OMG, it warmed up a bit today and at noon, I noticed my Satin doe in her nest box ... an hour later, I went out and checked and sure enough, there was fur in the back of the nestbox and pink showing through. I decided I was going to leave them for another hour or so as it had warmed nicely, even though I thought the nest looked sort of sparse.
Well, something came up and I left without bringing the nestbox inside. When I got back home at 4:30, the temps had plummeted even with the sun still out.
I rushed in, through the house and out to find the nest feeling really cold inside. I grabbed it and raced inside where I found the smallest barely moving and cold, cold, cold, and the others really chilled.
Breaking open my RT Toolbox of Tips and Tricks, I popped them all in my front next to my skin while I pulled out the bag of Angora fiber and shredded it for the last small basket that I lined with paper towels. The babies weren't warmed well yet, so I had the ex grab a quart ziplock and put water in it and slip it inside an old tube sock. He nuked it until it was warm and I tucked it down in the basket to warm up the Angora fur for a minute. Once the fiber was warmed, I tucked the smallest kit down next to the waterbag and piled the other kits (mostly warmed by this time) over and around the smallest, and tucked the warmed fiber on top. We then nuked a larger towel and set the basket on top and wrapped ONE side and the top of the basket with that.
An hour later, all was warm and moist inside, so I pulled the water bag, plopped a runt from a 3 day old litter in to help keep the warmth up.
I am glad to say that when I found the litter, the doe had already fed them and they don't seem to be any worse for wear despite being chilled with a belly full of milk. We will see how many make it through the night, but it has been 5+ hours since I found them, and all still alive.
:thankyou: to all the great folks with all the great information and suggestions on RT!!!!
Well, something came up and I left without bringing the nestbox inside. When I got back home at 4:30, the temps had plummeted even with the sun still out.
I rushed in, through the house and out to find the nest feeling really cold inside. I grabbed it and raced inside where I found the smallest barely moving and cold, cold, cold, and the others really chilled.
Breaking open my RT Toolbox of Tips and Tricks, I popped them all in my front next to my skin while I pulled out the bag of Angora fiber and shredded it for the last small basket that I lined with paper towels. The babies weren't warmed well yet, so I had the ex grab a quart ziplock and put water in it and slip it inside an old tube sock. He nuked it until it was warm and I tucked it down in the basket to warm up the Angora fur for a minute. Once the fiber was warmed, I tucked the smallest kit down next to the waterbag and piled the other kits (mostly warmed by this time) over and around the smallest, and tucked the warmed fiber on top. We then nuked a larger towel and set the basket on top and wrapped ONE side and the top of the basket with that.
An hour later, all was warm and moist inside, so I pulled the water bag, plopped a runt from a 3 day old litter in to help keep the warmth up.
I am glad to say that when I found the litter, the doe had already fed them and they don't seem to be any worse for wear despite being chilled with a belly full of milk. We will see how many make it through the night, but it has been 5+ hours since I found them, and all still alive.
:thankyou: to all the great folks with all the great information and suggestions on RT!!!!
