Question about stuck kit and rebreeding

RR MiniSatins · Aug 19, 2014

I had a first time doe kindle on the 31st day. She only had one large stretched kit that was DOA. I left her nest box in for three more days just to make sure she didn't have any more. Tried to palpate her to see, but I'm not very good at it so I didn't feel anything. Doe was fine, no problems, acting totally normal, so yesterday morning I decided to rebreed her. Last night she had another huge stretched kit. I assume the breeding process stimulated the contractions. At least she got it out of there, but now I don't know whether the first breeding will take, if there are any more in there, or if I should rebreed her at all. Any advice? Thanks

Dood · Aug 19, 2014

I doubt the sperm managed to swim around the stuck kit to reach the Fallopian tubes but it is possible so mark your calendar

I prefer to wait 3 or 4 days before re-breeding a doe who had stuck kits to be sure she is healed up a bit and doesn't have an infection. If i was in your situation I may even wait a week but if she is eating and drinking fine and not oozing anything then I would try again after 3 days.

What breed of rabbit is she? How old?

I don't often give does with stuck kits a second chance, unless the fetus was particularly large, as I don't want to pass these defective genes onto future generations. A normal sized kit that is stretched out just means the mothers pelvic bones are too narrow to give birth which is a confirmation fault and can be bred out of bloodlines if you stop the cycle and retire her. Just my 2 cents :shrug:

RR MiniSatins · Aug 19, 2014

She is a mini satin, 5 1/2 months old so pretty young. She made a beautiful nest and had the first one in the nest box so I'd really like to give her a second chance due to her age. She is also the best typed rabbit in the barn (of course!)

MamaSheepdog · Aug 19, 2014

Many of our members have noted larger litter sizes in does bred in the first few days after kindling, so hopefully this will be the case with your doe as well. Litters of only one or two usually result in oversized kits that are difficult to deliver, especially for first time does.

I haven't been breeding for long enough (3+ years) to have noted a genetic predisposition to large, stuck kits, so I wouldn't hesitate to breed her again myself.

If possible, breed another doe now as well so you have fostering options. If she should not have viable kits next time, it sounds like she has the instincts to at least foster some from another doe.

cowgirl9768 · Aug 20, 2014

I myself have been worried about this. My favorite doe (a sweet little lionhead) is pregnant for her first time. It took me forever to get her bred with school. She is now 2 1/2 and this is her first litter. She just won best if breed out of a class of more then 20 so I figured I need to try. She is the sweetest doe and I said if I couldn't get her bred I'll keep her as a house pet. I have herd that older does can have a hard time with their first litters because they have tighter ligaments making it hard to kindle and fat develops around their tubes make it hard to ovulate. Well 14days ago she was bred and she palpated positive ( I felt two kits but I never seem to find all of them). So the first "common complication" was not a problem. But now I'm worried about the second. If a kit gets stuck what do you guys do? How do I tell if there is more. I've herd lavender can make a doe contract more and some breeders feed it after kindling. Do any of you have experience with this? Any other tips?