I'm new so opinions needed, bad mom?

[ipoGSD]

So ebony had a baby that didn't seem to be doing too good, basically a bag of bones. I put it in with ruby and sure enough a full belly!

I went to check the kits today and ebony had a dead one in her box. I thought I was smelling something! Boy was I!

The kits that are left seem to be growing slow, they never have nice full bellies. I don't think ebs is feeding them enough. I don't know for certain but since I put the one kit in with the other doe it's (slowly) gaining weight. Still can see ribs but I definitely see a full belly. I wish I noticed the other one before it died.

How do I really know if it's just something that went wrong or if it's due to how ebony is mothering?

Ebs is very sweet to us. Never bites or charges but her babies have never been fed as good as rubys.

Do I attempt to let her try again or send her to freezer camp? I don't know how one decides a bad mom..but to me and I'm very new at this.. I do see a difference between the does.. but maybe I'm over thinking things?

-- Thu Apr 14, 2016 6:04 pm --

I just checked her belly to make sure her she didn't have mastitis. Definitely doesn't however... it doesn't seem like she had much milk at all!

She gets dandelion greens and even had a few flowers the other day as a special treat. I have a tiny bit of raspberry leaves so I'll give her the rest of what I have. <br /><br /> -- Thu Apr 14, 2016 6:07 pm -- <br /><br /> Before I forget. Tomorrow the kits will be a week old. So mom should be producing plenty of milk by now

 

[alforddm]

Try giving her some things to boost her milk production. Dandelions, raspberry (or even blackberry) leaves, stinging nettle, or if you don't have any of those black oil sunflower seeds.

 

[Rainey]

Is this her first litter? If not, was she able to feed the others? Was this one bigger>
Last year one of the does we had kept to breed just didn't seem to have much milk. She lost her whole first litter and then only had 4 survivors out of a second litter of 11. It was just so hard checking the kits each day and seeing them inadequately fed and dying off over the course of the first week. We culled her after the second litter--just didn't want to go through that again. Her mother and her 2 sisters were good mothers. I don't understand what makes the difference--she seemed healthy and a good weight herself. But no other good points would make up in my mind for not being able and willing to feed a litter.
You have another doe that is doing better. I'd keep her and daughters from her. Could you foster the rest of the thin litter or does the other doe already have a full litter of her own? Good luck in getting them to the point where they can eat other food and gain some weight.

 

[ipoGSD]

Alforddm, The black oil sunflower seeds, do they need to be shelled or do you feed them whole? Also how much should I offer her?

Rainey, this is her second litter. Her first litter was 7. All lived and although she didn't feed them as much as my other doe. Both does kindled the same day for their first litters. Every kit was bigger and always had a full belly of milk. Ebs litter just seemed fed. If that makes sense. (Food in their bellies but not nice and round with milk)

This new litter she had 8 kits. We lost one. Totally my fault. I didn't notice. I noticed the one kit because it was the only unique one. The one we lost was a black and white broken. I thought I looked at them all but my guess is I grabbed the same kit twice. I should have taken them out one by one.

Anyway, Ruby the good mama has her 7 kits plus the one extra. Rubys litter is 2 weeks old. Ebonys litter is a week. There is a MASSIVE size difference. So much so that I almost didn't put the small kit in with them because I didn't know if the big porkers would let the little one in to eat.

The one litter has their eyes open already, my guess is they will start munching on food soon if they haven't already. Would it be detrimental to the kits that are thriving if I were to put them in with the bad mom and the smaller kits in with the good mom? Kind of like switch them like every 24 hrs or even every 12 hours? Because even of I did every 12, I'm pretty sure even if they were only fed once, Ruby would make sure they tanked right up.

I know the does will accept the others babies without any problems. The first litters, while in the exercise pen, we would allow the moms one at a time to be in with them for some out of cage time too.

I think my plan sounds good except I don't know if it will hurt the growth of the thriving litter. I think it would be OK but I want to see what others think.

 

[Zass]

I'm not really sure how the other herbs work for milk production, but I do know that boss works mechanically, by literally providing more oil/fat that can go directly towards the kits.
It can be fed whole, shell and all.

Swapping litters works best when the kits are very close to the same age, just like fostering.
Most does accept nestlings with no problem before their eyes open. I find, after eyes open, the kits themselves may not recognize another dam as a potential food source.

I've noticed that does with underlying health issues can sometimes be remarkably docile. It can make us quite reluctant to cull them for the same issues we probably wouldn't tolerate in a feistier girl.
Not saying feisty rabbits are healthier, or that docile buns are in the slightest bit more likely have something wrong, just that when paired with poor nextbox performance there is a chance both could be symptoms of an underlying condition.

 

[Dood]

From a production stand point - Ebony needs to be replaced

You could try keeping one of her daughters for the better temperament and hope she also doesn't get cruddy milk production but personally I would stick to Rubys bloodline