Baby bunny failing to thrive

[Lizardslaps]

ok so I have a litter of 3 Netherlands dwarf bunny's 2black otter and a black
there weights are as follows at 8 days old
Black 97grams
black otter 1 110grams

and my last black otter is 63grams Its been 4days hes been at that weight was 60 yesterday but I fed him until he didn't want to suckle anymore. I can tell he dont look as healthy as the rest

I wont cull him unless he starts to wither even with frequent feedings

Is there anything more I can do to get him going besides flipping momma over and letting have free range on her

 

[ladysown]

some kits simply don't transition well and need to be culled. If you don't, one morning you'll find him lying dead on the floor. Giving hay regularly helps, but doesn't guarantee they will manage.

You can ... I've done this in the past (just don't anymore see why later) is get some probiotics into it. That often will give them a needed boost. But generally speaking those faders have something genetically wrong with their digestive systems and you end up delaying the inevitable.

having done the probiotic thing, having babies pull through weaning stage, and then finding them dead at 12 weeks is not particularly beneficial to anyone -- much less to a new pet owner. I simply don't anymore.

Those faders either need to pull through within two days of starting to fail or I will cull them.

 

[Lizardslaps]

Bunny In question but both otters have this same thing going on I assume its not normal since the black isn't like this
its hard to see but its all wetish

other more healthy bunny s

<br /><br />__________ Sat Dec 15, 2012 12:33 pm __________<br /><br />

some kits simply don't transition well and need to be culled. If you don't, one morning you'll find him lying dead on the floor. Giving hay regularly helps, but doesn't guarantee they will manage.

You can ... I've done this in the past (just don't anymore see why later) is get some probiotics into it. That often will give them a needed boost. But generally speaking those faders have something genetically wrong with their digestive systems and you end up delaying the inevitable.

having done the probiotic thing, having babies pull through weaning stage, and then finding them dead at 12 weeks is not particularly beneficial to anyone -- much less to a new pet owner. I simply don't anymore.

Those faders either need to pull through within two days of starting to fail or I will cull them.

Its hard to cull a bunny that dont even have its eyes open yet Its not lost any weight and after being fed he only gained 3grams

 

[ladysown]

if they are wee little, then the problem is they have something going through their system. Less food is generally the answer, not more.

Too much food is not good for babies either.

I'd hold off on giving them extra feedings.

I'd keep that nestbox as clean as you can.

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

ladysown is right. I think it is digest problem also... Are they warm enough... That can be another problem.

 

[Lizardslaps]

Its completely fresh and they are wholly dependent on there mothers milk atm and I think that little guy is about done he dont want to eat

I will hold off on feeding them could it be something the mother is eating?
She eats pellets and timothy hay as much as she wants I add abit of of apple cider vinegar to her water

its about 80 out today I also cover up the hutch when it gets cold and the wind off them

 

[majorv]

I had a pair of Himalayans when I first started in rabbits. Not all her litters, but in several, there was at least one kit who failed to thrive. It was usually after weaning. I think it was something the kits got from either the doe or buck because when I bred one of the daughter's I had the same problem with her litter...2 of the 3 died young. We also had Tans and had no problems with their litters. It was very frustrating!

 

[MaggieJ]

Not every baby bunny is strong enough to make it. Our hearts say to help all we can, but - after a certain amount of experience - most of us conclude that it is best to let nature take its course. Giving one or two supplementary feedings is as far as I will go for a meat rabbit. If they fail to thrive I certainly do not want to breed them... and if they are unlikely to make it to butchering weight, it seems pointless to prolong their lives. Why make them suffer?

 

[Lizardslaps]

well I was out weighing them again today and as soon as I took him off the scale he scampered up to mom to suckle

he gained about 2 more grams bringing him up to 66grams

Just gonna let nature take its course if he lives awesome if not o well Cant womp him though

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

I cant either. .. Sounds he is going to make it. It also sound like he got chilled to