can someone tell me if they are feed?

[karenl]

The kits are 6 days old after a tough start see my other posts can someone confirm they are feed im still feeding them with towel on lap method as im a bit unsure whether just the two of them would be enough to keep warm if i put tthem back in with mum im just a bit worried she not making enough milk altho i expect they wouldnt still be alive if they werent getting some. The black n white one i think not feed as well they dont have big fat tummies like some of the posts. These pics were after a 15min feed. Thanks

 

[Susie570]

The bottom two pictures do not look fed to me. You say you are only feeding them while holding the doe? That second kit looks very thin. If you don't find a way to supplement it soon, I would think it won't last much longer. :/

How often are you feeding them? You can certainly ask the doe to feed them several times a day, it won't hurt anything and might cause her to produce more milk.

 

[karenl]

Morning and night should i just try feeding every 2 hours until i see full tummies?

 

[Susie570]

Morning and night should i just try feeding every 2 hours until i see full tummies?

I wouldn't say THAT often, but at least mid-day sometime? There really shouldn't be much competition from just 2 kits, so it should be fine to feed them together. The top one doesn't look 'fat' either, but it looks better fed than the other kit. :/

 

[MaggieJ]

I'm sorry . . . but they do not look like recently-fed kits to me. Are you giving the doe any supplements to help her milk supply? With only two for her to feed, they should be butterballs.

 

[Susie570]

At this point you need to get some milk into them.

I don't normally suggest any sort of formula feeding, but it might be worthwhile to try at this point. I would continue to try and feed them from the doe, but the goat's milk formula mix posted on the forum might be good.

 

[cmfarm]

Are you keeping them in the cage with the doe or do you keep them in the house?

 

[karenl]

In the house and bringing mum into lap feed twice a day

 

[MaggieJ]

Karenl, lap feeding often is helpful to get them started, but have you tried recently taking the nest box to the doe? If not, I think it is worth considering at this point. Unless the doe is downright dangerous to the kits (sorry, I think I missed the original thread) then leaving them with her for half a hour in privacy may do the trick.

Parsley, oats or oatmeal are good for stimulating milk supply. There are other things too, but I can't recall them at the moment.

 

[akane]

Sometimes the milk does not flow if the doe is stressed by being handled so taking the kits to her might help. If they don't get a good day of feeding in the next 24hrs I would start giving goat milk. Rabbit milk is very rich so a formula using a concentrated source of goat milk is better or I use goat kid replacement formula mixed to double the strength of the instructions. If they are getting some milk from the doe regular goat milk might work fine to help them a little bit.

 

[skysthelimit]

Sometimes the milk does not flow if the doe is stressed by being handled so taking the kits to her might help.

I have never had any success lap feeding because of this, my does will not let down sufficient milk held this way.

Why are you taking the nest into the house instead of leaving it with the dam? I pull my nest most of the time, but for feeding, I put it in the cage and walk away.

 

[karenl]

Fingers crossed they seem better feed last night and today i lap feed them when it was dark and really quiet my kids had all gone to bed. Then gave her the nest box this morning she was only in there 10mins the 2 babies scattered everywhere but all good with fuller tummies. Thats the reason i hadnt been giving her the nest box for some reason she scattering the kits but i wonder because its only 2 of them they just wriggling everywhere. Plus only 2 not enough of them to keep warm.
Will perservere and see if we can get these 2 to grow out stage will give her the box each feed and just cross fingers she dont stamp on tthem. <br /><br /> -- Sun Apr 26, 2015 6:04 pm -- <br /><br />

Yeaaaaaaah full tummies i have learnt lots even if yyou think your mummy rabbit is relax and sits quietly and happy the whole feed she still may not have relaxed enough for babies to get a full or proper feed possibly some but not what they need so lap feeding in the dark in total silence worked for us and has got these buns going plus because they are full now they stay cuddled in nest not popping all over the place searching for food so have been able to take the nest box out to misty the mum. Without them getting stamped on or cold
these are photos of full tums and this is 6 hours after their last feed thanks so much you guys have worked your magic again and saved some more little bunnies

 

[Susie570]

Hooray! Fat, full bellies!! :cheer1: :cheer2:

 

[alforddm]

those look like very contented kits!