So my kits don't seem to have changed much this week and they are 5 weeks old now. Born 12/28/11, my Kintraks says to wean 2/8/12, which is now 7 days away. Since there hasn't been much growth on them, never see the kits suckle and they eat pellets, hay & grass 24/7, could I wean 2 kits and then 1 a day until all are moved off? They also have oats in their feed since they started leaving the nest.

I'd like to start tonight, so please let me know!

Lots of people do that, something about helping the mother dry up slowly, only weaning a couple of kits at a time.

Guess I am waiting til tomorrow to move the first two. Was outside doing finishing rounds and now it's dark.
Anything else I should add to the kit's food to help them grow?

from what i have read (as well as my experience with goats) makes me think that weaning a few kits at a time and letting the mother adjust that way seems best. to me anyhow. good luck!

My experience with my Rex does is that by about 4 weeks [when I usually re-breed the doe] they are tapering off anyway. I leave the kits with her for another 2 weeks and then usually separate them all. Occasionally I have left a couple of kits for a few more days but not usually. I have not noticed that they does have had any congestion with the kits being moved all at once. Perhaps it is because they are already halfway through another pregnancy.

I just tattooed and separated 25 kits [3 litters] today. So far I think the mommas are fine, and probably relieved to have some time/space to themselves

What can I feed, other than oats, to help the kits grow up faster? Like sheep and goats have creep feed, anything for rabbits?

Moved 3 today! 3 because it might get cold and they need warmth.

I supplement mine with rolled oats and BOSS.

Boss is too pricey here to feed it. :/

__________ Sat Feb 04, 2012 8:55 am __________

Well, 2 kits left w/mom. Had to make another hay feeder for the kit's cage.

__________ Sun Feb 05, 2012 5:46 pm __________

Moved last baby over and put mom back outside.

I usually just let the doe wean them, which usually happens between 4 and 5 weeks. I have a shelf the doe can get up on that the kits can't get to. When I see her jumping onto the shelf every time the kits try to nurse I figure she's done with them. By that time she's usually glad to see the pesky critters gone.

BOSS can sometimes be found sold by the pound. I saw it at the farm store yesterday, 99 cents a lb in a bin where you help yourself. And I only add a few spoonfuls and a small handfull of rolled oats to their pellets, and always free choice hay. My babies grow extremely fast, but that could be due to being half flemish giant.