Rabbit Cannibalism of Kits: Causes and Prevention

1 Causes

An unbalanced diet: lack of salt, low calcium and phosphorus, too little protein or B vitamins, or other shortfalls can cause the doe to eat her young.

Too little water before and after kindling, so thirst drives her to eat kits.

Fright during birth, or a nest, bedding, or kit with a strange smell, or a dead fetus left in the box, can lead her to eat kits and form the habit.

Breeding too young with weak maternal instinct or low milk, so she eats the litter.

An owner or stranger handling kits after birth leaves a human scent that provokes cannibalism.

2 Symptoms

The doe eats part or all of the litter within days of kindling; blood may be seen in the cage or nest box, and scattered kit limbs may turn up in the cage or under the floor.

3 Prevention Methods

Feed a complete ration and give pregnant and lactating does vitamin-rich feed, 0.1 kg greens daily, and carrots often.

Keep water ample around kindling: offer warm water before, and a bowl of warm water right after, with clean water always available.

Keep feces scent off kits and never touch them by hand; when you must move a kit, wear clean gloves first.

Do not line the nest box with old cotton waste.

When fostering, rub the foster doe’s droppings and urine on the kit to mask its smell and prevent rejection.

During kindling keep the doe calm and the area quiet; do not crowd to watch, and keep strangers and other animals out.

For a doe with the habit, remove the kits right after birth and keep them apart, letting her nurse only on a schedule.