Could some help
- Thread starter Ryanmayo
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Hi and welcome! :hi:
A first-time momma rabbit that builds a nest, pulls fur and kindles in the box is off to a good start. As to whether she's feeding them, take a look at this thread of fed and unfed kits.
fed-vs-unfed-kit-pictures-t3052.html
The pictures I posted in it were of meat mutts, so naturally your lionheads are going to look smaller. Your doe's milk may not come in immediately, so be prepared to examine the kits at intervals if they don't seem to be fed the first time. It's quite all right to handle the kits (washing your hands first is a good idea). The doe will not abandon them because of it -- that's a common myth.
Now, regarding the one that is smaller. It may be a runt - just undersized - or it may be a "peanut" - an unviable dwarf kit that will not survive. I don't have any experience with the dwarf breeds, but someone else will likely chime in. Sometimes runts do fine and eventually catch up. About all you can do at this point is give it a chance.
I am moving your topic to the Kindling and Care of Does and Kits forum because you will get more and better responses if it is in the right forum.
A first-time momma rabbit that builds a nest, pulls fur and kindles in the box is off to a good start. As to whether she's feeding them, take a look at this thread of fed and unfed kits.
fed-vs-unfed-kit-pictures-t3052.html
The pictures I posted in it were of meat mutts, so naturally your lionheads are going to look smaller. Your doe's milk may not come in immediately, so be prepared to examine the kits at intervals if they don't seem to be fed the first time. It's quite all right to handle the kits (washing your hands first is a good idea). The doe will not abandon them because of it -- that's a common myth.
Now, regarding the one that is smaller. It may be a runt - just undersized - or it may be a "peanut" - an unviable dwarf kit that will not survive. I don't have any experience with the dwarf breeds, but someone else will likely chime in. Sometimes runts do fine and eventually catch up. About all you can do at this point is give it a chance.
I am moving your topic to the Kindling and Care of Does and Kits forum because you will get more and better responses if it is in the right forum.
KenoshaRabbits
Well-known member
And to add on to MaggieJ's advice; does will usually feed once or twice a day for just a few minutes. They ignore the nest otherwise. So don't be worried if you don't see them nursing.
UFCreel
Well-known member
sounds like you have the makings of a good mother rabbit there. One thing i do before touching the kits. Is to run my hand over the mother. My dad taught me this many years ago and has served me well. If the kits belly's are round she is a feeding them.
I do believe the kit in the picture you posted has been fed. However, it's a bit scrunched up in the picture so I can't say 100%.
Yes, especially if you had a cooler night.
Could be a peanut or a runt. You could post a picture and someone can probably tell you with a reasonable amount of confidence which it is. I don't breed dwarfs breeds so don't have any experience with peanuts.
2CrazyFools
Rainy Days Rabbitry
I've heard that no matter what you do peanuts won't live to see adulthood. I think 12 weeks was as old as someone got one to live before it died... which is a REALLY long time for a peanut!
However runts can definitely survive.
However runts can definitely survive.
UFCreel
Well-known member
Looks fed to me. But as was said earlier a bit scrunched up. I would leave them alone for the rest of today and check in the morning to see if they are being fed. For the tiny one. Not all make it when everything is going right sometimes.
Thank you all who commented I really appreciate it as I'm new to this and also my buck and doe is now i can rest myself knowing she's doing fine I hate going work leaving them on there own <br /><br /> -- Fri May 26, 2017 11:47 am -- <br /><br /> When is the father aloud to be with the baby's?
LittleFluffyBunnies
Well-known member
I wouldn't put the buck in with them. He is likely to attack the kits and the mother will get pregnant again. They can breed right after birth.
