Really early weaning

[skysthelimit]

The Angora kits are 17 days.

snotty mom, is still crusty but not sneezing. The kits are in with me, my usual pull the box protocol.

I have some oats, and I put in a bit of brown stuff to tempt them. They lick the liquid, but they don't eat the oats.

Need more suggestions.



They are the best group of kits I have had so far. They don't mind being picked up, don't struggle at all. One even rolled over in my hand and went back to sleep.

 

[PSFAngoras]

Hmmm, maybe some hay? Not sure. Earliest I weaned before was 21 days, but they were already out of the nest and drinking/ eating pellets. I thought momma was sneezing, but as it turned out she was only drinking too fast when I filled the bowl (amazing how fast it empties when kits leave a nest) and then shooting water out her nose when it went down the wrong tube. Lucked out, but sorry you have to go through that. I seem to notice my kits on hay before pellets.

As far as liquids, can you give them something sweet to entice them? I've heard some people say to give rabbits Gatorade when they need the electrolytes, maybe it will be sweet enough to convince the kits to start, and then keep diluting it to straight water. Obviously extra electrolytes shouldn't hurt, but you don't want a rabbit that will only drink Gatorade either!

 

[dangerbunny]

when I lost my Angora doe with two week old kits I hand fed them goats milk twice a day, they all pulled through fine.

 

[ladysown]

17 days is the earliest I've deliberately weaned, they all did well (11 kits) except for one that needed probiotics for three days. it pulled through as well was just runty.

 

[skysthelimit]

Unless it's found at Walmart, I won't be able to get it. Goats milk is out.

They are not interested in hay, oats or pellets. Also, without a car, there is literally only a handful of dusty hay left, they will pee and poop and it will be soiled in 15 minutes. I had no brown sugar, so I used molasses. Sucked up the molasses but wouldn't eat the oats.

This doe is snotty, crusty, and has blood on her nostrils. She's definitely not well and will never make it into the barn. This is my last shot for breeding Angoras, too much time and money lost, and she is the only doe I have now, so I need to make this litter count.

 

[PSFAngoras]

I'm sorry sky if we ever have a chance to meet up at a convention or could work out transport, I'd happily send a couple kits your way.

 

[MaggieJ]

I've seen Kitten Milk Replacer at the Wal-Mart here and I am sure it would be available at a pet shop as well. It might hold them over until they start nibbling at the other things. Worth a shot, anyway.

 

[Flemishstar]

hmmm Id try alfalfa hay, my kits were all eating grass, alfalfa hay,bread,oats and pellets by 20 days...and using the water bottle lol, they started off eating the alfalfa hay , i would throw some in the nestbox and theyd nibble at it, thats all it took, by the next day, they were all eating like they were old pro's , ...////GOOD LUCK i hope they a;; do magnificant

Aldo

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

walmart does carry goats milk.. Here anyways they do... and you can use shaft off the hay .. great for babies and get one minute oatmeal.. It is small pieces and they can lick up the dust from up with some pieces as well. .. When there eyes start to open I start giving oats in the box and hay..

 

[skysthelimit]

hmmm Id try alfalfa hay, my kits were all eating grass, alfalfa hay,bread,oats and pellets by 20 days...and using the water bottle lol, they started off eating the alfalfa hay , i would throw some in the nestbox and theyd nibble at it, thats all it took, by the next day, they were all eating like they were old pro's , ...////GOOD LUCK i hope they a;; do magnificant

Aldo

Problem--can't get any hay, I live in the city, and I have no vehicle now.

__________ Fri Sep 13, 2013 8:50 am __________

I've seen Kitten Milk Replacer at the Wal-Mart here and I am sure it would be available at a pet shop as well. It might hold them over until they start nibbling at the other things. Worth a shot, anyway.

Walmarts are very regional. In the hood goats milk is not a big seller.

But they do carry the esbilac, lots of dog breeders around here, so it's a staple. I will try soaking the oats in that. I was wondering if it would work. I am not a milk drinker, and know nothing about the differences between goats milk, cows milk, etc. I did use the calf replacer with the scours meds on a few sick Rex, and although it was meant to replace cows milk and cows milk is a no-no, it seems to work mostly because of the meds.

I got the old fashion oats, because I believed that was what people call kitchen oats? I always read don't use quick oats, I don't know what the difference is, for me, either it's in the hull or it's not.

I put them in for another feeding again today. The breeder just messaged me and she wants one back, because the doe got into an altercation with the buck (why you should not leave them alone) and she split his penis, she says. There was a considerable amount of blood on both of them afterwards.
A possibility, but I still intend on pulling this litter. If she turns out ok, months down the road, I will remember to never turn my back on her and my buck.

 

[MaggieJ]

The reason we say "old-fashioned" kitchen oatmeal is because the flakes are larger and less processed than instant or minute oats. But you could use the others if that is all you have. I don't know anything about esbilac but it might work.

 

[Wheels]

I wonder if you might want to try infant cereal (oatmeal) first with the esbilac. it's as fine and milled as it gets and then slowly add in the old fashion oats.

