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!

If it's only been twenty-four hours, I wouldn't be too concerned yet. See how they look in the morning, not too early because does often nurse their kits just before sun-up.

It's impossible for me to judge how the second kit is doing. But here's a useful recent thread for you to read. There is also a ton of info on handfeeding in the stickies next to this one, should that become necessary. But I doubt it will be . . . with only two, the doe should have plenty of milk.
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Be aware that occasionally a kit doesn't feed because it isn't viable. In such cases, nothing you can do will help. But at this point, there is no indication that this the problem with your kit.

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!

I've never heard of it causing any problems. Never actually fed kits that way myself, but it is a standard method people use to get things started.

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?

I suggest trying something else first. Momma's milk is absolutely the best thing for your runt, so consider removing the biggest kits for one feeding. Maybe leave one other with the runt to help him stay warm, and/or add a hot water bottle along one side of the nest box for that time. (A glass screw-cap wine or liquor bottle works great . . . pull a sock over it so the kit doesn't touch it directly and make sure he can inch away from it if he gets too hot.) Once the runt has taken his fill, you can return the other kits. Missing or delaying one meal will not hurt them and the extra milk may be enough to let the runt compete better with his siblings.

Formula - especially Homer's updated mix - can be a life-saver, but Momma's milk is best of all.