Colony Nesting

[ekaelliott]

My colony is started and going well. I was nervous about introducing the does to each other but there were no fights and everyone is getting along very well. I think it is possible that my Red New Zealands had been raised in a colony before they came to me. Not sure. Anyway, last night (11/19) was 31 days since starting the colony, I had one colony born during the night of 11/18 and a second born last night. They have made one large nest instead of two separate ones. Is this common? Are there any reasons why this might be a problem?

 

[Dood]

You must watch the litter and make sure each kit gets their fair share of milk.

When I had a colony it was common for does to prefer one particular nest area. I tried moving one of the litters to another spot but the doe abandonded them and fed the kits in the original nest area. I ended up having to cage the calmer of the two girls with her kits.

I once had a double nest but the age difference was ten days and the newborn litter quickly died off even after I moved the older litter to a cage, I suspect they never got access to colostrum.

 

[Zab]

What Dood said.

I had a shared nest with my first two does, but they only got 5 kits each so everything went fine.
Now I breed with two or three weeks apart, and if I see a doe not nesting in a good spot (or nesting at all) I close the nest tunnel with kits in it already off a few days before the kindling. So the pregnant doe has to chose another spot. I put the nursing dow in with the kits twice a day while that tunnel/box is closed. I open it when the other doe has had her kits. And I provide good nesting tunnels for all.

 

[ekaelliott]

How soon is too soon to count and check in on them? I don't want to cause the does to abandon the kits and I am just so excited to finally have litters (I tried to breed them about three times unsuccessfully before finally moving to the colony).

 

[Dood]

I start handling my kits right away, mainly to check for stillborns, health and cleaning of the nestbox, and have never had a problem even in a colony.

When I moved the litter the doe basically adopted the other litter of kits and abandoned her own since she didn't like the spot I picked for them.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

How soon is too soon to count and check in on them?

It is never "too soon". I check my nests immediately after the doe finishes kindling. I usually catch my does in the act of giving birth, and as soon as they hop out of the box I look them over.

It is important to get any wet bedding out of the box as well as any uneaten placentas or dead kits. I add a handful of pine pellets to the nest hollow and cover with bedding and fur at that time to help absorb urine from the kits.

I don't want to cause the does to abandon the kits

The doe should not mind at all, but some show more concern than others. I give mine a tasty treat to keep them busy while I look at the babies. The nestbox, bedding, food, and colony itself have your scent all over already, so she will not abandon them because they smell like you.

You should check the nest and kits daily for the first week or so, and more often in hot weather. You want to make sure they are being fed and remove any that don't make it.