How long can new born kits go before first feeding

[jimmywalt]

We have a first time Holland Lop mom. She had 3 babies approximately 20 hours ago. The babies don't look like they have been fed yet - bellies are wrinkly.

How long can they go before their first feeding? I see some threads about does & feeding, but not "FIRST" feeding.

What can we do?

Thank you!!!!

 

[Dood]

I think 48 hours would be the maximum, 2 days without liquid is a LONG time for any animal, especially a tiny 2 ounce kit

The longest I've had a doe delay feeding was 18 hours, then I pulled the kits and gave them to another doe, they all made it even though they didn't get colostrum

If the problem is that she has full teats but doesn't want to feed the kits you can try plucking her belly fur, especially around the nipples and gently massage them to try and stimulate her mothering hormones.

Some people flip a doe over and attach a kit, others hold her upright over the litter but make sure she doesn't kick out and damage the babies.

If it doesn't feel like she has any milk there are some plants that are supposed to help but I am not familiar with them.

Good luck

 

[Marinea]

I give parsley to stimulate milk production. If you don't grow any, you can pick up a bunch at the grocery store.

To find out if she has milk, you can get someone to sit in a chair with a towel draped over their lap. Have them separate their legs just a bit and make a little dip in the towel between their legs. Put the babies in the dip, and then bring the mom over and sit her on the person's thighs. Let her sit there for a few minutes and then return her, and you can see if the babies were able to feed.

*fingers crossed*

 

[Miss M]

Yes, 48 hours is about the max. Most does will feed before that. Some, especially first-timers, will feel the discomfort of the milk, but don't get it as far as what will relieve the discomfort (feed babies = feel better). We did have to hold one doe in the nest box her first few times. We brought the whole kit-n-kaboodle inside, and put the doe in the box. Even though it was a standard nest box, partially covered, it took three of us to hold her in there.

What a ditz! :roll: She finally got it, though. She's being removed from our breeding program. She was only a temporary fill-in, anyway.

 

[ladysown]

they can go three days without big problems... been there done that. they do just fine... some does it just takes that long for the milk to come in well.