I have a fader in Tales from a Rabbit Breeder

So to start. A fader is a term for a baby rabbit that is “fading” away. Its not eating, moving around much or doing anything like other angoras.

Today i went out to check on my babies first thing as always. It snowed last night and was cold. I was worried about mom so i dropped her fitted sheet over the front of her pen to block snow from blowing in and wind. I opened up the sheet and realized her big cardboard box was facing the wall. I scolded her for turning her box that she cant get in it to nurse her babies. I unlocked both of her latches and realize she dumped the inside nest box upside down. Its a wash bin so while its big enough for her. It is light weight. I did this for its washability and portability. Also time. I didnt want to buy a nest box ( metal ones at the store) and T didnt have time to make one due to work. So i put the plastic bin inside a box.

So what happened she was nursing the babies. Said she was done and jumped out. Turning the nest bo over in the process. Dumping all 8 babies. Thankfully she had pulled so much wool that when she dumped it, The wool and hay covered them. It didnt insulate from the bottom, but they were inside the cardboard. However its not a deep warm nest like inside the box.

It must have happened not long before i got outside. I grabbed the entire cardboard box and ran it inside. I expected them to be frozen to death. It was only 20 degrees out. But as i uncovered the babies. They were all alive. I replaced the nesting materials into the box and carefully checked each baby. They were all very fat and well fed as well as warm. Not as hot as if they were nestled in a puddle of wool. But warm enough.

I had a mini panic attack when i only counted 4 chestnuts. I thought i had 5. I culled one other night. But i was freaking out. And one of the remaining 4 dark babies is a black. So i ended up having miscounts.

I realized one of my chestnuts is a fader :( You will know it when you see it in this photo.

Sorry its blurry, they move alot and my phone is god awful at photos indoors. As you can see, one baby is half the size of the others. Thats how big it was when it was born. It could be the cold baby i found on the wire and warmed. It could have internal injuries, you just never know. Its bunny failure to thrive. It wont nurse. Its already very weak. Because its not in pain, i put him back in the nest with its siblings and am letting nature take its course. There is a chance it will nurse tonight when mom feeds them. It still has a chance. But i cant keep it alive. Bunny formula is iffy at best and i dont have any. by the time i got it in the mail it will be either gone or growing with mom.

A few more photos of my healthy kits.

I placed the three chestnuts on the floor and my weenie dog came over to check them out. They immediately felt her warmth and went for her. She spent the whole time giving kisses. They probably remind her of her puppies. Although her puppies were MUCH bigger. She seemed so happy kissing those tiny babies. And the babies just kept squeeking and working their way to her.

very blurry. I should have taken a video.

I actually was stopping them from getting closer to under the couch lol. I put them back in the nest right after.

And a sweet clear photo of Harmony. Shes SO fast. At 8 weeks old shes a wicked speedy thing. I let her loose and she zig zags like through an agility course around the tv trays, peoples feet, the coffee table lol. that was a moment before she got interested in the weenie and was licking her tail.

And weenie says ,Hi!