Heat, does, kits & questions

[mystang89]

So my 2 SF does kindled today (yey ) and had a combined total of 11 kits. Meh, not bad. :| Anyway, they both made wonderful nests, very proud of them. Actually one of them was on the way to the freezer if she didn't kindle so its good for her.

My question is this: Today is supposed to be in the 80's and as the summer draws near the temp is going to continue to rise so this will be a question for future generations. Is there anything you all do during the warm months to safeguard against them dying to the heat when they are first born and can't really move around for themselves or does the do take care of stuff like that? You'd think I'd know this by now but.......I don't.

 

[Comet007]

I've read on here that the babies need to be kept at 100 degrees when first born (nekked!) and that they're pretty good at moving around (spreading out in the box) to keep from being too warm. I suppose it does depend on just how hot it gets right where they are kept, because of course if they're in direct sun all day with no breeze then 80 degrees can effectively be much hotter.

 

[Marinea]

I have found that my kits take care of it. They move around in the nest box, and even seem to open a hole in the fur covering and congregate there when it's warm.

If you are really worried, you could always bring in the nestboxes for a bit and take them out for feedings.

Oh, and congrats on the kits!

 

[Dood]

As long as there isn't too much bedding or fur so the kits can spread out 80' isnt too dangerous.

It's when there is a "bowl" carved in the bedding of the nestbox that they cannot climb out of or if its stuffed with fur that you you need to worry about.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I have found that my kits take care of it.

Me too.

When it is warm the kits will be in the nest hollow nestled together but not covered with fur. You can tell they are getting dangerously hot if they are spread all over the box as far away from one another as possible.

If there is a lot of fur in the nest some members here remove a portion of it. I am on the fence on that one, knowing that fur insulates both against heat and cold.

Congratulations on the litters! With eleven, they should all be well fed,which should get them ready for the dinner table faster! :dinner:

 

[mystang89]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I'll keep them like they are right now and just check in on them during the hot parts of the day. I had forgot to mention how they are covered. All the rabbits are in an inclosed area so I don't have to worry about direct sun or wind. I was just looking at the nest yesterday, (lots of fur) and think to myself how I would suffocate in all that.

 

[JessiL]

Even day-old kits seem to have an amazing ability to get themselves on the right side of the layer of fur. When I have litters in July and August, the little ones are permanently camped out in plain view. And in winter, snuggled down deep. I bet everyone else is right in that you do need to make sure to protect against direct sun and wind.

I don't envy you folks who have to deal with humidity, however. We seem to weather the heat better over here in the desert, it's amazing what difference a simple mister system can make when it's over 95 degrees here.

 

[mystang89]

Ok, another question I thought of today: For those of you who breed back to back if they're healthy, do the does normally still pull just as much fur? She pulled a bunch and I just couldn't see her pulling anymore. Would the doe really know what to do with having all her kits she's been nursing weaned from her and a bunch of little ones back in a nesting box? Should I put a second nesting box in there or just clean out the one she's using now and stand it back up?

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Clean out the box and get it ready for her again. She'll know what to do, and she should pull fur... if she has any left.

 

[mystang89]

Clean out the box and get it ready for her again. She'll know what to do, and she should pull fur... if she has any left.

lol @

if she has any left.

:lol: Her teats are pretty bare but I'm thinking that's a good thing for the little babies on the way since they don't have to get all that fur out of their way.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Her teats are pretty bare but I'm thinking that's a good thing for the little babies on the way since they don't have to get all that fur out of their way.

My Rex does usually pull from their flanks and chest, but rarely bald themselves anywhere. I honestly almost never see them pull hair from around their teats... maybe they know that the kits wont have any trouble finding them, since their fur is so short anyway! :lol: