More large kits

[fuzzy9]

Had two litters born this week, both new moms, bred to my NZB buck, and both are nice big NZB does. One doe had 6 live, and three dead in the box, all 3 were quite large size kits. The other doe had 4 live, and 2 large size kits, both dead in the box. I'm thinking they had trouble delivering the big kits, and they died when one got stuck.

My senior NZB doe had a really large kit in her last litter out of this same buck, but she delivered hers live. Seriously, what is going on? The does and buck are similar in size, my first time does are both 10 lbs each, the senior is 11 lbs, and my buck is 11 lbs. My bucks first litter were all smaller sized, and now whamo, huge kits, and birthing problems! Only this buck too.

I'm kind of wondering if the dead kits were only because these were new moms, with more litters, will they maybe have better chance to pass those big kits, or continue to have trouble? I think I got lucky to still get live kits out of these litters.

 

[3mina]

Sounds like you got lucky and the big ones weren't the first ones out the door.

 

[fuzzy9]

Yes, that's what I was thinking too.<br /><br />__________ Thu Sep 13, 2012 9:05 pm __________<br /><br />I wanted to mention too, this is after multiple breedings. We breed, wait an hour, and rebreed, then repeat for a third breeding. Bred to my two little 7 lb meat mutts, all the kits were average size, and no birthing issues at all. It's just these last 3 breedings.

 

[MaggieJ]

You may experience fewer problems with the does' next breedings.

for whatever reason, meat mutts tend to breed and deliver without problems. One reason I have never been tempted to "upgrade" my stock.