First time moms overfeeding

[ollitos]

Both does who just kindled are overfeeding their litter. Huge distended bellies hours after eating. The one litter has grown so much that they are twice the size of the other litter. Milk is good. Lots of milk is good. Too much milk is painful for the kits.

Since they're both first time moms, is this something that will work itself out with each subsequent litter? I'm glad to have good milkers but I don't want to have to keep removing nesting boxes so the kits can skip a feeding and the milk supply can slow down.

 

[caroline]

Nice to have a "happy problem" instead of the other way around. Are you sure the kits with the big belliesare in pain? The only thing that occurs to me is to breed more does at the same time and you may have mom's with large litters. You could give some of you Holstein rabbits extra kits to feed.

 

[ollitos]

We typically breed two does on the same day but need to start breeding four if I can get another buck.

Put the kits back in this morning and both does jumped right in and started feeding. We'll do it again tonight, then reassess how full they're getting.<br /><br />__________ Tue Nov 20, 2012 3:54 pm __________<br /><br />If they keep overeating, yes it becomes painful and life threatening. We had most of two litters die because of it this past summer.

 

[Bad Habit]

I was worried Hannah was overfeeding, as she was going into her kits at least 7 times a day, but they've all turned out fine.