Bunny Help!

Yesterday my rabbit had a litter of 5 kits. Today when I got home from work I went to check on them and found only one. I have no idea what happened to the others. I've heard that some rabbits will eat their babies. I've also checked the hutch for holes where they could have fallen out. Has anyone heard of rabbits eating their babies or has anyone had a rabbit that did this?

She probably ate them.

Having raised show rabbits for some time, I would bet she ate them. I had this happen regularly, unfortunately. Despite having nest boxes and seclusion, sometimes they still felt threatened and would eat them. In my experience, sometimes they would just eat parts... :(

Barring their blind, deaf, naked baby selves escaping or being hidden in a nest box, I would say they are probably gone :(

Is she still living with the father rabbit? I've heard that the father rabbit can sometimes attack and eat the young?

No, the father is in a different hutch

No, the father lives in another hutch nearby.

I raised rabbits in 4-H many years ago and yes, she probably are them. Sorry:( I had a doe that would do it every litter, so I would breed another doe (a harlequin) at the same time and then take the babies from the 'bad' doe and give them to the good mother. It worked very well as long as I was quick to move the babies.
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I have never had a doe eat her babies (knock on wood), I have been raising Lionheads and Holland lops for about 4 years. I have also raised dutch and English Lops. Did you breed them on purpose? I would breed her again when the last baby is weaned. Sometimes it takes 2 maybe even 3 tries for them to get it right. I just had a first timer, not build a nest and lost her babies. So I bred her again.

Rachel: I used to breed Tort and some Blue Dutch and had a Mini Lop or two :) Do you know Jill Pfaff? She is/was the main Harlequin Dutch breeder when I was breeding/showing. Got many fine torts from her.


My experience with maiden moms is to put their nest box in and fill it up with nesting materials. They will do what they want with it or leave it alone. Sometimes no amount of prep can keep babies from being born on the wire or eaten. It is helpful sometimes to cover the cage (making sure no cloth is within bunny reach). Best of luck.