and breeders alike, as well as succesfully kept healthy bunnies myself.So I do have some knowledge.
I personally do not agree with free range pet bunnies as Its just an accident waiting to happen, whether killed by another animal, escaping or being injured and such like. And I think anyone putting thier bunnies at risk like this will one day face the consequence.
If you did obtain the bunnies for breeding purposes then I think it's pretty poor that you know so little yet have the bunnies breeding already. I personally would be panicking if my bunnies had babies as Im definately no expert in breeding (not going to happen as both male and female are spayed/ neutered) and thats with many years experience.
I would if I were you look for the nest as there could be dead babies in there, 4 although perfectly possible, is not alot of babies for rabbits.
The doe could quite easily be preganant again, in which case you could have babies again soon, and they will need to suckle from mum too, which could cause problems, for babies and mum. She simply will not have enough milk, and will be physically exhausted too.
Dad will also try and mate with the babies, and they can get pregnant usually from about 4 months, so unless you get them all seperated you could be overrun with inbred bunnies in no time.
There is also risk of disease like VHD and Myxi, have you considerd this? and willing to pay to have all your animals vaccinated? or like the possibility of being killed is this just another risk...
finally, My bunnies like all my animals are kept VERY well and I challenge anyone who tries to tell me any different! Thank you.
I perhaps did not say things in quite the right manner, however, being called an idiot and that I am keeping my rabbits cooped up cruely will do that to someone. especially when being called that by someone who does not recognise a pregnant rabbit or notice babies for 4 weeks.
I have never claimed to know everything, but I will say one thing I know a bit about is rabbits. I have been going on rabbit forums for almost 10 years, and succesfully ran my own rabbit forum for 5 years. I have also volunteered and fundraised for various rabbit rescues over the years. and so I have met hundreds of rabbit rescuers and breeders alike, as well as succesfully kept healthy bunnies myself.So I do have some knowledge.
I personally do not agree with free range pet bunnies as Its just an accident waiting to happen, whether killed by another animal, escaping or being injured and such like. And I think anyone putting thier bunnies at risk like this will one day face the consequence.
If you did obtain the bunnies for breeding purposes then I think it's pretty poor that you know so little yet have the bunnies breeding already. I personally would be panicking if my bunnies had babies as Im definately no expert in breeding (not going to happen as both male and female are spayed/ neutered) and thats with many years experience.
I would if I were you look for the nest as there could be dead babies in there, 4 although perfectly possible, is not alot of babies for rabbits.
The doe could quite easily be preganant again, in which case you could have babies again soon, and they will need to suckle from mum too, which could cause problems, for babies and mum. She simply will not have enough milk, and will be physically exhausted too.
Dad will also try and mate with the babies, and they can get pregnant usually from about 4 months, so unless you get them all seperated you could be overrun with inbred bunnies in no time.
There is also risk of disease like VHD and Myxi, have you considerd this? and willing to pay to have all your animals vaccinated? or like the possibility of being killed is this just another risk...
finally, My bunnies like all my animals are kept VERY well and I challenge anyone who tries to tell me any different! Thank you.
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