Bel's second on the 6th day

Sleeping snow white

Array of colours and designs

When I see the the varieties and   not one newborn is alike in colour, pattern, and personality.
I see God's hand and the miracle he created in us all!

Thriving on warmth, love and touch of a mother

Like all living beings,
we thrive on touch.
Babies that given hugs and carried had higher chances of survival than those without.
This is basic survival less alone the emotional health of a being.
My newborns were given birth by Bel.
They were hairless and pinknish. Their eyes were closed.
They had to depend on their littermates, mother and grandmother to help them regulate their body temperature.
They have yet to urinate and defecate on their own.
They love crowded space where it is cozy to conserve body heat.
If they have to keep fighting for comfortable temperature, their
growth would be affected as it is needed just to keep them alive.
My second litter took about 6days to defecate on their own.
  They look like pepper power, tiny and small.
They loved to be held and cuddled. They actually would find ways to fit into your palm. They adjust with touch and sensing what is comfortable for them.
However, rabbits do not have the habbit of keeping the young by their side all the time.
They only feed their young only once or twice a day.
The rest of the time, the bunnies will be left on their own.
However, Bel does lick them to clean them help them defecate.
Just like all young if we talk to them, hold them, they would respond by wriggling.
I noticed when I hold them in my hand, they sleep and make less noise and movements.
Although, it is not a practise for bunnies to be held and be on skin to skin contact with their mum.
It would ideal to try ways to keep them warm, held, and together.
They will thrive quicker and their growth will be smoother.
I think the bonding of humans and animals can start as early as day 3 or 4.
The kits would find it easy to communicate with us and the gap of non verbal communication starts as early as 3 to 4 days.
As it takes them time to adjust to us from their mother's womb and later to their foster parents.

Dehydrated

Bel was dehydrated and I noticed it when she started to suck in more milk than usual.
I had decreased her intake of vegetables.
And pumped in the milk instead.
But, I soon was reminded that she could need water too.
I must admit, I had been indiffent in that if not for an advice from a friend.
She drank into that bottle once I installed that bottle.
No amount of VEGetables can replace water.
Wow, the power of plain water.
Lesson learned!
Even grandma like me have to be taught too.
Each experience is a learning journey.

Finally on the 3rd day

By the 3rd day,
The waking up in the early hours every4 hours to pump milk only into Bel's belly finally showed signs ...that her babies were well fed. I noticed they were now fed because every I peeked at the newborns. Their bellies would look full. And all 5 had almost the same amount of milk in their bellies. They too slept more soundly with their fuller bellies.

Fed her Milk

I looked at the bunnies. They did not look like they were getting enough milk.
Their bellies were not rounded with milk.
They were still tiny and breathing.
So, grandma which is me decided to help mummy Bel.
Not by feeding her babies.
But, feeding her with my formula of milk.
Goat's milk with egg yolk, multi-vitamins, syrup and canola oil.
Wella, it helped Bel to keep full.
And the second day, at dinner I pumped it into the mouths of the newborn. Just one drop for each newborn.Qian was also given this formula.

Determined

I went to check a couple of times and felt warmth on the bodies of the newborns the second time.
But, I allowed Bel and her kits to rest for the first day.

Afraid and shocked

I was afraid for Bel and her babies.
They looked so frailed.
The signs of surviving were narrowed by the fact they looked so skinny and tiny.

One explaination of 2 births within a mth

Most does give birth to 8 bunnies.
But, my Bel had one side of her fallopian tube fertilized and the other not.
So, one explaination was that she gave birth to 3 then to the other 5 within a short time.

Difficult second birthing

Bel's1st birth was smooth sailing.
Her second was not.
Usually, after the birth she would look relaxed.
But, the second she was worn out.

No telling

There can be no confirmation that bunny was pregnant and ready to give birth.
One can only guess..
.

Finally

It took a day, the next evening before she would give birth.
But, I checked on her and her face showed pain and dis comfort.
It took her a day before her labours came.
And finally.....

