TF3
Well-known member
I'm curious (and I know I ask a million questions :x :lol: ).
How do you know if your doe is a good milk producer?
I assume that you have fat growing kits, right?
For large does, do you have a base number you expect them to manage? 8? 10?
(Talking 10-12 lb does)
I'm still working on figuring out who stays this winter...
In July, Spice had two kits and they are BIG (she is just 7 lb, dad is about 10-11) going over 3 lbs. at 6 weeks.
Comparatively, Pearl, my Satin/NZW big blocky doe (x large NZW) had one survivor in July and he is 1/2 the weight of Spice's kits.
As a singleton, I expected more.
I am watching and weighing them through their next few weeks when the mother's milk is no longer a factor in their growth.
Fast forward to August and Pearl had 9 kits on Monday.
They are long but very slender... on day 2 (today) I had to get her to supplement three who were all ribs (my daughter called them earthworms LOL) and no belly.
They are only 30-60 g.
She is an experienced mom, and an attentive one.
She weaned just before giving birth, so milk should still be flowing from her singleton.
But I am wondering if her milk production is just not great?
Her kits just aren't what I have experienced in my other does' litters.
I am waiting to see what Spice and Clover deliver to decide whether to take some of Pearl's kits to one of them (although I had planned to take all of Spice's if possible, but I don't think Pearl can handle more).
What do you think?
How do you know if your doe is a good milk producer?
I assume that you have fat growing kits, right?
For large does, do you have a base number you expect them to manage? 8? 10?
(Talking 10-12 lb does)
I'm still working on figuring out who stays this winter...
In July, Spice had two kits and they are BIG (she is just 7 lb, dad is about 10-11) going over 3 lbs. at 6 weeks.
Comparatively, Pearl, my Satin/NZW big blocky doe (x large NZW) had one survivor in July and he is 1/2 the weight of Spice's kits.
As a singleton, I expected more.
I am watching and weighing them through their next few weeks when the mother's milk is no longer a factor in their growth.
Fast forward to August and Pearl had 9 kits on Monday.
They are long but very slender... on day 2 (today) I had to get her to supplement three who were all ribs (my daughter called them earthworms LOL) and no belly.
They are only 30-60 g.
She is an experienced mom, and an attentive one.
She weaned just before giving birth, so milk should still be flowing from her singleton.
But I am wondering if her milk production is just not great?
Her kits just aren't what I have experienced in my other does' litters.
I am waiting to see what Spice and Clover deliver to decide whether to take some of Pearl's kits to one of them (although I had planned to take all of Spice's if possible, but I don't think Pearl can handle more).
What do you think?
