FINALLY!!! Third times the charm right?

[ek.blair]

I finally have Popples!!! I am SO excited

:bunnyhop: :bunnyhop: :bunnyhop:
Now to watch them grow and see what fun colors I get. They are just meat mutts
First time doe and even though his was the third time I bred her, she is doing everything GREAT so far! Plenty of fur pulled, not too anxious when I reached in to take pics and doesn't seem nervous or anxious!!

 

[ladysown]

yeah babies!

What I see looks black and possibly a broken black??? would that be an accurate thought on your part as well?

 

[Sagebrush]

I see blacks but what might be an otter?

 

[ek.blair]

Well, Moms are half Silver Fox half NZ/Cali. So the black is definitely probable. And the Dad to these is a "NZ" meat mutt and fawn colored with a white belly. The does had black litter mates too. And the broken is not completely ruled out as the half brother to the buck was broken. It's kinda confusing and these are all destined for freezer camp, but I just think it's fun to guess <br /><br /> -- Fri May 09, 2014 7:51 pm -- <br /><br /> Oh, and a silly newbie question... With this being my first litter I am super nervous and want to make sure everything turns out good. Would it be harmful to pull the nest box and count babies tomorrow? I just don't want to make the doe eat them... :x

 

[Comet007]

:congratulations: :the wave: Pretty much everything I have read indicates that you should be just fine handling the kits from day one - it seems a lot of people distract the doe with a special treat while they are checking on the kits. I hope that they all make it to weaning and freezer camp!

 

[ckcs]

I've never had problems handling the babies from birth on. Occasionally a doe might be a little protective. Most seems to have the attitude "Yes please take them"

 

[ek.blair]

I couldn't help myself and pulled the little white bellied one out last night I will pulls the whole nest box and count them later today it's a bit blurry cuz the kit wouldn't sit still it has a pink belly and inside of its ears and a tiny white spot on its forehead

 

[Miss M]

Awwww, what a cutie!

It's actually recommended to take the nestbox out as soon as you can, to check for stillborns and stuff that the doe didn't clean out. So... it's practically required that you play with the babies!

 

[MamaSheepdog]

It's actually recommended to take the nestbox out as soon as you can, to check for stillborns and stuff that the doe didn't clean out. So... it's practically required that you play with the babies!

:yeahthat: What are you waiting for? :gettowork:

:twisted:

 

[ek.blair]

HOLY COW!! A first time Mom and she has 9!!

 

[Dood]

If I recall the does are himilayan (California marked)

So you likely have blacks, chestnuts and gold tipped steels in the litter

I'm surprised you didn't get any white ones, this means your buck likely doesnt have the himi or REW gene so no "red eyed devil bunnys" from him :mrgreen:

If you keep back a female and breed her to your buck you should get some fawns that look like him

 

[MatSuAK]

Way to go! :greatjob:

 

[Galadriel]

POPPLES!!!!!!! :congratulations:

 

[ek.blair]

All nine are still warm, wriggly, and alive

-- Mon May 12, 2014 7:03 am --

I am so proud of this doe!!! She has been in the nest box feeding the popples when I turn the light on in the mornings. She has pulled SO much fur you really have to dig to find those poppels!! I pulled the next box again last night to check numbers and all were there. The doe is being concerned about them, but not aggressive which kinda surprises me for this doe as she was a bit nasty when we first got her. I have another litter due this friday and I am keeping my fingers crossed that all goes as well for the second doe!

:bunnyhop:

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Good mama!

I find that you can tame an unfriendly rabbit by petting her in the days following delivery of the kits. Mammals secrete prolactin while giving birth and nursing. It is often called the "feel good hormone" which helps them bond with their young. They will relate that feeling to you if you handle them during that time.

 

[skysthelimit]

They are so cute

 

[ek.blair]

Pulled them out to peek on them again yesterday and all nine are still full of life I also checked on the colors now that the hair is coming in more... I for sure have four Chestnuts, nice white bellies and pretty brown everywhere else. And I will have to get them in better light to be able to see if the other five are black, or will be gold tipped steel as they all look pretty dark. When will the gold tips start to show if they are gts?

 

[Dood]

The steels should have a hint of brown at the nape of their neck and the belly fur tends to be a dark slate or smokey grey rather than black

 

[ek.blair]

Thanks Dood! I will give them a good look next time I harass them to see if I call tell. They will be a week old tomorow so it should be easy to tell by then.