The Risk: fostering two weeks kits from one doe to another in order to foster three struggling babies.
The Calculation: I've fostered kits of many ages back and forth from one doe to another, normally though within about five days of each other, and not after 1.5 weeks of age.
Does involved: Biscuit (14 kits, three struggling). E. Rosie, polish doe, new mom, rather flightly. Splash, harlequin doe, five kits, a bit of a growler with her kits.
Took Rosie's two and put them in with Splash, observed carefully for five minutes. Rewarded with a whack load of hay.
Took three small ones from Biscuit.. yes, the better bet is to take the strongest and leave the weakest...but that would have left three struggling kits competing against 8 vigorous kits. Put them in with Rosie. She ignored them totally for a full day. Put one of her own kits back in with. She fed them but her own kit got the bulk of it. Once she fed them, I removed her kit again.
Worried for three days.
NOTE: when I foster I just move kits around and watch. I don't put anything on noses or make much of a fuss. I just move and watch.
WOOT WOOT! all are doing well.
Full write up, complete with pics, is here: http://athomepets.weebly.com/1/post/201 ... orked.html
The Calculation: I've fostered kits of many ages back and forth from one doe to another, normally though within about five days of each other, and not after 1.5 weeks of age.
Does involved: Biscuit (14 kits, three struggling). E. Rosie, polish doe, new mom, rather flightly. Splash, harlequin doe, five kits, a bit of a growler with her kits.
Took Rosie's two and put them in with Splash, observed carefully for five minutes. Rewarded with a whack load of hay.
Took three small ones from Biscuit.. yes, the better bet is to take the strongest and leave the weakest...but that would have left three struggling kits competing against 8 vigorous kits. Put them in with Rosie. She ignored them totally for a full day. Put one of her own kits back in with. She fed them but her own kit got the bulk of it. Once she fed them, I removed her kit again.
Worried for three days.
NOTE: when I foster I just move kits around and watch. I don't put anything on noses or make much of a fuss. I just move and watch.
WOOT WOOT! all are doing well.
Full write up, complete with pics, is here: http://athomepets.weebly.com/1/post/201 ... orked.html
