Silver Bliss Rabbitry

[RABBITGIRLFORTHEWIN]

I Love what Secuono is doing with her Not new, but returning! thread and thought I would start my own.

Two litters are due (hopefully)
1. Chestnut is due on the 17th. She will be a first-timer so hopefully, she will do good. Her sister did amazing so we will see. I put the nest box in today (I like to give my does more time to get used to the nest box).
2. Darin is due on the 19th (again, hopefully. She has been cranky!) and is also a first-timer. I will probably put her nest box in on the 16th.
I need to choose who I'm keeping in Mama's litter. They're getting big and I got to start advertising them.



These are old pics of them. So cute!

 

[RABBITGIRLFORTHEWIN]

Chestnut had kits! 9 of them on the 17th. One didn't make it. I'm going to start weaning 2 litters. Waiting on darlin to have her kits.

 

[olhippityhop]

One of my does kindled on the 17th too! Congrats

 

[RABBITGIRLFORTHEWIN]

One of my does kindled on the 17th too! Congrats

What breed? Chestnut is half New Zealand half Silver Fox.

 

[olhippityhop]

What breed? Chestnut is half New Zealand half Silver Fox.

The doe is a meat mutt and the buck is a purebred Champagne D'argent.

 

[RABBITGIRLFORTHEWIN]

Darlin pulled fur. I think she's going to kindle tonight. Hopefully we will wake up to kits! Ugh, I hate the rain! it started raining today had to cover some tractors up. It's going to be a pain to move them around now.

 

[RABBITGIRLFORTHEWIN]

Darlin had kits! She had 5 kits and 1 dead in the nest box. They are nice and big. It's hard to tell but I think we will have some chocolates, blacks, and possibly blues in this litter!

 

[RABBITGIRLFORTHEWIN]

Darlin's kits are growing like weeds! She has lots of milk so they always have big bellies. She is a protective mama and is always grouching at me. Chestnut is a sweetheart she is always trying to get me to pet her She is a smaller doe and isn't producing a lot so they aren't growing as fast but they are still growing. I did think about giving Darlin a kit or two but I don't know how she will react. It's still raining!!!!!! I planted some leafy greens for me and the rabbits we will see if they come up.

 

[ladysown]

if you want to foster kits, just plunk them in the nest and cover them with fur. 99% of rabbits will not care in the slightest.

General rules with fostering still in the nestbox (generally less than two weeks old)
- foster the biggest NOT the smallest. you only move the smallest if trying to increase numbers from a small young litter. (so a doe who has less than three kits, take the smallest from the litter closest in age to make a minimum of three).
- do not foster immediately before the doe feeds her kits. you want about a two hour gap (to combat that 1% of does that do mind). Plunk new kit right into the middle of the original kit and cover them with fur. Let them settle well. This way all kits will smell the same.

Fostering older kits (so older kits so 14-21 days). TOTALLY depends on the doe. Some does will accept stranger kits and other does will not. So it's a try and see. I've had success by removing ALL kits from the doe and then adding fosters into the mix into a smallish container so the kits are all rubbing together to get smells on each other. Does that accept other kits easily are gold and you want to keep them around. When I hear stories of does with six week old kits who wean that litter and take on a new one from a doe having issue... I WANT THAT DOE!

 

[RABBITGIRLFORTHEWIN]

if you want to foster kits, just plunk them in the nest and cover them with fur. 99% of rabbits will not care in the slightest.

General rules with fostering still in the nestbox (generally less than two weeks old)
- foster the biggest NOT the smallest. you only move the smallest if trying to increase numbers from a small young litter. (so a doe who has less than three kits, take the smallest from the litter closest in age to make a minimum of three).
- do not foster immediately before the doe feeds her kits. you want about a two hour gap (to combat that 1% of does that do mind). Plunk new kit right into the middle of the original kit and cover them with fur. Let them settle well. This way all kits will smell the same.

Fostering older kits (so older kits so 14-21 days). TOTALLY depends on the doe. Some does will accept stranger kits and other does will not. So it's a try and see. I've had success by removing ALL kits from the doe and then adding fosters into the mix into a smallish container so the kits are all rubbing together to get smells on each other. Does that accept other kits easily are gold and you want to keep them around. When I hear stories of does with six week old kits who wean that litter and take on a new one from a doe having issue... I WANT THAT DOE!

I have doe like that she is amazing! It was her first time and I had to foster a couple of kits and she took them like a champ! Thanks.