Please learn from my mistake!!!

[SuburbanHomesteader]

I am SO angry with myself right now. Consider this posting as venting and therapy. New rabbit raisers might learn something from it, too.

I’ve been raising rabbits for years and I should know better! My stupidity is just an example of my thinking I’m smarter than I am. Now I have 7 dead kits to show for it!

Short version: Wilma was due on March 1st. She had a very successful first litter last October. Bred her again and she was due in January but missed…didn’t have a litter. Bred her again and she was due Friday.

I’ve never been able to palpate. I’ve tried. Usually, I can tell by behavior if the doe is pregnant (once I get to know them). Wilma didn’t look or act pregnant. So, yesterday afternoon I pulled her nest box.

This morning I find 7 dead kits on the wire. It was in the low 30’s in the barn last night – all died. Normally, I’d leave the nest box another four or five days but this time I was SO SURE that she wasn’t pregnant I just pulled it.

Again, hopefully others can learn from my mistake. Thanks for letting me get this off my chest. I’ll breed her again next weekend and, God willing, it won’t happen again.

 

[siddsaysgimmie]

Ahhh, it happens. Sorry that you lost some little ones. The bunnies were just giving you a reminder so it won't happen again.

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

others have done the same. I know it is upsetting if you would of just left it for one more day.

 

[Fire-Man]

That can Pixx you off for sure. Sorry! I had a Doe that had several litters--every litter she would have on day 34 and she would not pull any fur until minutes before she had them. She would always pull fur like she was trying to beat a World Record time. Then she would jump in the bed and start having them in the day time. I watched her have 2 litters. She was a Good Mom.

 

[Disney]

Sorry you lost them
We don't have that problem here in holland because nobody uses wired cages, even the breeders don't.

I'm always very careful when they're pregnant, i make double sure they got everything, even if they don't show sign of pregnancy.
I have 2 pregnant doe's and i've just bought a huge hutch for them with 2 floors so that they have extra places to make a nest, instead of arguing for the same spot.

 

[coffeenutdesigns]

Sorry you lost them
We don't have that problem here in holland because nobody uses wired cages, even the breeders don't.

I'm always very careful when they're pregnant, i make double sure they got everything, even if they don't show sign of pregnancy.
I have 2 pregnant doe's and i've just bought a huge hutch for them with 2 floors so that they have extra places to make a nest, instead of arguing for the same spot.

That's interesting. What kind of cages do you use? I'm assuming wood, but how are they built for ventilation and cleaning and stuff? Would love to see pics of your 2-story hutch.

 

[Mickey328]

I'm so sorry for your loss, but thank you for posting. We're going to be breeding for the first time ever in a couple weeks and I'll definitely take your story to heart.

 

[PatS]

I'm sorry for your loss, and thank you for the warning. Now I'll know to always leave the nest boxes in for a couple extra days, at least.

That's interesting. What kind of cages do you use? I'm assuming wood, but how are they built for ventilation and cleaning and stuff? Would love to see pics of your 2-story hutch.

Yes, me too. opcorn:

 

[SarahMelisse]

I'm sorry for your loss, and thank you for the warning. Now I'll know to always leave the nest boxes in for a couple extra days, at least.

That's interesting. What kind of cages do you use? I'm assuming wood, but how are they built for ventilation and cleaning and stuff? Would love to see pics of your 2-story hutch.

Yes, me too. opcorn:

Me three.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

How sad.

I'm sorry you lost the litter.

Usually when they are close you can feel the bodies of the kits pretty easily through the abdominal wall. I would give palpating during early pregnancy another try. The little "grapes" are unmistakeable when you finally find them.

 

[skysthelimit]

Sorry you had to go through this. I lost a JW kit a few weeks ago. My does are frequently late, averaging 34 days, Mola just when 37 days. I don't remove the nest box till day 40 anymore, and I put it in more than 3 days before. I can usually feel kits up to five days before. But I cannot feel a single thing on the JW, so and I never saw the buck make contact. If there was one singular thing that bugs me about rabbits, this would be it.

 

[SuburbanHomesteader]

Thanks folks. I appreciate the kind thoughts and support. This forum is such a blessing: Kinda like being in a foreign land and running into a group of people that speak the same language you do!

I have another doe due today. Rest assured, I've learned my lesson. My dad always tells me that one of the funny things about life is that too often we don't know if we're making a mistake until AFTER we've made it.

Again, my thanks to all of you!

 

[fuzzy9]

How awful, I'm so sorry!

 

[akaj9]

Oh sweets I'm sooooo sorry for your loss of a litter.... I just lost a litter myself....I can never tell early on by palpitating if they are prego, but when they are approaching the day I find if I turn them over on their back while they are resting calmly and apply pressure you will feel the lil guys actually moving around in there....Mine didn't pull hair until the morning she kindled......<br /><br />__________ Mon Mar 04, 2013 3:14 pm __________<br /><br />Oh sweets I'm sooooo sorry for your loss of a litter.... I just lost a litter myself....I can never tell early on by palpitating if they are prego, but when they are approaching the day I find if I turn them over on their back while they are resting calmly and apply pressure you will feel the lil guys actually moving around in there....Mine didn't pull hair until the morning she kindled......