Mini Lop doe with 5 kits - extra feed????

[jimmywalt]

Our Mini Lop doe had 5 kits yesterday and everyone is doing good.

I'm wondering should we be feeding the doe more than her normal 1/3 to 1/4 cup of food daily while she is nursing? We have been feeding her 2x per day over the past couple weeks in anticipation of this birth, but do we still need to do that? This is her 2nd birth since we got her.

Thank you.

 

[Marinea]

I free feed nursing does. I have yet to have a problem with it causing too much fat.

 

[wamplercathy]

I rationed my does and had disastrous results. Lost kits, does not ready to be re-breed on time. Free feed is the best, in my opinion.

 

[Homer]

I rationed my does and had disastrous results. Lost kits, does not ready to be re-breed on time. Free feed is the best, in my opinion.

Absolutely! Never let a kit or mom with babies run out of food or water. In fact I still free feed all my adult rabbits. They eat less than if you give them a bowl and when it's gone they spend the next 23 hours looking for more. When you finally do feed them again they eat everything in sight.

 

[ladysown]

I have NEVER had a doe eat more than three times her normal ration.
Mind.. I wouldn't feed a mini lop doe as little as 1/3-1/4 cup of pellets daily...unless I was on a higher than 17% protein ration for pellets.

At this point I would giving her at least 1.5 cups of feed daily. once the kits are mobile increase that amount by at first 1/2 cup per two kits, then to 1/2 cup per kit at four-five weeks of age.

 

[Zass]

I always free feed nursing does too.