Our scales may not be reliable at weights of less than a pound, but consider it a close guess.  Measurement is taken from just behind the ears to the base of the tail.

BIRTH

Date:  Dec. 29^th, 01

Weight:  Approximately 2 ounces

Length:  About 1.75 inches

Comments:  Welcome to the world!  Born around 6:00 a.m., this baby is one of seven!  All are pink and hairless, with eyes shut tightly and ears pinned to their heads.  All are healthy and of normal size.  They squirm and curl up together to stay warm.  Mom will only nurse them once or twice a day.  We choose this kit to watch because it is about in the middle of the litter as far as size goes.

AGE:  ONE WEEK

Date:  Jan. 5^th, 02         

Weight: about 4 ounces

Length:  about 3 inches

Comments:  Now the fur has come in.  We are able to guess the variety: Ruby-Eyed-White.  (If the baby were a shaded or pointed variety, we would probably see the color appear first on the upper side of the tail, then the nose, ears, and feet.)  The baby is healthy and strong and struggles when it is picked up.  It makes digging motions with its front legs, following the instinct to burrow for warmth and protection.  The litter spends all its time sleeping.

AGE: TWO WEEKS

Date:  Jan. 12, 02

Weight: about 6 ounces

Length: about 4.25 inches

Comments:  Hello!  The eyes opened around day 10 to 12.  The baby is now strong enough to walk clumsily.  The litter is more active, crawling over one another and digging.  The hopping reflex has developed and we must be careful when holding them that they do not leap out of our hands.  One or two babies have managed to leap out of the nestbox, which could be dangerous because they can’t get back in!  So we place the nestbox on its side and fill it with fresh bedding.  This also helps to lower the chances of the litter becoming ill or getting eye infections from the bacteria in the nestbox.  The babies will mostly stay inside to keep warm, and Mom will sit on top to gain some peace and quiet.

AGE:  THREE WEEKS

Date:  Jan. 19, 02

Weight:  Nearly 8 ounces

Length:  About 5.5 inches

Comments:  The babies continue to grow stronger and more inquisitive – they begin to venture outside the nestbox and nibble on hay and feed pellets.  Their wool coats are beginning to show and they are getting “fuzzy”.  At this stage the wool sometimes curls back into their eyes as it grows and we need to keep a watch for any eye irritation.  We also begin doing a daily “bottom check”, being watchful for any signs of diarrhea as they begin eating regular feed and drinking water.

AGE:  FOUR WEEKS

Date:  Jan. 27, 02

Weight:  Nearly 9 ounces

Length:  About 6 inches

Comments:  The wool continues to grow.  We can now be quite certain of the sex:  It’s a doe!  The nestbox was removed from the cage and the babies were given a plastic slotted mat to sit upon to gain some rest from the wire floor.  They are eating and drinking well and the doe will be nursing them less.  We make sure they have food, water, and hay in front of them most of the time.

AGE:  FIVE WEEKS

Date:  Feb. 3, 02

Weight:  Nearly 12 ounces

Length:  About 6 1/2 inches

Comments:  The biggest change this week is that the baby has become a real butterball!  Although she hasn't grown much in length, she's packed on the weight by eating constantly.  The doe probably isn't nursing the babies at all now, and we could consider weaning them.  Since the litter has plenty of room and there is one "runt" who needs to get a little stronger, we'll wait a while for weaning.

Date:  Feb. 10th, 02

Weight:  14.5 ounces

Length:  7.25 inches

Comments:  The babies were weaned this week.  We took the mother from the cage and left the litter on its own.  By leaving the babies in the same environment in which they were born we are helping to decrease the stress levels they might experience.  This is a very critical time for baby rabbits, and the most common period in which enteritis may occur.  (Weanling enteritis is the leading cause of death in young rabbits.)  We make certain that the  litter has plenty of fiber in their diet by keeping grass hay in front of them and adding some rolled oats to their feed.  We will check their bottoms daily for any signs of diarrhea, and at the slightest hint may put the whole litter on antibiotics if we think necessary.  The little doe’s body is filling out and she’s looking like she might be a show bunny!

Age: SEVEN WEEKS

Date: Feb. 17,02 

Weight: Nearly 17 ounces 

Length: 8 inches

Comments: We've passed the one-pound mark! The little doe continues to fill out and she's developing quite a nice coat, with good density and texture for a baby. She had a slight case of diarrhea last week, but prompt attention with oats, hay, Maalox, and antibiotics cleared it up very quickly before it could become a problem. She's becoming very curious and used to being handled, and doesn't want to sit for the camera any more! We will now be separating the litter and putting the babies in their own cages. This assures that they won't have to compete for food and water and they'll gain weight faster. Also, if we left them together too much longer, it is likely that they will start chewing one another's wool, or that the males may soon begin to annoy the females. We want our little doe to have the best chance of becoming a Show Rabbit!

Age:  EIGHT WEEKS

Date:  Feb. 24th, 02

Weight:  Nearly 1.5 pounds

Length:  8.5 inches

Comments:  Our little doe is nearly at the minimum weight requirement for show (1.5 pounds).  Now is the time when we take a look at the litter and decide who will become the best show rabbits, who will be breeding stock, and which ones we will sell.  With limited space to raise bunnies, we keep only one or two (and sometimes none) out of any litter.  The doe has developed a nice head and ear, good quality coat, and good body type, so she will become a show bunny.  Although we could show her at 1.5 pounds, we’ll probably let her get a little more size and condition before we put her into showing.  Now we’ll start working with her to get her used to “sitting up” for the judge.