Eight more Kits! It's Popping in the rabbitry now!

[Frecs]

Country Mile kindled last night, giving birth to 8 live kits. :bouncy: No stillborns. She made a good nest this time but not in the box. As I was looking to see where the nest was, she kept jumping on top of the nest and I'd hear the kits squeek in protest. So, I removed CM and started digging. It didn't take long to find the big fur ball with six kits wrapped up. I put them into the nestbox and kept looking. I was actually looking for dead ones after that figuring she may have buried the dead away from the others. But, finally I found two more -- alive -- down into the hay at the wire. Once everyone was in the nestbox snug and warm, I put CM back in.

Now, we watch to see if she nurses. As you may recall, she did not nurse her last litter and I had to foster out the remaining three. I really hope she finally gets the idea of motherhood. She did at least pull fur this time -- lots and lots of fur -- which she did not do last time so I take that as a good sign.

:bunnyhop: :bunnyhop: :bunnyhop: :bunnyhop: :bunnyhop: :bunnyhop: :bunnyhop: :bunnyhop:

 

[ZRabbits]

Congratulations on the new popples!

Fingers crossed that your doe gets the idea this time regarding nursing.

Karen

 

[mystang89]

Congrats. Just the right amount of kits for a doe IMHO. Not too many but not too few.

 

[AnnClaire]

WooHoo :congratulations: Fingers crossed that she "gets it" this time and she turns into a wonderful momma!

 

[-HRanchito]

Yay! Congratulations!

 

[MamaSheepdog]

:congratulations:

How are the kits looking today?

 

[Frecs]

I had to leave earlier today than normal so the nest check was by flashlight. But, they all appear to be getting fed. Country Mile is behaving like a concerned momma. I should be home early enough tonight to be able to do a better kit review.

I did have to move the kits back to the back of the box. It's been warm here the last few days and I think that has lead to kits squirming up to the front of the box. But, that puts them where momma lands on them when she enters the nest. There haven't been any injuries but still...I moved them on back.

Do does remove fur from the nest if it gets too warm? What is the "mommy rabbit protocol" in such cases?

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Do does remove fur from the nest if it gets too warm?

Most of the time the kits migrate up and down through the layers of fur to regulate their temperatures.

 

[Frecs]

Well, at almost 48 hours after birth, the kits don't look as full bellied as I'd like...some more than others...but my breeder friend assures me that if they weren't getting fed, they'd be dying off by now. I guess the morning will tell the tell even more on that issue.

Several of the kits have defined spines and just look thin. I flipped Country Mile and put them, one at a time, on her to nurse. Each one would latch on, suck, then let go. I thought perhaps she hadn't dropped her milk yet. My friend thinks she has but not as fully as we'd like to see and/or she had just fed them and was dry from that.

I gave CM a good portion of whole oats -- some of which she ate right from my hand which is quite surprising -- in hopes that would help her milk production.

My friend has no does available to foster this time so Country Mile has to come through for her babies. Even if we lose a few, if she can get some of them to weaning age, I'll feel like she is progressing as a mother.