Doe + Buck = Kits
Well, most of the time.
I was beginning to think my buck was worthless or my doe's were brats, or both. Guess not.
In September I tried to breed my two Polish does, one is a maiden the other has had a litter, to my one Polish buck, he attempted, albeit half-heartedly, to do it. I figured out of the 2 at least one would breed. Nope. Not a single kit from either. Okay, tease them by switching them around in their pens, give them the suggested things to make them cycle more strongly.
Neither doe wanted to cooperate when it came time to put them together, the blue flat-out refused and decided she wanted to, ahem, punish the buck. So I had to pin her down and try to get her to lift. The buck tried, but not very hard and never fell off. I tried several times, same result each time.
Alright it's Expresso's turn, tossed her in the pen, and the buck and her sniffed, chased each other and she flattened out and let him do his job he fell off once.
So I waited, apparently when I counted up the days on my calendar I counted wrong, so I marked them off as Not Pregnant.
Apparently, they had other ideas. I noticed Expresso had a hay stache, peeked in her box and she built a nest! I was shocked! After checking the other doe's box (and finding nothing), I gave Expresso more straw to build her nest and promptly counted up the days, turns out today is Day 31.
Oops! My bad, I have no ideal if she will have any or not, although with my luck she probably will (I'm being sarcastic), last time neither one nested.
The last time the blue doe kindled she built her nest at the last minute on Day 31. The black has never had babies, so I don't know how she will act.
My biggest problem will be keeping the babies warm. Tonight it's going to be about 10F and tomorrow it will be around 25F maybe?
I hadn't expected it to be this cold in November, because it usually isn't. I set up a crate with straw and a pan ready for an inhabitant (with babies).
I was keeping my 1 1/2 lb doe in it, but she'll either get stuck in the carrier or her hutch.
What should I do for keeping the kits warm (if they do kindle)?
Also should I go ahead and move the doe inside the building or wait and see how the babies do (if she kindles)?
Thanks.
Well, most of the time.
I was beginning to think my buck was worthless or my doe's were brats, or both. Guess not.
In September I tried to breed my two Polish does, one is a maiden the other has had a litter, to my one Polish buck, he attempted, albeit half-heartedly, to do it. I figured out of the 2 at least one would breed. Nope. Not a single kit from either. Okay, tease them by switching them around in their pens, give them the suggested things to make them cycle more strongly.
Neither doe wanted to cooperate when it came time to put them together, the blue flat-out refused and decided she wanted to, ahem, punish the buck. So I had to pin her down and try to get her to lift. The buck tried, but not very hard and never fell off. I tried several times, same result each time.
Alright it's Expresso's turn, tossed her in the pen, and the buck and her sniffed, chased each other and she flattened out and let him do his job he fell off once.
So I waited, apparently when I counted up the days on my calendar I counted wrong, so I marked them off as Not Pregnant.
Apparently, they had other ideas. I noticed Expresso had a hay stache, peeked in her box and she built a nest! I was shocked! After checking the other doe's box (and finding nothing), I gave Expresso more straw to build her nest and promptly counted up the days, turns out today is Day 31.
Oops! My bad, I have no ideal if she will have any or not, although with my luck she probably will (I'm being sarcastic), last time neither one nested.
The last time the blue doe kindled she built her nest at the last minute on Day 31. The black has never had babies, so I don't know how she will act.
My biggest problem will be keeping the babies warm. Tonight it's going to be about 10F and tomorrow it will be around 25F maybe?
I hadn't expected it to be this cold in November, because it usually isn't. I set up a crate with straw and a pan ready for an inhabitant (with babies).
I was keeping my 1 1/2 lb doe in it, but she'll either get stuck in the carrier or her hutch.
What should I do for keeping the kits warm (if they do kindle)?
Also should I go ahead and move the doe inside the building or wait and see how the babies do (if she kindles)?
Thanks.
