live kits after a stuck one?

[Tiny Buns]

I have a doe on her second litter. First one was 2 stretched kits over a 24 hr period. One I had to .....unstick....

Litter number two in progress here....first one stretched....again....

Any chance of a live one in there?

She's a super small netherland dwarf bred to a buck slightly smaller than her. She spent many hours flirting and lifting with her fella....so I assumed we'd have a bigger litter and her kits would subsequently be smaller.

Not sure if it's worth trying her for a third time or if that's just mean.

 

[ladysown]

hard to say. some will say do it round three. I generally don't. If they can't get it for two rounds back to back then they simply aren't going to.

 

[EnglishSpot]

There may be a couple live kits back there. However it seems the tiny doe is having difficulty birthing babies, period. The risk of killing her or never getting live offspring is a consideration you may need to think about.

 

[Tiny Buns]

Well we are at dead kit #2. The only blessing is that it happened soon rather than 24 hrs later. Not sure if there are any more still in there

 

[macksmom98]

I have had one that had live ones after. Stretched one (maybe 2). I hope this is true in your case too......the dwarf breeds seem to have a lot of trouble in this department. I have never had to get one "unstuck" tho. How did you know to intervene? It wasnjust part of the way out and wasn't moving? Our Holland Lop was in labor 12+ hours with her first litter, and I think it's because of the stuck one. But I didn't know she would have more! She had 2 one day, then 5 more the next day around noon?!?!

 

[Zinnia]

Every time I've ever had first one DOA, there are live ones after. Not sure why that is, but it's been true every time.

 

[alforddm]

A couple of things to think about with this doe.

1) Make sure she does not have pinched hips. Pinched hips in a rabbit can result in birthing difficulties.

2) If you really want some kits out of her try her with a different buck, preferably unrelated to the first buck. In angus cattle, bulls are sometimes given a rating for how big a calf they throw. Two adult bulls of the same size can throw (on average) a larger or smaller calf. I don't know for sure that the same thing applies to rabbits but it's possible and you may have better luck with a different pairing.

 

[Zinnia]

Great advice, alforddm. The only does in my rabbitry that have had a problem do have pinched hips.

 

[Tiny Buns]

I have had one that had live ones after. Stretched one (maybe 2). I hope this is true in your case too......the dwarf breeds seem to have a lot of trouble in this department. I have never had to get one "unstuck" tho. How did you know to intervene? It wasnjust part of the way out and wasn't moving? Our Holland Lop was in labor 12+ hours with her first litter, and I think it's because of the stuck one. But I didn't know she would have more! She had 2 one day, then 5 more the next day around noon?!?!

She had one halfway out for over an hour and finally I couldn't stand it. She was hopping around and confused because she could feel it but it wasn't going anywhere. I got a tall bowl filled with warm water and put it on the counter. I put her back half in it. Then we stood together and I sang to her and held her close to me while I gently "patted" her backside. After about 15 or so minutes, I hoped she was relaxed and started to gently pull the kit out of her. When she was distressed, I stopped and together we slowly worked the dead one out of her. <br /><br /> -- Tue Oct 06, 2015 5:53 am -- <br /><br />

A couple of things to think about with this doe.

1) Make sure she does not have pinched hips. Pinched hips in a rabbit can result in birthing difficulties.

2) If you really want some kits out of her try her with a different buck, preferably unrelated to the first buck. In angus cattle, bulls are sometimes given a rating for how big a calf they throw. Two adult bulls of the same size can throw (on average) a larger or smaller calf. I don't know for sure that the same thing applies to rabbits but it's possible and you may have better luck with a different pairing.

I was wondering about the buck.....he's tiny but he's the sire both times....

How do I tell is she has pinched hips?

 

[FourRingCircus]

My first thought was pinched hips. I have 2 does that have had issues with the last two litters - this last time I found stretched kits in each - one had 6 live (2 one day, then the rest the next), the other didn't have any more to be found - not sure if it was a singleton or she cleaned up the evidence. My guess is the buck, either that or the heat somehow. The lady I got them from said she had successful litters, but who knows how true that is. Both times they kindled it was when the temps were rising or peaking.

 

[Zinnia]

As I have seen it, pinched hips will show as V shaped footing when turned upside down. Narrow HQ can also be a problem. There should be some decent, balanced space between the feet. And they should be parallel.

 

[alforddm]

Here are some links to help you see pinched hocks. Some of the examples are rather severe but, as with most things, degree of fault varies.

pinched-hips-t10000.html

This one deals with meat rabbits but has a good example of pinched hips toward the bottom of the page.
http://hillriserabbitry.blogspot.com/20 ... bbits.html

 

[Tiny Buns]

Thank you, that's very helpful. I will have to go and have a good hard look at everybody today.

 

[FourRingCircus]

Thanks for the links alforddm! I have been trying to find a good, concise, visual source for body type - assuming the information is correct, that is exactly what I have been looking for!

 

[Tiny Buns]

so my doe is still pulling fur. She sits in the nest box with her head in the far corner, covered with her pulled fur. Sometimes she digs in that corner. Like she's looking? It's just sad.

 

[macksmom98]

Awe.....I think it's sad watching them go they false pregnancies, but this is worse! Poor thing.....hope she gets thru it quickly and that MAYBE that pulled fur is because there will be more....