Fed vs. Unfed KIt Pictures : Kindling and Care of Does and Kits - Page 7

These are very helpful, thank you!

Thanks for the pictures, very helpful. So, my bunny had two kits a little bit over 24 hours ago, I keep taking a look at them and only 1 appears to have the round belly the other has a slimmer belly similar to the ones in your pics. I did weigh them both after and there is a difference in weight between the two. When should I intervene? I don't want to wait til its too late and then it dies. Thanks!

Thanks for the reply! By morning it will have been about 48 hours since birth. I did happen to take a look at the thread that you referred to. About an hour and half ago I brought the momma bunny and kits in nest inside to an indoor pen, I held mom in my lap and had the husband assist the thin baby to nurse, he acted like he was starving. He would constantly go from nipple to nipple(not spending too long on any one), it sounded like he was getting something but not sure how much. His belly was a little fuller looking after but not by much. By the way... the momma was not happy with this method as she tried to kick her legs loose from my hands a few times. Will this method cause her to no longer want to nurse on her own or will she instinctively return to the nest when we are not present regardless? Thanks!

It's also quite common for kits to move from nipple to nipple at that young of an age

I have 8 day old kits. The smallest kit constantly hovers on the unfed side. He is growing, but he is smaller and skinnier than the other 4. I have flipped mama, but I don't think she is letting down milk for him. She is completely spastic and freaked out on her back. He never looks plump after letting him nurse. Should I supplement him with the formula recipe on here a couple times?

We will be breeding our two does this weekend so this is definitely helpful! One of my does has been bred before and she’s a great mom, but I’m worried about my other doe since this will hopefully be her first year as a mother. Last year we tried to breed them but the male want fertile so she had to wait another year for babies. I’ll have to keep watch and make sure she is taking good care of them and feeding them! I’m a little worried about her but I think she’ll be all right. I’ve had good luck with all my does being wonderful mothers even in their first year so I hope it continues. The first year was the only year I had trouble. That was the year I had a doe that was so protective of her babies she bit my mother. We always watch our does since then but none of them have been that protective. I hope this doe is as good of a mother as her mom!

Hi I'm new to rabbit talk. I'm new to Netherland dwarfs. I've had my dwarfs about 7 months now. Had my 2 does have there first litter. First doe did not pull fur and not sure if she fed them. She is going to kindle again this coming Sunday. I'm hoping for better results. My second doe had a litter this past Friday had 3. 2 DOA 1 live but live kit died Monday. I was holding kit to mom because did not look like she fed it. This doe did pull hair and licked and cleaned kit. I found d kit dead Monday licked bloody from wait down. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks Brenda I'm new to site not sure if I posted in right section.

-- Tue Sep 10, 2019 9:05 pm --

Hi I'm new to rabbit talk. I'm new to Netherland dwarfs. I've had my dwarfs about 7 months now. Had my 2 does have there first litter. First doe did not pull fur and not sure if she fed them. She is going to kindle again this coming Sunday. I'm hoping for better results. My second doe had a litter this past Friday had 3. 2 DOA 1 live but live kit died Monday. I was holding kit to mom because did not look like she fed it. This doe did pull hair and licked and cleaned kit. I found d kit dead Monday licked bloody from wait down. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks Brenda I'm new to site not sure if I posted in right section.

You'd be better off starting a new post, people don't always check old posts like this.

Thanks

Greeneyedgirl wrote:Thanks

Hi Brenda, and welcome...
Mothering ability is largely genetic, as is litter size .
If you have a good buck, and proper nutrition, and a good nesting situation.
-- then, if your stock does not produce good litters, you need to look at buying "good stock" from a reputable breeder , with good production records.

Thanks for these I will check my kits when my doe kindles and make sure there fed

Do only quick checks, like twice a day, and don't hover around. It is normal that it takes up to a day until the doe feeds, don't stress her or the kits.