How Early do Popples Usually Open Their Eyes?

Silver Willow · Sep 14, 2015

We have another litter of Nethies at the moment, who are currently a week old. This evening though, I noticed that one of them already has his eye half open :shock: All our other litters have been on time with getting their new 'lookers' on nine to ten days, so why has this little fellow gone a few days early? And how early do your popples open their eyes?

Thanks! c:

a7736100 · Sep 14, 2015

My open at the usual time frame. Maybe your little one is just eager to see the world. Possibly we don't check for open eyes early because we don't expect them till later.

michaels4gardens · Sep 14, 2015

mine vary in the time until they open their eyes, some kits in the same litter will be several days different in the time they open their eyes. I have noticed that if there is an unusually large kit, that it is "usually" the one to open it's eyes first.

ohiogoatgirl · Sep 14, 2015

I've had em open their eyes from 8 days old through 12 days old.

TF3 · Sep 14, 2015

Since kits in a litter can be at different developmental stages at birth (ie one may have 24 hours on another due to fertilization time frame) it makes sense that they vary within a litter and between litters.
I have had from 8-12 days, with most being 9-10 days.

Silver Willow · Sep 17, 2015

Ahh, well that would make sense then. The one that opened his eyes first is larger then the others, and we are still waiting on the smallest to do the same!