Tuesday, November 09, 2010

California Dreamer (our California Giant rabbit) was due Monday. On Sunday she was pulling fur, lining her nest to get ready for the babies. It got down to 28F that night but since she had a nice warm nest made I made the mistake of not going out to check on her. Monday morning I found all 10 of her babies dead. Something had scared her during the night and she delivered outside the nesting box and the babies didn't make it. Poor Dreamer kept looking and looking for her babies.
I knew Porky our New Zeland was due today and decided I was going to take a couple of her babies for Dreamer. Well Porky decided to pull her fur and have her babies last night.



She had 5. I waited until this morning and took 2 of them. I rubbed them with the fur from Dreamers nest and I also rubbed them down her back so they would have her scent. I placed them in the nest and waited. Dreamer was very happy! She sniffed the babies, cleaned them, and then rearranged her nest and covered them with fur. I kept waiting to see if she would nurse them and she did! She has nursed them  and accepted them as her own.
Porky doesn't seem to notice she only has 3 babies now and Dreamer is no longer sad and searching for her babies. Both momma bunnies seem very content which makes me very happy.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a blessing! I am so happy for all!

amelia said...

Oh how happy and how sad!! What a HUGE blessing that it's you taking care of these precious creatures. If it were me I'd just cry and wonder what to do. You are a smart and very compassionate lady Peggy and I'm proud to know you!!!!

Kelly said...

What an amazing job getting Dreamer to take the new babies. Now everyone is happy.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Oh ---I'm sorry about the death of those bunnies --but glad you had an 'alternative' for Dreamer.... Maybe 2 will be more manageable than 10 anyhow...

Cute pictures...
Hugs,
Betsy

Mitzi said...

What a sweet story. Love reading about your animals.

Tracy Bruring said...

I really wished I lived closer to you. you are so dang animal smart. i could learn so much

Meadowsweet Cottage said...

I'm so glad your story had a happy ending with two loving mamas!

Granny said...

Sorry to hear about the loss of the babies. It sounds like you've gotten everyone settled and happy now. You're such a good mama to all the critters.

Kent Island Red said...

That was such a good idea - and a sweet thing to do for Momma Bunny Peggy.

Tossing Pebbles in the Stream said...

It is so diheartening to lose young ones from one to a litter.
You are a clever one to be able to get one bunny to accept another's young.

Anonymous said...

I such a sucker for a happy ending! What sweet bunnies!

Carole Burant said...

Sis, such a brilliant idea you had to give Dreamer a couple of Porky's babies...a perfect way to make both mamas happy since Porky now only has 3 to take care of instead of 5! lol So sad that Dreamer's babies didn't make it, though.

It feels so good to have time to blog again and to visit my favourite people:-) Love ya sis. xoxox

Doyu Shonin said...

I like that name ... Dreamer.