colony rabbits- with babies! Ahh!

So! I wanted to do a Flemish Giant Colony, in the summer they will be out in movable tractors on grass, but for winter the pair of Flemish had the entire horse stall to themselves. I kept waiting for them to breed, nothing- they said they were waiting on spring.
A few times I exposed the doe to my New Zealand buck, but he does not live in the colony. He has his own xpen and cage and outside run etc.

Anyway! I what I was reading on colonies is pretty much you will go out to feed them one day- and wha-la babies!
And that is just what happened, I went out tonight and there he was a cute little (probably two weeks old already) new Zealand /Flemish baby- I can not wait to see who else is in the nest, and who might be out tomm morning (crossing my fingers he is a smart baby and goes back to the nest tonight)

So we watched him for hours today. He was bouncing all over with both the mom and the male Flemish

I HAD planned to take the male Flemish out when I thought she was bred, but apparently I totally missed her hidden nest - and the baby was my first clue I made sure that I included lots of great hiding places and the stall is huge, but I guess I just totally missed the nest all together.

well, obviously he is with both the male and his mom- and is okay- but I snagged the male out anyway- now I do not want the mom bred directly back- plus I really do not want that little stinker hurt, and am really crossing my fingers he was just the bold baby first out of the nest and more will follow-- but do most colony raising folks leave the male in, as long as he is not hurting babies- and let them rebreed whenever it happens? Or do you other colony folks plan the litters more specifically?

I really thought I would love this whole colony idea- but it freaks me out to tell you the truth- knowing that for about two weeks these babies have been chilling out and I have no idea how many or how they are doing - this kit is not very young, he is small, but full fur, eyes wide and bright and a hop in his steps - still baby steps, but I am guessing he is 12-18 days old-ish? And this was my first inkling I had babies was to see this little hopper come on out

cross your fingers with me that more are to follow and all goes well
any colony raisers who want to chime in with advice? links?

I think we needs to see some photos!

if the kit is hopping about and its eyes are open then its at least 7-12 days old. momma rabbit was probably bred back by the buck you had with her the day she had babies or soon after, just assume she is bred because its probably 98% chance she is. if it were me i would leave them together, but thats me and how i want to do things myself. if the kit hasnt been hurt thusfar then it should be fine with the mom rabbit and the male, unless it is a boy and then it needs to be removed by 10 or 12 weeks or else the buck will fight with it because breeding rights.

Here is what you missed, I put the buck in an x pen yesterday, in the stall. He got out and was back with his babies- now three have left the nest, two white and one sandy orange. The mom and dad are both the same color, so I can not really tell them apart, and the buck and the doe are both taking care of the kits, the kits will crawl under either adult, and when a chicken jumps into the stall, one adult runs at the chicken to chase it out, and one runs to the nest or kits that are out. Both adults will tuck the kits under them with their chin, we spent hours watching them, and have seen nothing but tenderness from the buck and doe

the downfall is that the doe is likely already bred back, and I did not want to just have the poor girl being bred back to back like that- but they are a nice family unit and working well together so far

crossing my fingers to see who else comes out the nest