Fostering and marking

[JG3]

So we just had two litters born two days apart. One with 8 kits and healthy. One with only two kits, which is strange because it’s only the does second litter and the first one went without a hitch. Anyway, one of the two died. The other is still alive. Even though they are 4 days and 2 days old, can I foster the other to the older little to keep warm better and get better fed? There is a size difference already so I’m worried about it being out competed. I’ll gladly try to let it alone nurse off the other doe first and get a good meal before going in with the others. This is a new experience to me, what’s the best method of action?
also, how can I mark the singleton so I can tell it apart from the other litter?

 

[RabbitsOfTheCreek]

Putting it in a much bigger litter would lower the amount of milk it would get

 

[JG3]

Putting it in a much bigger litter would lower the amount of milk it would get

No, this doe has plenty of milk, babies are always super full. This doe is also good with big litters. It’s own mother does not produce a lot of milk, we have to supplement her, and could be why the one died. It also won’t stay warm enough alone with our cold temps now. It has a better chance in the other litter to stay warm and us separating it for some special feedings.

 

[Robochelle]

Do you have a heated pad? Or a heated blanket you don't mind losing? I've had success and I've had failure with combining litters. However, in terms of keeping small litters warm, putting a heated pad under the back of the nesting box really does the trick

 

[Rosey1]

I just had to combine a litter of 7 minilop Dutch babies (mom died) to my continental mom who had 3 (she normally has 12 and 13 babies). hers are 1 week old and so chunky, and the mini lop babies are 2 weeks old and we’re a bit skinny because I didn’t realize mom missed a feed or 2 (she wasn’t feeling well ). So we rubbed them in continental mom’s fur and put her in to feed them, which she did, and then placed the weaker ones on top of her for extra. Finally we had 2 kits that we milked another doe and syringe fed it to them. This morning we have put her in to feed them and she spread out real wide and licked and cleaned them all. Looks like they are all accepted in. I know the size is going to get real different fast, but she’s a pretty patient mom.