Need Quick Advice - Bring the Kits in?

[Bad Habit]

I guess I didn't quite think this through.

First time meat momma kindled this afternoon. Big litter, I'm guessing around 10, but I didn't count them all.

Nest is nice, lots of hay and fur, but the doe is outside. Lowest forecast temp is 25f over the next week.

I am worried that bringing in the kits will mess the doe up, since she's a first timer. I am worried that leaving the kits out will cause them to chill and die.

I collected all the fur in her cage and put it in with the babies and lots of hay as well.

Do I bring the kits in, or leave them out and hope for the best

 

[Zass]

You can do either.
The kits won't wander out of the nest until they are a bit older, and the doe probably isn't going to be messed up. Just make sure they have been fed before you pull the nest. That will show her teats are working and she knows how to use them. If everything is in order, she'll probably want to feed them right away when you bring them back.

Some does feed once a day, and some do twice. It depends on the doe, so don't be alarmed if she doesn't want to nurse after only 12 hours.

 

[Bad Habit]

I've pulled nest boxes before, but never on a first timer. This is my last planned meat litter, so I'd like to get some fryers out of the deal. I think I'll bring them in and hope for the best.

 

[Zass]

I've yet to have a doe messed up by pulling a nest, even first timers.
I have however, corrected a messed up doe's behavior by pulling the nest and returning it when she's calmed down.

 

[Bad Habit]

Brought em in, they're in an empty cage in the house(I don't trust the cats/dog that much ). Counted them, exactly 10, looks to be about 1/2 chestnut agouti(I dunno what it's called in New Zealands) and 1/2 red.

One last batch of Eddie babies

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Personally, I wouldn't be worried about a litter of ten staying warm in a well built nest, but better safe than sorry!

I have never had a doe refuse her babies if the nest box is removed- they all hop right in to nurse them when I bring it out- so I wouldn't worry about abandonment.

Good luck with Eddie's last popples at your place. I hope you get lots of meat! :good-luck:

 

[Marinea]

Eddie babies!

I have never had a first timer abandon the kits, either. I think they'll be fine.

 

[Bad Habit]

I hope they're fine. They were nice and plump last night, so I think she fed them. Going to take them out shortly - I feed at 10 and 10

-- Wed Dec 10, 2014 4:38 pm --

So Apple doesn't like going near the babies when I'm out there. Can't hardly blame her, she doesn't trust me worth beans after her 2 vacations from the caged life, and I was too scared to do much with her because I was worried she'd bolt. She sat in the corner dutifully ignoring the babies until I was at the door, then she came over to check them out. I've left her alone with them, I think I'll bring them in at night and put them back out during the day, as long as it is over freezing.

I checked again, it's actually 4 chestnuts and 6 reds. <br /><br /> -- Wed Dec 10, 2014 10:54 pm -- <br /><br /> Checked when feeding, all are there, all are still warm. It's actually not too bad in the shed right now, the water isn't freezing, plus I think Apple pulled more fur for her nest. Dumb doe tried to chomp me when I was checking the kits, so I decided to leave them out there.

 

[Lastfling]

I would think with 10 they would be fine. I had a doe who kindled 5 a few weeks ago when the temp dipped to 16 for a few nights and they did fine. I'd stick my hand in the nest at feeding time to check that they were warm. All are venturing out now.

 

[Bad Habit]

Apple's Nest

Apple's Litter

The insulation on my shed is helping a lot. It's currently 21f outside, but the water in the shed was not frozen(except 2 dishes I didn't dump out to refill last night and never get drained dry were iced over), and I couldn't see my breath. I left the babies out, they seem warm, they're all bundled together, well fed and have lots of hay/fluff to keep warm in.

 

[JenerationX]

I think that's the fluffiest nest I've ever seen posted here.