help drying up milk production

[MatSuAK]

Someone please remind me what plants help dry up a doe's milk Yet another failed litter from Starlight. She tried so hard this time and actually did everything right. Except she quit eating and I think the kits failed to develop fully. Found 12 dead in the nest box today, some were definitely not developed, others iffy. I really wish her body would just let her have 3-4 healthy popples :cry_baby:
Thinking I may just keep her as a pet, as this was attempt number 3. I kept a doe and buck from her last litter that I fostered out. If the grand daughter inherited the"nausea gene" that mom and grandma have I think I will have to just scrape all my purebred does and try again. Heartbreaking!

 

[MaggieJ]

So sorry to hear this, MatSuAK.

Mint (Mentha spp.) and garden sage (Salvia officinalis) are both good for drying up a doe. Even catnip (Nepeta cataria) can be used but some rabbits will not eat it.

 

[FourRingCircus]

I just came home to a doe that had, and lost, a litter over the last couple of days (ODS found 2 dead on the wire - one chewed in half :x , and I just found a 3rd in the nest box... it had a little hair starting to grow so I guess it lived for a day or two before dying... maybe just too chilled with no one else there to keep it warm?).

Anyway, how much do I give her? I have both mint and sage - but she doesn't seem to be a fan of the sage.

 

[MaggieJ]

Anyway, how much do I give her? I have both mint and sage - but she doesn't seem to be a fan of the sage.

A bit difficult to advise an amount. My rabbits have always been so used to copious greens that I just put a bunch in if needed.

If your doe is accustomed to eating fresh greens, you can give her a nice handful of sprigs daily. Except for pregnant and lactating does (and perhaps young kits) mint and sage are safe foods for rabbits.

If your doe is not accustomed to regular greens, start with a couple of sprigs and increase it by one or two daily.

 

[FourRingCircus]

Anyway, how much do I give her? I have both mint and sage - but she doesn't seem to be a fan of the sage.

A bit difficult to advise an amount. My rabbits have always been so used to copious greens that I just put a bunch in if needed.

If your doe is accustomed to eating fresh greens, you can give her a nice handful of sprigs daily. Except for pregnant and lactating does (and perhaps young kits) mint and sage are safe foods for rabbits.

If your doe is not accustomed to regular greens, start with a couple of sprigs and increase it by one or two daily.

They usually get about a handful a day of greens - various types, but mostly plantain or dandelion.

 

[MaggieJ]

The main reason for caution feeding greens is that a rabbit unaccustomed to them may develop diarrhea. Plantain is an excellent preventative. If you feed the two together this would be a good guard against problems. I don't think you will need to be too cautious under these circumstances.

 

[FourRingCircus]

She seems to be doing OK so far. She has plucked herself almost bald though, and is constantly digging in the nest box so I put her back with the buck to see if that would help reset her hormones. Not ideal with the summer heat already here, hopefully it will go OK.