Fostering thoughts

[TwoAcreDream]

I like having more than 1 doe due at same time, so if the need to foster
happens, then hopefully there is a backup plan. A willing doe.

Most recent litters are interesting. One of the mix does has 2. Pulled a
lot of fur. So I think positive and figure she is my back up plan. I did
need some of her fur to help the 1st time young Cali with her 6, and
or maybe not, but I felt better moving some of the fur over.

Brownie mix doe had 7. Doing real good. I finally got a close up
look and find out , she has 8. Doing fine, so am leaving her alone. The
first litter she did well and fostered a couple of the calis from the doe
that I only had 1 day who was not supposed to be bred.
The other mixed doe, Sally who had also fostered a few of the calis
had 8 this time and did not pull enough fur. This litter I lost. I blame
me for the poor nest box floor, more than the doe. These 2 does raised
15 babies the first time between them, counting the ones fostered.

So the nervous doe has 7 this time. She had came here with 6 babies.
That was a nice litter. So I figured she knew what she was doing. So
yesterday because the snow had to be moved off the garage and the
addition (metal roof), there was a lot of noise. I found 2 of her babies moved
forward in the nest box and got them tucked back in with the rest. Nikki
mom was jumping around stressed out. So I put her in a different cage on
the floor and let her get calmed down. Later I put her back with the kids
and all was well. So during the night, horrible blowing wind storm. I get
out there early this morning, and everything looked well for the new babies.
I got everybunny watered and was doing a closer check on the kits. I found
2 of Nikki's kits forward again in the box, and stone cold. Sigh. They are
a darker gray and blended with the hay and I did not see them on first
glance. So I hustled them in the house. Nothing worked to bring them back.
So after thinking about it, I guess I should have put the exploring 2
in with the mom who only has 2. Maybe Nikki needs 6 or less. Which she
has now.
I think this past week has gave me a few more gray hairs.........

 

[skysthelimit]

We can have a party and dye our gray hairs together.

I finally got the does to sync...

Well I bred 8. One had one stillborn. 5 days later, another had 8, left 1 outside the nest, had 7 inside but stayed in the nest and overlayed the litter. I wound up with 6, and she scooped one out while I was doing chores, down I'm down to 5. Other doe had 3, but was laying in the nest as well. Who ever suggested I give nest boxes to keep them warm in this weather, thank you, because now they are using nests as beds and killing kits.

I took her three and gave them to the other doe.

Now neither wants to feed the kits.
Fostering requires a willing doe, and the Rex don't seem happy to oblige.

 

[TwoAcreDream]

I think, I will have to keep what gray hairs I have. I can sit on my hair and have no idea how many bottles of hair dye I would need. Way tooooo costly.

I started with the mix does this winter. Just got 2 of my rex does
bred this past week. Also started my calis . One with new babies,
and her sister due in a few weeks. The other 4 will be started soon.
And if that buck gets loose again, that will cost me a few more grays.
The human did not latch the door correctly and Howie managed to
bump it and take off on adventure yesterday. I saw a flash of white
and realized it was a cali. He came right up to me, and when I reached
for him, off he went again. Finally cornered him under one of the stackers.
My stackers are 3 high and he is in a top cage. It's a wonder, he did not
break anything on his way down. I told him to quit doing laps in his cage.
Silly wabbit......