A Miracle Birth

Susie's three bunnies.

The first born was very bruised; those bruised feet were the first thing visible from the mama's vagina.

Betty says,

"The three bunnies that worked as models in the tax form post yesterday have gone through a rough beginning during birth but now thriving.

Their mother Susie was taken inside on her due day. After dinner, hubby and I were watching TV and heard a scream. I thought it was from the TV program while hubby thought there might be a catfight outside; we went to the window to look for the fighters. Then another scream and we realized it was Susie screaming. I picked her up to turn her over, there were two little feet sticking out of her rear end; the bunny was in a breech presentation.

I put Susie on my lap, gently pulled up her skin then squeeze, the legs were gradually coming out. I repeat the motion of pulling the skin and squeezing her muscle, the bunny's body started to appear, and after another repetition the entire bunny came out. I could feel Susie was still pushing, I put her inside her well-made nestbox and almost immediately two more bunnies were pushed out.

All three bunnies were very bruised. Since both parents are REW, the bunnies should be pink; all three bunnies were black and blue. The worse one was the first one, of course.

I am happy to report that the bunnies recovered from the bruises in about 3 to 4 days. Susie is a wonderful mother, fed the bunnies every 12 hours for the first 10 days then settled into once a day nursing. All three bunnies are healthy and active; they will be going on the show circuit as soon as they are old enough to do so.

I feel that taking the pregnant doe inside is a good idea; if not done so, Susie and her bunnies may not have been alive and well today."