Kit got strangled by fur

[squidpop]

I'm wondering if this has ever happened to anyone else with wool breeds like angora or JWs. One of my 3 day old Jersey Wooly kits got a strands of the mothers wool tangled with hay around its neck and strangled to death. I pulled all the wool out of the nest and examined it and there were some loops of tangled wool and hay that seemed like a baby could get tangled again so I took it out. I then replaced it with some spare Wooly fur saved from grooming— but before I put it in I cut it to small pieces so hopefully it can't get spun into strands and wrap around kits. Has anyone heard of this happening before?

 

[MaggieJ]

Yes, it can happen. Some people recommend cutting the wool into short lengths as you have done. I don't think it is something that happens often, but how sad to lose a kit that way. (((HUGS)))

 

[squidpop]

Thanks for the hugs- I hate thinking about it - I think if I checked the nest 2 hours earlier I would have saved him.

 

[MaggieJ]

"If only, if only"... You don't want to be thinking that way, Squidpop. No one can always head off every possible disaster and no matter how many times one checks on kits, they still find ways to get into trouble. Does step on them, they get pulled out on momma's teat when she stops nursing and get chilled... It's too bad when it happens, but don't let it get you down.

 

[skysthelimit]

Like MaggieJ said, I've have not had it happen, but all things eventually happen if one breeds long enough. Usually my Wooled does pull from the belly, and that wool is much shorter than the other. Also, I tend to clip down does before then.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Aww, poor little guy.

I've heard of that happening, but it doesn't happen very often... sometimes it is their feet that get cut off. It happens with birds, too.

Sorry you lost one that way, but it wasn't your fault.

((Hugs))