Doe Kindling

[AshleighNuce]

Hello, I have a flemish doe who is delivering right now. She is a year old, and this is her second litter. She had nine in her first litter, but stopped feeding them after two days and they all died. She was due last thursday, but didn't start a nest until this morning. Two hours ago I found one baby in her nest and one across the cage. I put it in with the other and covered them up, and she didn't pay me any attention. I went out twenty minutes ago and there was one more in the nest. She seems to have more in her. She is breathing slightly heavy and has blood all over her nose, feet, and the straw. It's 60s and humid/drizzly here this morning so she isnt too hot. She grunted at me when i checked on the doe and kits living in the next door cage, but didn't try to bite like she did with her first litter. Anyway, I believe she has been in labor for about 2 1/2 hours now. Should I be worried? :bunnyhop:

 

[Dood]

It is unusual for the larger breeds of rabbits to get kits stuck in the birth canal. She may have one presenting butt first and they can often slow down the process.

Some does have low calcium levels during birth so try giving her a Tums to help with muscle contractions and you could try giving her some parsley, it is supposed to help with labour.

Other than that I would let her be to work the kit out on her own.

 

[AshleighNuce]

i will try the tums. is there a certain type to give her? thanks<br /><br />__________ Mon May 20, 2013 12:46 pm __________<br /><br />Also, I have read that parsley dries up milk. Is that true?

 

[Dood]

Plan old Tums, nothing fancy but a flavour helps get it into them.

Also, I have read that parsley dries up milk. Is that true

Maybe I got it wrong, I havent had birthing issues so haven't needed any herbal remedies.

A quick search of this forum will give the answer.<br /><br />__________ Mon May 20, 2013 2:02 pm __________<br /><br />I just did a search of 'parsley' on the forum and it should help with contractions and members say it helps bring the milk in.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I have read that parsley dries up milk. Is that true?

I always give my does parsley post kindling- it is a gentle emmenagogue (causes contractions). It would be helpful to her to stimulate contractions.

Depending upon which herbal site I visit, I have seen both that it dries up milk and that it stimulates milk production, so I just give a couple of sprigs after they birth the kits. Parsley has mild medicinal effects, so you would likely need to give large amounts over a long period in order to dry up the milk supply.

I also grow borage, which stimulates lactation, and will give a leaf or two to does in the days after kindling to help bring their milk in.

Good luck with the doe and the litter. I hope she does better this time. :clover:

 

[LauraNJ]

I used parsley it stimulates contractions and helps milk come in, produce milk.

My doe had a stuck kit and it seemed like contractions stopped, she didn't want the tums but ate some parsley, sniffed the lavender, chewed the lavender but spit it back out and then she had a bunch of contractions.

Perhaps it was coincidental that the contractions started shortly after or maybe it worked, don't know, but I am planning to give parsley when the rabbits are due to deliver. I don't want a repeat of a stuck kit, it really stressed me out. We don't have hundreds of rabbits so we are very attached to the breeders.

 

[AshleighNuce]

Thank you all for your help! She only had three when I checked her before bed, but this morning I found six in the nest, and two dead ones outside of it. I guess she had them and then didn't move them to the nest. She didn't want to take the tums yesterday, but i crushed one and sprinkled it on a cut orange and then she ate it. Btw, do any of you have advice for keeping her interested in them? Her first litter she fed them for two days and then just stopped fixing the nest and feeding and that's why they died. She hasn't harmed any of her kits she has had as far as I can tell. Although one of the dead ones I found this morning has a small cut on its side. Thanks again.