Losing kits 1st or 2nd day

[RCorl]

I am getting discouraged with losing kits their first day. In almost every litter, there is usually one, but sometimes 2 or 3 that I find at the front of the nest box cold and dead the morning after she kindles. They are usually the largest kits in the litter. My theory is that the stronger ones cling to the nipple, and when the doe leaves the nest box they get scraped off of the nipple by the front of the box, and can't get back to the litter and die.
Has anyone else had this problem, and is there anything that can be done to prevent it? I was thinking about modifications to the nest box, but am looking for any suggestions.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Hi RCorl!

:welcome: to RabbitTalk!

Sorry to hear about your losses. It is fairly normal to lose one or two, but it is usually the runty ones in my experience.

Is it possible for you to bring the nest into the house at night for the first few days, at least during the winter? Once they are a few days old they should be strong enough to crawl back to their siblings.

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

Welcome! Though sorry to hear about the loss of the kits.

 

[Marinea]

So sorry to read this as your intro to Rabbit Talk. Nonetheless, welcome! Another Virginian, yay!

I would also vote for either bringing them inside for a while, or maybe changing up your nest box. A picture of your current setup might help get some ideas out there.

 

[RCorl]

Thanks for the welcome and replies. I have been lurking here for awhile, taking advantage of the experience of those who post.
This week I have had 2 litters, and both have been in the middle of the night. By the time I checked on them at 7:00 am,
one litter had lost 1 and the other had lost 3. Since they had died during their first night, it wouldn't have helped these to bring them inside. I did manage to save 1 kit by warming it in a warm water bath, until it revived, and then returning it to the nest. They have good nests in the nest box, and if they stay with the group, should be plenty warm.
Have you found it to be a problem where kits are found the first day after birth at the front of the nest box, away from the litter?

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Have you found it to be a problem where kits are found the first day after birth at the front of the nest box, away from the litter?

Not necessarily at the front- they can be anywhere.

Your does may not be making enough of a "hollow" in the rear of the nest. You can help them by smashing the bedding down with your fist to form a bowl shape.

What are you giving the does as nesting material, and how much?

 

[RCorl]

I use a fine grass hay for the nests. I pretty much fill the box with the grass 2 or 3 days before the due date, plus give them grass in their cage as they like to carry some into the nest as they build it. The does seem to do a good job of forming a pocket down in the pile of grass, and deliver in the pocket. I rarely find a dead kit in the nest or around the nest. They are almost always at the front of the box, which leads me to believe that they are latched onto a nipple, until they get knocked off by the front of the box as the doe exits.
I was thinking that if I put a divider across the box, maybe 10-12 inches from the back, it might remove the kit from the doe as she goes over this divider first, and in turn the kit would fall back into the nest. The problem I see is it would crowd the doe when she is on the nest, or she might deliver in front of the divider.