Popples are so very small. Day 5 pictures Retained kit

[ckcs]

These babies are from my Blue Eyed Fawn Lionhead (Honeybun) and my Chocolate Holland Lop (Mr. Loveable). The doe is a first timer. These are day 3 pictures, the babies are so small. If they are growing, it has to be very slow as I can't see it. The babies are 4 days old now and I weighed them today. All three together came in at 2.8oz or 78grams. I have seen the doe in the box and we have held the babies to her several times. I have another doe that has 3 kits that are 8 days old and a third doe that lost her babies about 11 days ago. Any advice?

Day 6 - We went to check on the babies this morning and found a dead baby on the wire. Part of its head was bitten off. We were heartbroken thinking the doe had killed the smallest baby. I checked the nest box to see how the other 2 babies were doing and was surprised to see all 3 were alive. Doe must have retained a kit and the bites to the head probably came from her trying to get it out. Anything we should watch for in the doe? Never dealt with this issue so not sure what to do. Good news was babies were at 112 g up from 96 g yesterday.
day 3

day 5

 

[coffeenutdesigns]

They don't look fed. I have a first timer who wasn't feeding and I had to hold her still over them so that they could eat. Somebody has posted how to do that, you might have to look and see. You have to watch those back feet kicking them if she freaks out at them crawling under her. I only had to do it twice before she started doing it on her own. Also, since there are only 3, keep them inside and warm except when feeding. Hope they make it!

 

[ckcs]

I had been trying to flip the doe on her back and let them nurse. I did a search and someone suggested putting the babies on a towel and holding the doe over them. I took another doe that has 3 kits that are doing fine and held her over the babies. They seemed to feed. I'll give mama a shot in the morning.

 

[TerriG]

What about fostering them to another doe?

 

[Bad Habit]

They look bloody still... and normally my lionheads are getting peach fuzz by 3 days, those still look like newborns... like, maybe a couple hours old.

I've heard people say that their babies that were born late were hitting milestones early, could this batch be an early litter that's hitting the milestones late?

 

[ladysown]

i'd look at doing a fostering... or more into doing one set of kits stays with a nursing mom during the day, the other set goes in at night. When doing that I suggest doing a on the hour (as in 7 a.m./7 p.m. - or whatever works for you) switch. That way they will each get a feeding.

 

[ckcs]

They look bloody still... and normally my lionheads are getting peach fuzz by 3 days, those still look like newborns... like, maybe a couple hours old.

I've heard people say that their babies that were born late were hitting milestones early, could this batch be an early litter that's hitting the milestones late?

We thought they were early. They were born on day 29, all our other litters have been day 31.<br /><br />__________ Wed Mar 06, 2013 10:58 pm __________<br /><br />

i'd look at doing a fostering... or more into doing one set of kits stays with a nursing mom during the day, the other set goes in at night. When doing that I suggest doing a on the hour (as in 7 a.m./7 p.m. - or whatever works for you) switch. That way they will each get a feeding.

I can do that. I also have a third doe that kindled 2 kits, 1 stillborn and 1 fell out of cage on day 3. That was about 11-12 days ago. Could that doe still nurse?

 

[ladysown]

i don't know.. she may well be dried up by now.

 

[ckcs]

Well it has been 5 days and the babies are still alive. I'll update pictures hopefully tomorrow. Their weight is increasing and they are being fed now by mama. They were at 90 grams earlier today and I checked them again this evening and they were up to 96 grams.

 

[Maxine]

So glad they are doing well. I'd love to see pictures of them now.

 

[coffeenutdesigns]

Are they getting some fur now?

 

[faiththequeen]

I hope they are doing better. Cant wait to see pictures

 

[ckcs]

Are they getting some fur now?

Yup, at least some. Added new pictures.

 

[Bad Habit]

They're definitely doing better Glad to hear it.

I still think they look younger than they are, though.

 

[faiththequeen]

I'm glad they're doing better You know, their eyes remind me of preemie eyes in human babies. Weird. But adorable just the same.

 

[ckcs]

Updated page after finding a dead retained kit today.

 

[Bad Habit]

I would have the doe out and palpate her gently to see if there's anything else inside.