Pre Birth pains

When the first batch of kits were about 2 to 3 weeks old.
She started to behave oddly as if fuelled by a loss.
There was an uneasy feeling.
A restlessness came upon Bel and she was fustrated and did not want anyone near her.
Puzzled by her lack of groundedness.
I had to take Qian or Brownie out. The other 2 by then were given away.
Perplexed by her temper.
I sought to keep her moods by staying with her conforting her.
Strangely, she suddenly did not want to breastfeed Qian anymore.
She was tearing the paper I placed in the nest.
She would tear them and stripped them into tiny bits left.
And, by the second time, i changed them again, she had pulled up all her fur.
Unable to be consoled and calmed.
She was determined she needed to have bits of paper and straws in her mouth.
And refused them to be taken out from her.
She would only calm down and sit a while when I was with her.
And was quick to be up again and flicking, tearing, and making lots of movement sounds while she kept herself building.
I even at one point helped her to tear and she would sit and watch me.
No sooner she she get up and start chasing small Qian round the cage.
This time I patted on her belly at her sides.
She then calmed down and the noise she made subsided.
Eventually, one would think she had stopped her fuss.
Then, it would come back again.

Shocked by another 5

This kits of 5 were given birth on 25 a mth later by mother Bel.
She sure had a harder time.
Babies were half the size. They looked premature.
Mother also bled quite a bit and refused the stainned paper of blood traces be thrown away.

Dad and kits

Were u looking for me?

Did i get caught?

Blackie and Whitey

Whitey

He or She or both?
Case is unknown.
He sure is the cutest.
Loves to eat and sleep.
Curious and lovable.

Bonding time with mum at 2weeks

Brownie

She is the Belle of the thorns.
A rather unusual turn out.
Quiet and reserved among the 3.
Least in seeking attention and was the skinniest.
She was the cutie who bonded most with me among them.
From a shy little and tiny girl, she sprang up to become a confident elegant young toddle.
She became very affectionate, curious, and loved food.
She thrived only when her brothers were not around.

A clever little girl who pooed beside my bigger beads of bracelet.Looked at me. She was not very happy with that poo. She must be thinking who is that bunny who also came in and pooed here.

Bunnies are territory. They mark their territory with their poos.

Already marking your territory, Bel? 

I shall miss her.

Unusual Birth

Her first batch of kits were 3 loving bunnies.
Blackie, Brownie later named Qian and Whitey.
Blackie was first. He was the most secure and developed among the 3. He had his mum's wits and vived for affection from his dad.
Brownie was the least developed.She opened her eyes later than the rest.
Whitey was the bum. However, the cutest.
Although, they had only a month with me.
I could see their bond with one another already.

Blackie

He is brave, unafraid of heights even while his eyes were closed, he would jump from the cage onto the ground.
Has qualities to be the man in his time at a young age.
Learn to eat solid food at week 2 while most newborns still suck at their mum's for milk.
Sat and laid like a man, confident and strong.
He also solved problems the fastest and was quick to run towards his solution.
If he was caught up in a maze, be sure to follow him, cause he will know the way out, as if the answer was written out as he ran towards the exit of a closed door.
Affectionate and well behaved.
Looking for instructions readily.
But, he also needed the most attention and would scheme to get them.
A winner, a gamer!

Brotherhood and Sisterhood

They were all closed to one another.
However the second kit was closer to the 3rd. And would hug each other more.
The first was loving but more independent.
An an early start, he wanted to do things already with his mum.Like he would stand with her, do what she does.
While, the second and third would just sit around.
Blackie is eldest
Brownie is second
Whitey is third

Bel gave birth to 8

My Bel

Bel is a 4years old doe.
She has been with me since my first bunny died.
I did not intend for her to have babies.
Nevertheless, she grew wings and decided to write the story herself and in her own time.
So, her pregnancy an accident.
?????

Journey towards to unknown

When I got Bel and Sweetie, the pair of twins, never did I knew my life would be blessed by a pair of wonderful souls.
They both taught and gave me more than I could ask for.
Though the journey is not a smooth one.
Neverthe less, I learned patience, unconditional love, forgiveness, breaking stereo thinking, control of my temper, most importantly, to see God's hand in his creatures and all living things.

Welcome

Hi all,
            I would like to share with you about my journey with Bel and her babies.
            Hopefully, the writings can bless you in your own journeys too.
            Sincerely,
            Xxxx