How do you tell

[dayna]

If the Mom is nursing?

I know she will probably only nurse them once or twice a day and spend all her time outside the box.

So how do I tell if she's doing her job? Do the tummies look full or do they just appear weak if she's not feeding them?

And how soon after they are born is she supposed to nurse?

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[ottersatin]

Check the Kits daily from the day they are born.
Look for round little bellies that appear to have
swallowed a golf ball. If the bellies are wrinkly
they are not being fed. Some Does will feed their Kits
as soon as they are able, others seem to make it appear
that they put it off for a day or two,
but I don't really think they do.
Ottersatin. ldtimer:

 

[SDGrabbitry]

I have a 10 day old litter right now and have yet to see the dam feed them even one time! But when I check bellies they're usually full.

 

[MaggieJ]

This thread may help you, Dayna.

fed-vs-unfed-kit-pictures-t3052.html

 

[dayna]

It's almost 10am here and the bellies are sunken... How often do I check on them to see if she's fed them? They are squeeking and hungry, but not weak so obviously she must have been feeding them at some point, today they are three days old.<br /><br />__________ Mon Feb 25, 2013 9:55 am __________<br /><br />And should I just bring her and the babies inside, flip her over and make her nurse them? She't not aggressive to them at all.

 

[Disney]

Try putting the doe on the nest and holding her for 2 minutes, unless she goes wild and tries to jump away.

 

[Secuono]

Baby bellies will be round, not wrinkled and if she has milk in, you will see and feel the bumps on her belly that are full.
Also, milk takes a day to come in, they don't fill before kindling.