Doe died with 3 week old babies

[igotrabbits]

My doe had a tumor (I did not know when I bred her - it broke through the skin 5 days after the kits were born). It just caused her demise. Her kits are 3 weeks old today. Should I feed goats milk 2x a day for a week or two, or...? They've had access to hay every day since birth, so I'm hoping they have already been eating it. Does anyone have experience with this, and/or any suggestions for me? Thank you!

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Sorry about your doe.

Three week old kits should already be eating. You can give them old fashioned oatmeal, either dry or soaked in goat's milk. You might want to offer it both ways and see what they prefer. Pellets can also be offered dry or moistened, and of course keep hay available to them at all times.

You shouldn't need to hand feed them, but if you want to try, here is a post by Miss M that explains how to do it and gives the formula she has used:

formula-feeding-baby-bunnies-pics-vids-t3691.html

 

[Comet007]

I don't know about how to get them the main sustenance, but you can also give them a little bit of dried ginger root - it is useful for kits transitioning to pellets in the normal course of things, so I imagine it would be helpful in your situation as well. I hope they do okay without the doe!

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

sorry about your doe...3 week old kits are fine on there own.. Just make sure there is pellets., water and hay and oatmeal and they will be fine.. I think if you try to feed them , you will end up with problems.. just leave them be...

 

[igotrabbits]

sorry about your doe...3 week old kits are fine on there own.. Just make sure there is pellets., water and hay and oatmeal and they will be fine.. I think if you try to feed them , you will end up with problems.. just leave them be...

Should I give the oats dry or moisten them?

 

[Sagebrush]

I would try both and see which ones they prefer.