Do these kits look unfed?

[powellanimals]

4 bits born Thursday 3/3 and I could have sworn they looked rounder the morning of 3/4 but now I think they look skinny. First time mom. What are your thoughts?

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Well fed kits will have rounded bellies and smooth skin. The wrinkles on that little kit tell me that they aren't being fed enough.

 

[powellanimals]

That is definitely what I am thinking. They're also making more noise than any other litter.

 

[The_Dutchess]

If they aren't getting fed enough what i would do is place the mama in the nestbox and then if she doesnt take the hint i just flip mom over and let them nurse.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

They do squeak more when they are hungry- and they will also "pop" vigorously in the nest when you stick your hand in there... at least at first, before they become weak.

I give my does a grain supplement which is a mix of oats, barley, BOSS, birdseed, flax, and a little calf manna to boost their milk production.

The leaves of the herb Borage are highly effective at increasing milk if you have any. It is too early in the season here for it, but I like to have a few plants on hand to help bring in milk. You do need to be careful with it though, because it is so effective that I had a doe that became so engorged she was on the verge of mastitis- so I countered the effect with catnip and mint.

 

[MaggieJ]

You mentioned "other litters". If you have another doe lactating, you could try taking her box of kits out and putting these guys in overnight. It won't hurt well-fed kits to miss one meal and it might give these kits a boost. Fostering to other does may also be an option, depending on the ages of other litters.

:clover:

 

[powellanimals]

Thanks everyone, the doe is getting BOSS and oats but I will have to look into the rest. They definitely were 'popping' so I am glad you described that. I stuck the doe over the kits and held her and they fed. She hopped right out afterward though and so I had to use a wet cottonball to make them urinate. I don't know what happened from day 1 when they seemed good and day 4 with this happening. I left the nest in there and I will just have to watch them closely. Poor babies.

 

[Miss M]

It used to be thought that orphaned kits needed stimulation to urinate. Over time, as members have shared their experiences on here, it has become clear that unlike a mother cat, the doe does not stimulate her kits to urinate. It is thought that it is the squirming of the kits against each other that provides the stimulation needed. Trouble can come when you have a singleton, and you might have to do the wet cottonball thing. But you have a litter of four, so they should be fine in that respect.

Fresh parsley can also increase milk production. :clover:

 

[karenl]

Mother rabbits only feed once or twice a day and its only to feed then they hop out and leave babies untilnext feed. Because they are a prey animal they ddon't want to attract anything to their babies.

 

[powellanimals]

After the first time of holding the mom so the kits could feed, she has taken over and the babies are thriving. Nice large bellies. Thank you all!

 

[MamaSheepdog]

:bouncy: Great news!