A loner kit... use a heating pad??

[FourRingCircus]

I had two does due yesterday. They have been making and unmaking nests for probably 2 weeks so I wasn't sure what they were going to do. As of yesterday one had the beginnings of a nest, the other had scattered hay. I went out this morning to find the scattered hay doe sitting on still scattered hay with a kit roaming around on the resting tile (poor thing has chapped feet ). I put the hay in the nest box with a handful of hair (borrowed from the other doe), just in case she wasn't done. The other doe is preparing for an arctic birth with a mountain of thick fur. I think she's going to be kindling any time now (she kept stomping at me while I was messing with the other doe).

So... I have a lone kit. Probably TMI, but it's currently tucked in my sports bra (figured that was my best option for a quick way to keep it warm while I waited to see what they were going to do). If it's mama has more and actually acts like she's going to take care of them, I will put it back. If not (either no more kits or not going to care for them) I will foster it/them over to the other one assuming she will take care of them. She lost a few in her last litter with only one surviving so I fostered it over. According to the previous owner they have both had and raised successful litters.

Anyway... I know the question has been asked a thousand times, but kids are stirring and our day is starting. What should I be doing in the mean time? If I use a heating pad, how warm should it be? Not sure I can handle the wiggly thing much longer :x It is good and chunky though!

Adding pics:

You can see the completely empty nest box in back.



The super soft nest the other doe is making...

 

[EnglishSpot]

If you use a heating pad, make sure to make an incline so that the kit can get away from the heat and cool off if it needs to. I'd say if there are no more siblings, then foster over to the other doe.

 

[FourRingCircus]

If you use a heating pad, make sure to make an incline so that the kit can get away from the heat and cool off if it needs to. I'd say if there are no more siblings, then foster over to the other doe.

Good point! I found one that has a "warm" setting and it (I think he?) is settling into it OK. Just hunkered down and sleeping right now.

 

[imajpm]

The ones for small animals don't get nearly as hot as a human heating pad Also, perhaps you can foster a few to her once your other doe has hers. Hopefully she will have a HUGE litter! <br /><br /> -- Fri Sep 11, 2015 9:21 am -- <br /><br /> Oops or as English said foster the lone kit to your other mother.

 

[FourRingCircus]

The other one is plucking herself bald... should be any time now! Fingers crossed it's within the next 2 hours b/c we're supposed to be going out of town for the night (be back in about 24 hours, so nothing major). I really didn't plan on taking a NB kit with me though :x .

Since sometimes it can take a while for the milk to come in anyway, do you think the lone kit would be OK with nothing until tomorrow? Or do I need to scramble to get some formula to tide it over until we get back if I can't foster it before then.

I had no idea there were heating pads specifically for animals. The one I have now has an automatic shut off so I am having to reset it frequently which is a pain - would an animal one not have that handy dandy ( :roll: ) feature? I am alternating between warm and low (with a spot for it to move it if gets to hot) and it seems to be comfortable. I have it in a basket on a fluffier rag.

 

[imajpm]

Yeah it doesn't have changeable settings. I think it stays at 84 degrees, or something like that. It's encased in hard plastic as well so pee proof and pretty durable. I slide them under the nest boxes and leave a few inches out, just in case a kit gets loose. The breeder I got my Germans from recommended them to me. She says they saved a couple kits who got drug out of the nest box. They were able to crawl to the heat source. Of course, since I started using them I've not had any kits get out :lol: I've also used them for angoras with a fresh haircut in chilly weather.

I think I ha

 

[FourRingCircus]

This is the current set-up - the heating pad is only the small square underneath it, the other half is just a towel bunched up underneath so it's all the same level surface. I'm loosely folding the cloth over to help trap the heat in. He hasn't moved from that spot and isn't wiggling around like it's uncomfortable or anything so I guess it's working ok for now...

 

[imajpm]

Oh inside! I was wondering how you were avoiding destruction of your heating pad. I was editing my post and my touchpad, which is independent minded, decided to submit ahead of schedule lol.

I was trying to say that I have read and heard that only 1 kit can be problematic for keeping a doe in milk, aside from the keeping warm problem which you have covered.

 

[FourRingCircus]

Oh inside! I was wondering how you were avoiding destruction of your heating pad. I was editing my post and my touchpad, which is independent minded, decided to submit ahead of schedule lol.

I was trying to say that I have read and heard that only 1 kit can be problematic for keeping a doe in milk, aside from the keeping warm problem which you have covered.

If this is the only one she has, I plan on fostering it over then giving her some mint and rebreeding her to hopefully cut her milk supply and reset the hormones. Last time she had a bust litter she went a bit crazy making and remaking a nest for days.

-- Fri Sep 11, 2015 3:12 pm --

Ack! She's making a nest now! Saw her digging and tossing things around... in the mix was a kit!! It's scratched and bruised a little so I pulled it out and put it with it's sibling in the basket and they'll be going with us to VA I guess. It feels like she has at least one more in there, if not 3+ (I could feel one definite lump, and then some questionable ones in a different area). This rabbit is going to make me crazy!! And it couldn't have been yesterday... or tomorrow! It has to be NOW... as we're walking out the door . Other mama is resting with a whole nest full of hair. Those kits, when they come, will have a very cushy place to sleep. At least today is the last hot day for a while (I hope this is fall now and no more 90*+ days!). <br /><br /> -- Fri Sep 11, 2015 9:14 pm -- <br /><br /> 2 is much better than 1. Really hoping they'll make it OK until tomorrow afternoon. Leaving them was guaranteed death though so I didn't have much choice.