My proven doe is kindling on the wire, wth?

[TerriG]

She has had multiple litters with us and has never had any problems. The 16th was 31 days, so I was beginning to wonder if she missed.

I went out to check on her and she had kindled a single kit on the wire. He was cool, but still making noise and wiggling around. I stuck him in my bra and after he had warmed a bit, took him out to check him over. He is deformed. His jaw doesn't line up right, the opening on one side of his mouth is normal, but the other side goes really far back. One ear is also forward, almost like a lopped ear. I stuck him in with the other litter figuring that was his only chance. I don't even know if he will be able to suckle.

We added more shavings and hay to her nest box in case her instincts kicked in and she had more kits. I went out a couple of hours later, and the was another kit, cool, but wiggly and noisy. He looks like he is fine, no deformities. I put him in with the other litter too to warm him up.

What is the deal? I would expect this out of a first time mom, but not one that has had multiple successful litters. The kits don't appear to have been stuck or anything.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Is there any possibility that there was a disturbance in the rabbitry that has her upset? Maybe she is calcium deficient and confused? I would give her a Tums or calcium tablet just in case.

I would continue to check for more kits. Hopefully she will do fine once all are delivered and safely put in the nestbox.

 

[TerriG]

Just went out after I posted. She was in her den, but not the nest box. She had a doa that looked like it could have been stuck. ThenI watched her kindle on the wire. The next one was deformed and doa. She does have 3 or 4 live ones now (including the one with the deformed jaw and stuff). She still didn't pull fur, so I grabbed some out of my other doe's nest and took the now warm kits out of that box and put them back in her box. She is sprawled out in her cage right now, but I can still see movement of kits inside.

I don't have any tums or calcium tablets. I keep meaning to get some to have out in the rabbitry, but haven't yet.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Maybe she senses that something is wrong with the litter?

Do you have chickens? I add oyster shell (calcium source) to my rabbit's feed. She might even eat an egg shell if she needs it, although that is not something I have ever tried.

Quick search for foods high in calcium:

Dried savory tops the list with 2132mg of calcium per 100g serving (213%DV), that is 85mg (9% DV) per tablespoon. It is followed by celery seed with 124mg (12%DV) of calcium per tablespoon, dried thyme with 57mg (6% DV) per tblsp, dried dill with 53mg (5% DV) per tblsp, dried marjoram with 40mg (4%DV) per tblsp, dried rosemary with 38mg (4% DV) per tblsp, sage, sisymbrium, oregano, spearmint, parsley, poppy seed, chervil and finally dried basil with 21mg of calcium (2% DV) per tablespoon.

Sesame seeds provide the most calcium when they are roasted or dried with 989mg (99% DV) of calcium per 100g serving, or 277mg (28%DV) per ounce, and 88mg (9% DV) per tablespoon.

Almonds will provide 266mg (27% DV) of calcium per 100g serving, 367mg (37% DV) per cup, and 74mg (7% DV) per ounce (~22 Almonds).

flax seeds also provide calcium with 255mg (26% DV) per 100g serving

Raw turnip greens provide the most calcium with 190mg (19% DV) per 100 gram serving, or 105mg (10% DV) in a chopped cup. It is followed by Dandelion greens which provide 103mg (10%DV) per cup, Kale 9% DV per cup, Mustard Greens 6% DV per cup, and Collard greens 5% DV per

Copied from:

http://www.healthaliciousness.com/artic ... alcium.php

 

[TerriG]

I don't have chickens.

She didn't like the fur from the other doe. Spent quite a bit of time trying to dig it out. I was really worried about the kits since she was digging them out too. My dh and I decided to just let nature take its course. I had prepared myself to go out to the rabbitry today to dead kits scattered all over. I opened up her den door and saw *her* fur with movement under it in the nest box. Still not as much fur as she normally pulls, but it seems like her instincts finally kicked in. The kits look like they have been fed, other than the one with the deformed jaw. I'm still not sure if it can suckle.

After I checked everyone over, she went in and checked them and fed them. The only thing that worries me is that she took some of the fur out of the nest box while she was feeding them. It didn't appear to be soiled, but maybe she could smell something that I couldn't see? I think we will only end up with 3 live kits out of this litter. She usually kindles 6-8.

I do find it a bit strange that she had 2 doa (1 deformed) and another deformed that is still alive. We have never had any deformed kits before and have only had one doa before. Oh well, I guess that's how it goes sometimes.