8 Holland Lop kits - 3 died between 3 & 4 wks old. HELP!

[jimmywalt]

Our 18 month old doe has had 4 successful litters in the past. On 8/11/15 she gave birth to 8 healthy kits. Over the first 3 weeks they all seemed to be doing well, growing, eating, etc. Then within the past week we have lost 3 of them. The crazy part behind this is that 5 were tort color (like the buck) and 3 were broken-black-tort (like the doe). The 3 that have died were the ones like the doe.

We are in Michigan. The weather has been warm (upper 70's and mid 80's and humid). They are in our garage with our other rabbits (about 8 others all in separate cages) and we have fans running 24/7, the side door open and the garage door open when we are at home.

The 5 torts seem as healthy as can be. We feel that it's odd that the 3 broken-black-tort ones passed.

Any idea why???? How can they live for so long and then just die? 1 died today, 1 yesterday, and the other one about 1 week ago.

Help.

UPDATE
I must not have been clear.............

The bunnies were born on 8/11/15. As of today they are only 26 days old. They have been with the doe since birth (and currently are as well).

Each of the 3 died on different days.... so no storms, frights, etc.

Food - Milk from the doe. Also they have started to eat rabbit pellets and hay.

Thanks for your help.

 

[TF3]

Any diet change?
Sudden fright? Storms?
I'm sorry for your loss (but I wish my Hlop would have 8 kits )

 

[macksmom98]

Were they weaned before 8 weeks? It is interesting that its been all of the same colors. We have Hollands but are about a year into our experience with them, and I have never had anything like this happen yet.....

 

[jimmywalt]

I must not have been clear.............

The bunnies were born on 8/11/15. As of today they are only 26 days old. They have been with the doe since birth (and currently are as well).

Each of the 3 died on different days.... so no storms, frights, etc.

Food - Milk from the doe. Also they have started to eat rabbit pellets and hay.

Thanks for your help.

 

[ladysown]

when three week old kits die ... and it happens.

you need to consider...

1. damage. could they have hurt themselves or been hurt by mom as at three weeks they are little "momma hounds" and sometimes things happen when momma struggles to stay clear of them

2. feed intake. Could they have eaten something not good for themselves.. pulling plastic into the cage, mouldy hay left in corner of cage etc.

3. water intake. They are right at that stage where they are experimenting. They may not have figured out the water bottle/bowl thing yet.

4. genetic issues. have you bred that doe and buck together before?

5. general gut health. Some bunnies just have poor guts and at three weeks you start to see signs of it (stuck poop on kits, diarrhea, etc). Where you monitoring them for signs of this? (picking up, checking rear ends etc).

 

[jimmywalt]

1. No. But in the past about 10 days seemed to be "stand-offish". Not wanting to be part of the pile of bunnies sleeping together.

2. No nothing that they could have eaten that all the rest didn't eat.

3. The others were figuring out the water bottle and food bowl, but these 3 didn't seem to.

4. This is the 4th litter for the doe. All previous have been healthy and grown. This is the first time breeding with this buck...... Could it be him????

5. We check the bunnies every day since birth. All have seemed healthy and grown at the same pace. Just these 3 seemed to slow down during the past 10 days

 

[ladysown]

when young bunnies slow down that's a sign of a poorly functioning digestive system.

You can try giving them probiotics or let nature take it's course.

ME>>> I choose to cull them because..

1. grow out is slow
2. adults with gut issues is just an agonizing mess which reoccurs.
3. many of my baby rabbits go out to pet homes.. I DO NOT want pet rabbits dealing with gut issues in inexperienced homes.
4. do you want to encourage poor gut in your herd? Better to winnow them out early rather than later.


I have found the genetics play a HUGE role in the digestive systems of rabbits. I would choose to NOT breed those two again and be watchful of the rest..... I would stress any I planned to keep as replacement stock, just to see how their guts held up under the stress. (doing so in a careful method..not in a let's be stupid manner).