04/12/2025
๐๐ญ๐จ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ: ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฎ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐โ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฌ
The period between 4 and 8 weeks of age (1โ2 months) is the most critical phase in a rabbitโs life. They are transitioning away from mother's milk, their immune systems are fragile, and their digestive systems are easily upset.
As you noted, almost all deaths at this stage are preventable. Success lies not in treating sick rabbits, but in preventing them from getting sick in the first place through management, hygiene, and proper nutrition.
Here is how you can address the seven common killers and ensure your kits survive to become profitable adults.
1. ๐๐จ๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ
The Problem: Low immunity makes them susceptible to everything.
Actionable Steps:
Minimize Handling: While socialising is good, excessive handling by too many people (especially children) is stressful for young kits. Limit handling to essential health checks.
Stable Environment: Keep noise levels down. Do not move their cages around unnecessarily.
Quarantine New Arrivals: Never introduce new rabbits directly near your vulnerable young stock. New rabbits can carry diseases that your kits have no immunity against.
2. ๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐ซ๐
The Problem: Early weaning or abrupt changes cause massive stress, leading to a refusal to eat and increased susceptibility to illness.
Actionable Steps:
Delay Weaning: If possible, aim to wean at 6โ8 weeks rather than 4 weeks. The longer they have access to the mother (even if milk supply is low), the more robust they tend to be.
The "Reverse Weaning" Method: Instead of moving the kits to a strange new cage, remove the mother doe and leave the litter together in their familiar cage for another week or two. This removes the environmental stress factor during the transition.
Easy Access: Ensure feed hoppers and water ni***es are low enough for small rabbits to reach easily without struggling.
3. ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ข๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง (๐๐ก๐ #๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ง๐ฌ๐)
The Problem: Dirty cages create ammonia buildup that damages lungs and provides a breeding ground for fatal diseases like coccidiosis.
Actionable Steps:
Keep it Dry: Moisture is the enemy. Ensure urine drains away immediately. If using solid floors with bedding, change wet spots daily. Wet bedding is a primary cause of coccidiosis.
Daily Cleaning: Remove droppings daily. Accumulated manure attracts flies and breeds bacteria.
Regular Disinfection: Sanitize cages, feeders, and waterers regularly (weekly or bi-weekly) using appropriate rabbit-safe disinfectants.
4. ๐๐๐ญ ๐
๐๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ: ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฒ
The Problem: Their digestive systems are delicate. Introducing greens too early or sudden feed changes causes fatal bloating and diarrhea.
Actionable Steps:
Unlimited Grass Hay: This is non-negotiable. Quality grass hay (like Timothy or Orchard grass) is essential for gut motility and health. It should be available 24/7.
High-Quality Pellets: Provide a high-fiber commercial pellet designed for growing rabbits.
NO Greens Yet: Do not feed fresh green vegetables, weeds, or fruits to rabbits aged 1โ2 months. Their guts are not ready for the water content and sugars. Wait until they are 3โ4 months old before introducing greens slowly.
Clean Water: Ensure fresh, clean water is always available. Dehydration kills quickly and stops digestion.
5. ๐๐ซ๐จ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ฅ (๐๐จ๐๐๐ข๐๐ข๐จ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌ)
The Problem: Coccidiosis is the leading killer of weaners, often triggered by stress and poor hygiene. Worms also weaken them.
Actionable Steps:
Preventative Medicine: Many successful farmers use a preventative coccidiostat (medicine placed in the water or pre-mixed into feed) during the critical weaning period (weeks 4โ8). Consult a vet for the right dosage.
Deworming Schedule: Establish a routine deworming schedule for your herd.
Watch for Signs: Monitor daily for diarrhea (scours), a hunched posture, rough coat, or grinding teeth (a sign of pain). Immediate isolation and treatment are required if these signs appear.
6. ๐๐๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐จ๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ข๐ซ ๐๐ง๐ฏ๐ข๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ
The Problem: They cannot regulate their body temperature well. Cold drafts and temperature swings weaken them instantly.
Actionable Steps:
Draft-Free Housing: Ensure the hutch or barn has adequate ventilation but no direct drafts hitting the rabbits.
Warmth Strategies: In cold weather, provide extra dry hay or straw for them to burrow into. Ensure nest boxes are dry if they are still using them.
Heat Protection: Ensure housing is shaded from direct, hot sun, which can cause heatstroke very quickly in young kits.
7. ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง ๐๐๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ
The Problem: Weak parents produce kits that struggle to survive even under good conditions.
Actionable Steps:
Cull Weak Stock: Do not keep rabbits that were sickly as kits for future breeding.
Breed for Health: Only breed does with strong mothering instincts and bucks that are robust and healthy. Good genetics provide the baseline constitution for survival.
Keep Records: Track which does constantly lose litters at the 1-2 month mark. They may carry genetic weaknesses that are being passed down.
