New to rabbits- kit feeding question

[traci98531]

I have a 4 day old Netherlands dwarf kit. We did not know she was pregnant and I walked out 4 days ago with a pile of hair in her box. I had tried breeding her two times with no success this past year. Last year she had a very large stillborn kit. I was watching her after she had this last batch and noticed she wasn't feeding them. I called the local feed store and they said nothing about what I have read since the kits were born. Such as momma stays out of the box, they eat 2 times a day and so on. I was advised to try and feed them, take them out of the box and so I brought them in. The other thing that prompted me to bring them in was one of them was very cold and crawling out from under the fir and mom wasn't putting them back under. That kit passed the first day, it was very cold. The second kit who is still alive was seeming to do well. She finally pooed and peed and has been. But I can't seem to get her to eat much. She is suckering on a bottle, seem when I use a dropper she gets too much and it comes thru her nose. Her tummy was round now today it is wrinkled. Please help. I am on my way out the door to get the ingredients for the goat milk recipe and a very small syring. Thanks in advance. Traci

 

[Zass]

First off :welcome: :bunnyhop:

Even with a good formula, it's really difficult to save kits at that age without help from a doe.

These two threads have a lot of good info, if you haven't already read them over:
tips-for-handraising-kits-t2486.html
formula-feeding-baby-bunnies-pics-vids-t3691.html

Mom can't put them back under the fur. Mother rabbits really can't move their kits at all. They can only pull more fur or try to arrange it over top of the babies. If the babies keep wandering out from under it, it usually means they are too warm or hungry, and some kits are just wanderers. Make sure the nestbox is the right size for your rabbits. It should be just big enough for the doe to stand in and turn around, with high enough sides to keep the babies contained.

I would recommend bringing the surviving kit back to it's mother twice a day to nurse.
Most does are happy to jump into into the box to nurse as soon as you bring the kits back to them. If she refuses, you can try holding the doe on your lap and positioning the kit beneath her to nurse.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

:hi: Traci,

welcome to RabbitTalk!

Zass gave you great advice. I would definitely take the kit out to the doe for feedings- it is nearly impossible to save them by hand feeding alone.

I have edited your title so you will get more responses to your question.

If you want more kits from this doe, I would recommend that you breed her back as soon as possible. Does are usually very receptive after kindling, and often have larger litters so hopefully she will have several normal sized kits rather than one or two large ones.

Good luck with your kit. I hope you are able to save it! :clover: