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Original poster

Baby bunnies have died and we have no idea why

20 replies

youdoit · 03/02/2008 22:41

Dc's have two baby bunnies that are (or should be 'were' ) 4 months old. We have only had them for a month and when dh and dc's have gone to clean out there hutch this morning, they were dead

They were happy alert and playful yesterday tea-time (no signs of any illness) and today just after lunch they were dead.

We have no idea why

DC's are devastated

I thought maybe perhaps the cold has gotten to them? But would that have happened so quickly? They were housed in the shed. Any ideas anyone? We're really baffled.

OP posts:
Maidamess · 03/02/2008 22:43

They havent eaten something with poison on have they? Or... If they were in the shed, was their hutch covered in blankets too, as it has been very cold recently.

Maybe they were just both sickly little things. Poor you, your children must be very sad.

nortynamechanger · 03/02/2008 22:45

Such young bunnies, like babies, are very susceptable to cold.

Original poster
youdoit · 03/02/2008 22:51

Maidamess
No, they haven't eaten anything poisonous.

No, their hutch wasn't covered although i'm kicking myself now that i didn't cover them - what an idiot i am

Nortynamechanger
My gut feeling is that it is the cold too

I'm so upset. The children are inconsolable. Wish i could turn back time ...

OP posts:
Beauregard · 03/02/2008 22:52

Youdoit
Sorry to hear that

cadelaide · 03/02/2008 22:54

A lot of young rabbits have died of the cold recently, happened to my friend in the cold snap before Christmas.
(Her rabbits died, not her....oh good grief...can't be bothered to start again!)
So I think cold.
Sorry.

nortynamechanger · 04/02/2008 10:55

youdoit, I am so sorry (was writing one handed with a snotty toddler on lap last night) it must be dreadful for you all.

We actually bought our (youngish) bun an indoor hutch for the winter, he sleeps in absolut luxury in DD's bedroom (she is 8) the plus side of this is she has become much friendlier with all the contact (she comes up to the bars for kisses now!) and DD has stopped having nightmares/sleepwalking and asking to come into bed with me every night - result!

Original poster
youdoit · 04/02/2008 12:13

Thanks all

Looks like it was most probably the cold then, poor little mites

OP posts:
mellowma · 04/02/2008 12:15

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mellowma · 04/02/2008 12:16

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Original poster
youdoit · 04/02/2008 12:24

I really dont know mellowma.

My eldest desperately wants another, but she only wants one EXACTLY the same as her bunny - she is inconsolable and can't bear to think of her gone so wants to replace her totally. I have tried to explain that we can't bring her bunny back and that if we got another she wouldn't be the same bunny. She doesn't really want to listen atm

So all things considered, I don't think that getting another immediately will help.

Thanks for your kind msg. I can't help but to blame myself though. If only hindsight were foresight eh?

OP posts:
Blu · 04/02/2008 12:24

They didn't have lots of lettuce or anything, did they?

My Mum did for our guineas by giving them ice cold lettuce on a cold night. I think lettuce has some substance in it that is poisnous to rabbits and gps.

Very sorry to hear what has happened, youdoit.

Did they have a sleeping box with straw? Has the temperature dropped below freezing where you are? I thought rabbits were uite resistant to cold - especially with each other to snuggle up to...

FioFio · 04/02/2008 12:26

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cadelaide · 04/02/2008 12:27

I believe young ones are susceptible, Blu.
I am sorry, youdoit. It's a horrible feeling but it's not as though you didn't care, it was just a misjudgement.

cadelaide · 04/02/2008 12:29

Actually I'm making assumptions here, of course it may not have been the cold, but I do seem to have heard a lot of this recently. When my friend rang her vet (one was dead, one dying )he said it was the tenth call that morning. The temp had dropped suddenly the night before you see.

Original poster
youdoit · 04/02/2008 12:31

No. No lettuce or any salad/veggie. Breeder told us to wait till they were 6 months old before introducing anything other than dry food and hay.

Yes. They had lots of straw in their box and did snuggle up to each other a lot.
Yes. The temps had really dropped and although they were inside the shed, they were fairly close to the floor (dh had gotten more wood to raise them up higher ) and so will probably have felt any drafts coming in. Just wish i could turn back time and cover them ...

OP posts:
Original poster
youdoit · 04/02/2008 12:34

Fio - no, nothing was in the hutch other than the bunnies

OP posts:
castille · 04/02/2008 12:35

Blu - When we got our rabbits (dwarf ones) in the autumn we were told not to house them outside, even in the shed, until the weather was a lot warmer because they were too young - about 3/4 months when we got them - and the cold would probably finish them off.

Bigger rabbits are probably hardier though.

Blu · 04/02/2008 12:37

Oh dear. Our dwarf rabbits are out in the shed...they are a year old...I think many of us could be in your shoes, YouDoIt....I know it's sad but don't blame yourself too much.

castille · 04/02/2008 12:47

I think it's a question of acclimatising them to the cold gradually, so it's better to put them outside when it's warm to start with so they get used to the cold gradually through the autumn. If yours have been outside for the best part of a year, Blu, then they are probably used to it.

So for your bunnies and DCs, youdoit.

FioFio · 04/02/2008 12:52

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