Hello good rabbit people. Does anyone have experience weaning rabbits? If so I would greatly appreciate any advice you can offer!
Background: I picked up an abandoned rabbit in a park. A week later, surprise surprise, she had babies. Two of the babies went to a foster home at 8 weeks. Currently, at 9 weeks, we have three babies – two will be going to a foster soon and we're keeping one. The babies are kept in a large pen and Mama is free roam. She goes in the pen to nurse once a day. She also likes to go in to eat their food. When we let the babies out to exercise, she enjoys running around with them. The vet has advised we force her to wean to prepare for her upcoming spay.
Questions: Is this really as easy as just not letting her in the babies' pen? I suppose we can't let them out to exercise either unless I can find a gate that will keep her out of the room. I'm going to get a heavy duty plastic mat to go under the pen door so she won't rip up the carpet when she's trying to get in but is there anything else I can do to make the transition easier? I need to cut down on her pellets but could I give her more salad to distract her from that? How long does it take for her milk to dry up? Am I overthinking this because they're so cute together? Thank you!
by wizenedwriter