DO I DARE GET HOPEFUL??

[LadyKarli]

Okay so the other 3 kits died looking emaciated & like skeletons. I figured the last one would be dead this morning but he is not. This is day 4! THIS morning I find her protecting the nest. Covering the kit with her body. I had to move her & hold her at bay to even see if he was alive! & HE IS!!!!! His belly is not totally full but he is not a shrunk up shriveled skeleton like the other 3! DO I dare pray her milk came in just in time to save this last one. I can see her maternal instincts did. She was ready to fight me but I really thought the kit would be dead! If even 1 survives I will be so happy! Before she wouldn't go near the nest & now she is being over protective! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!!!!<br /><br />__________ Sat Mar 03, 2012 7:26 am __________<br /><br />Going to give her peace till tonight then will check again. PLEASE SURVIVE LITTLE BABY!!!!

 

[ladysown]

one baby will have a hard time staying warm - so let's wait and see how it goes. wishing it all the best.

 

[LadyKarli]

Well it has been very warm here in Florida lately & she made an amazing nest. I will just let nature do it's thing I guess.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Covering the kit with her body.

Karli,

she was nursing her kit, not protecting it. It sounds like her milk has finally come in.

As ladysown said, it will have a hard time keeping itself warm- it doesn't really matter how warm it is outside, you will need to provide extra heat for the little guy. Maggie often suggests a homemade hot water bottle as a temporary measure. Fill a wine bottle or glass jar with hot water and pull a sock over it, and place that in the nest so the baby can snuggle against it but can move away if it gets too hot. Another option is to keep the kit against your skin all day- in your bra or simply under your shirt will work.

I would go to a pet store and buy a heat mat designed for reptiles like this: http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/rep ... and-rocks/ Make sure to buy one that is only about half the size of the nest so the kit can move away from it if it gets too warm, and also be careful to secure the cord (and pad itself) out of the reach of the doe to prevent her chewing it. They make heat pads specifically for rabbit use, and I highly recommend you have one in case of future emergencies. This is the one I have: http://bassequipment.com/Miscellaneous/ ... fault.aspx

I hope your survivor pulls through. Good luck!

 

[ladysown]

now I've had kits survive quite nicely in the summer being only a singleton...so it all depends on the kit and the nest involved. see how it goes is all I can say. but YEAH!!!! her milk came in!!!

 

[LadyKarli]

AHHHH I THINK YOUR RIGHT!!!! I couldn't wait so I went & snuck a peek & was pleasantly surprised! She has cleaned the kit & he is looking better! Not really Full but maybe he was this morning. He was dirty & kinda poopy but he is shining now! ALL clean & wiggly & full of life OH PLEASE LET THINGS BE OKAY NOW!!!!! Tonight is going to be 59 degrees & high of 65 tomorrow. After that it might get even colder. Should I bring him in at night & if so should I wait till after dark & put him back before dawn? or is bringing him in before dark & just after dawn okay? I usually get up at 6am but I do not mind waking up earlier. Do you think this is a good idea or should I just let him be. He is in an enclosed area safe from wind & rain & she made a beautiful nest. he might be fine alone in there.

 

[MaggieJ]

I'd bring him in this evening (time is not critical) and take him out in the morning when you wake up. Bring the whole nest box. She will probably hop right in and feed him. With supplementary heating, he could likely stay out until evening. I'd give him a hot water bottle, placed along one wall of the nest box morning and evening. A screw-cap bottle, like a wine bottle, with a sock over it works fine and is a cheap fix if you cannot buy a reptile heater or nest warming pad. That bit of extra heat can make a difference since he has no siblings to help keep him warm.

 

[AnnClaire]

Hi Karli - CONGRATULATIONS!!! I worried about the poor little guy all night long!

As for him being a singleton, bringing the nestbox in at night isn't going to be the solution to the issue of keeping him warm ... you would still need to supplement his warmth either way.

However, if the doe is starting to be a good momma I would suggest that you leave well enough alone for now to see how things go. Whether you lose this last kit or not, supporting the mothering behavior in the doe is the best thing and if she is nervous natured at all, interferring could cause problems with the next litters.

 

[SterlingSatin]

YAY!!!!! i'm so glad she started nursing. my doe took a long time too the first litter. a full 3 days. since he's a singleton i would take him inside for the night and let the doe nurse him in the morning. i think he might get a little too cold if you leave him out there with her. or you might be able to get away with a heater or heat lamp. can you set one up above the nestbox?

 

[LadyKarli]

Well this morning I found 1 dead kit....or so I thought. If I had not been reading the posts of this forum I would have thought her dead for sure. She was cold & not moving. I took a chance & put her in my sports bra. She was alive & kicking within minutes. Also starved. It is so cold i decided to try my hand once more at hand feeding her. It is too cold for a single kit. So I re-bred the momma & brought the little girl in the house. She has a better chance with me right now. If she passes it is a miracle she made it this long. Such a fighter I can't give up on her. I'll let you know whats up later. crossing my fingers!<br /><br />__________ Sun Mar 04, 2012 7:52 pm __________<br /><br />Got a new nipple that seems to be working pretty well. She got her first full belly since birth. I am naming her HOPE cause I have been hopeful she will survive since the day she was born.

 

[MaggieJ]

:clover: :clover: :clover: for Hope!

 

[LadyKarli]

Thanks. I cannot believe something so small can fight so hard to live. I really thought that was it this morning she was cold & lifeless. She fought on all day! Tonight she ate so good & had a big full belly. I hate to get attached but how can I not. Such spirit!

 

[Jana15]

Fingers and toes crossed for little Hope! :clover:

 

[ladysown]

don't forget to stimulate her to eliminate.

 

[AnnClaire]

I am on the way to bed and had to check again ... saying a prayer for little Hope!

 

[LadyKarli]

Oh she gets a "bath" after every meal & needs it Cutie seems to hate it too. So small these mini rex kits are!<br /><br />__________ Mon Mar 05, 2012 8:01 am __________<br /><br />Well she bloated up & was gone this morning. I gave it all I had & so did she. Oh well.

 

[MaggieJ]

So sorry... but you certainly did all you could. The next breeding should go better.

 

[ladysown]

oh bummers... i was hoping she'd pull through for you. Such a little fighter.

 

[LadyKarli]

I am not discouraged. I have A NZ about to kindle in about 5 days. Putting in the nest box today. I was told she is proven so I am begging for an easy litter! She also tries to bite my hand off every time I go in her cage so I am hoping she will just do great & not need help cause I don't know if she will let me help. Not that I have been much help so far

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Sorry to hear you lost little Hope! Good luck with your NZ.

Things will start looking up as you and the rabbits get more experienced. Then you will probably discover the worst problem of all... not enough cage space! :lol: