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Well, my rabbit is three years old, and I had just gotten her about 2 to 3 months ago, well the day before yesterday, I noticed she was nesting, so I left her alone and about 1 or 2 hours later I looked in her cage and found her eating one of the kits. She only had 2 and they were both dead, not even in the nest, It was her first litter. When I went to remove the kits yesterday, I found her trying to cover up one of the kits, who's body was half eaten. I just wanted to know what could have happened to cause her to do this, and can she have another litter.
They do this when they're stressed. It's a reaction to their fear that something else might eat them (although not very logical, I agree!). It also tidies up the nest if the babies die of natural causes.
We had a very young gerbil who did this, and I think she was just a bad mum and got stressed out by having the babies around. It's upsetting, isn't it? We kept wondering if it was our fault, if we had stressed the gerbil out by looking at her etc. They certainly like to be left alone when they have babies, I know.
So, the rabbit mum was stressed. It might have been something to do with her character, or it might be something you could change if she has babies again. Good luck and don't feel guilty - small furry animals die a lot, unfortunately.
Along with climate change, scientists are observing what is called "Diet Change" among many species of animals. Up until the last 15 years, rabbits and many other species of animals have not been observed to eat their young. So don't worry if you look at somebody's kid - maybe your own - and suddenly develop an appetite. Yes, your rabbit will have more kits - when she is hungery.
This happens often and, as flossheal says, its usually due to the mother feeling stressed or unsafe. Make sure that the mom has a place where she can hide her nest, like under an overhang where she can feel hidden from predators (remember that she is a product of evolution. She doesn't know she is safe. Her instincts say she is in the open.) Leave the nest alone after the birth.
I have raised many a rabbits. Next time about 3 days before she has babys feed her balls of hamberger meat raw everyday. This will keep her from eating her babys.
Maybe there was something wrong with the liter. You should maybe think about taking your rabit to the vet if you still come up with no idea as to why.
my rabbit just did the same thing and I still keeping thinking its my fault. but I think she was just way too stressed out from her sroundings.
its the circle of life babe, yes its awlful but thats what they do in the wild.
that's creepy
stress
