Cold Kit Question

[Therian]

So I sort of dropped the ball today, my doe birthed one kit and I thought she was done, well 6 hours later she gave birth to the other 8. As some of you know I use ice blocks and tile to keep my rabbits cool, well the little guys crawled under it and two died

Total kits = 9, 2 died from ice block and one was super cold but after a hour wrapped in a cloth is warmish. My question is simple, what are the odds of that kit that lived getting sick and infecting the others? I dog piled his brothers and sisters on him so he warms up naturally, gonna check him again in a hour or so. He was pretty much lifeless when I got to him, I thought he was dead till I poked him and he moved a bit, after 30 minutes or so he started to lively again. Also is it common that does will hold back kits? I am only about a year into this and I have never had ANY doe delay kits like that, at least I learned a valued lesson.


Also I plan to move the kits inside for the first three weeks during the afternoon to get them out of the heat...mainly because I don't want to kill anymore of them with ice blocks. The question is will the mother reject them if they spend 8 hours inside then put back into the nest? She isn't a easy doe to move and she really gets upset from being moved to new locations (found this out when I bought her and when I moved her to my newer bigger cages)

 

[Miss M]

It isn't uncommon for a doe to stop kindling, and then finish later (sometimes a day later), especially if they were startled.

I'm sorry to hear about the kits you lost. The rule you'll see around here is, "a kit isn't dead until it's warm and dead," so you did the right thing trying to warm them up. You can put them in a pocket they won't get squished in, you can put them on a covered hot water bottle, anything to warm them up.

Your one that's warming up probably won't get sick, especially if he didn't miss more than one feeding. This kind of thing has happened many times to members of this forum, and they usually bounce back really well.

The doe shouldn't reject the kits if you remove them during the day. It would be best to remove the whole nest, though, and not just the kits. Quite a few members here remove nestboxes in the extreme heat, or extreme cold, and I'm having trouble recalling anyone saying they had a problem with the doe as a result. I think one member had a doe that seemed confused about the kits (first-timer, probably), and didn't care for them, and was injuring them as she would jump in and then back out. The owner finally tried removing the nest box and just bringing it to her twice a day, and the doe was so alarmed she killed the kits. This was highly unusual, though, and is the only case I can think of. And it involved a doe who was just clueless at the time.

Just one case out of the many who have had their nestboxes removed, so there's just about no chance that you'll have an issue.

 

[Therian]

Well sadly I ran into a small issue with my box, they were made for wider door cages so they don't pass the door till I tilt completely sideways. I moved the nestbox at the door and pinned it (so she can't get in to investigate) and took the kits out via my indoor box which only has her scent in it. I took hay and some fur to keep the scent on them and she is a good mom so I doubt there will be problems. Worst case my second doe is about to have kits so I can pawn some off on her and give the rest to my breeder (which always has 10-15 lactating does)


Appreciate the help Miss M, if I have a bad experience I will let you know for future people Now to make smaller nestboxes for the my new cages

 

[luvabunny]

Really, it's easier to make larger doors on the cages.

I've brought lots of babies back to "life" after they were cold and dead. Usually just putting them in my pocket did the trick. Occasionally rolling the bunny around in a washrag warmed in the dryer was necessary. Also, don't be too gentle. A fairly rough rub on the chest between the front legs, and along the neck up to the ears would help. Be sure not to catch the head and break it's neck.

I've never had a cold baby actually get sick. Normally, once warmed they are as healthy and active as the rest of the litter.

Taking out the nestbox during the day shouldn't cause any problems. Mama only feeds once in the early morning and once late in the evening. Any other time she's in the nestbox, there's a good chance she's eating the hay, soiling the nest, or stepping on the babies.

 

[skysthelimit]

Really, it's easier to make larger doors on the cages.

That's what I did, just cut the doors bigger.

 

[Miss M]

Appreciate the help Miss M, if I have a bad experience I will let you know for future people

You are welcome!

 

[OneAcreFarm]

I have nothing to add to the excellent advice you have already been given! Hope all your babies survive and do well!

 

[Therian]

Making the doors bigger is not a option, if it was id have done it Small update though, mama doesn't seem to care at all that I take the kits out of the box each day, the cold kit was dead this morning in the box. Not sure what killed him but he was being fed and was going strong :/ Thanks again for the assistance.