Quick oats are just more pressed/milled, old Fashioned oats are the same as rolled oats, then you have cut oats and then whole oats.

instant oats can be partially cooked and usually have added salt and other stuff. infant oats are very bland and may or may not have added E or Iron... or you could just put your kitchen oats in a food processor and make your own oatmeal fluff.

eta - Maggie and I had the same thought!

 

[skysthelimit]

I wonder if you might want to try infant cereal (oatmeal) first with the esbilac.

I had the strangest thought. If they don't eat the infant cereal, what in the world would I do with the leftovers ? LOL.

I hope this is not a hint of a trend of picky eaters.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I had some kits from a doe culled for "P" that were about that age or younger. The first few days they didn't seem to eat anything at all, but they pulled through. (Photosynthesis, maybe???)

They did die later (way past weaning) so in the end it was a failure anyway, but they obviously had "P" problems from the doe. Good thing they were quarantined away from the rest of the herd. :?

Walmarts are very regional. In the hood goats milk is not a big seller.

I'd be happy to send you some Manna Pro Sheep milk replacer if you want to PM your address to me... from my 'hood to yours!

 

[Cottie]

I wonder if you might want to try infant cereal (oatmeal) first with the esbilac.

I had the strangest thought. If they don't eat the infant cereal, what in the world would I do with the leftovers ? LOL.

I hope this is not a hint of a trend of picky eaters.

Most infant oats are just finely ground instant oats. No need the buy anything special. They do make a good thickening agent, though...

Can you order anything via Amazon?

 

[skysthelimit]

I'd be happy to send you some Manna Pro Sheep milk replacer if you want to PM your address to me... from my 'hood to yours!

I did not know they had this. Wow, see how deprived I am. If it wasn't for RT, I would have never known about all kinds of stuff that's normal for people who have grown up with livestock.<br /><br />__________ Sat Sep 14, 2013 7:46 am __________<br /><br />How long did they live before they became sick?

When the REW doe started sneezing, I removed her, but I had two kits die with almost pus like snot before I removed her. After she was gone, several more died. Now I have 2 of 9 kits left, with half dying from snotty noses and the other from the mysterious ME that ran rampant in the barn.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I'd be happy to send you some Manna Pro Sheep milk replacer if you want to PM your address to me... from my 'hood to yours!

I did not know they had this. Wow, see how deprived I am. If it wasn't for RT, I would have never known about all kinds of stuff that's normal for people who have grown up with livestock.

I wanted goat milk replacer, but sheep milk was all they had. I figured it was close enough. :?

I already bagged some up for you if you want it. There is enough to make 4 cups of formula, so hopefully you will have some left for future emergencies. I just have to weigh it to calculate postage.

How long did they live before they became sick?

One died at around 10 weeks. No clinical signs of anything, it was just dead one day. I didn't do a necropsy.

The other had a seizure when it was really young, and then went limp like it was in shock and dying, but I stroked it firmly and brought it out of it.

That one would sneeze, but no snot. It died a month or more after the other one.

When the REW doe started sneezing, I removed her, but I had two kits die with almost pus like snot before I removed her. After she was gone, several more died. Now I have 2 of 9 kits left, with half dying from snotty noses and the other from the mysterious ME that ran rampant in the barn.

Poor things. I have only had one kit that blew snot. It was fine one day, and miserably ill the next. I culled it within an hour of finding it, as soon as I worked up the courage to end the little guys life.

I know how heart wrenching it is when we are forced to cull due to illness. It is one thing to process the ones that you choose to for meat, but a whole other thing to have the choice made for you.

I wish we could figure out what is happening in your herd.

 

[skysthelimit]

:cheer1: :thankyou: The milk has arrived, right on time.


I was starting to get nervous, because want out of the nest and want to spend time with her, which is exactly what I don't want. With the nights getting colder, they will come int he house. I feel the need to post pictures, so I'll set it up and have some cute bunny pictures soon.

Gosh, where did all these new smilies come from? :giraffe:

MSD- thanks for reminding me that I am not alone. :group-hug2:

 

[MamaSheepdog]

:cheer1: :thankyou: The milk has arrived, right on time.

YAY!!! I was afraid that little box would get mangled by the sorting equipment or lost in a mail bag! :lol:

I hope it will help them. :good-luck:

I feel the need to post pictures, so I'll set it up and have some cute bunny pictures soon.

Oh, good! I'm looking forward to seeing the little guys.

Gosh, where did all these new smilies come from? :giraffe:

MidnightCoder updated them last month! :canada-fireworks:

post186945.html#p186945

MSD- thanks for reminding me that I am not alone. :group-hug2:

Of course you aren't!

We have our own virtual tribe here, y'know. :campfire:

 

[skysthelimit]

At first they weren't drinking, I had the top open and Phoenix drank most of the milk. I poured the next batch in with the oats and some molasses. They ate their fill, some bits of mulberry leaves and a few pellets.<br /><br />__________ Thu Sep 19, 2013 8:08 pm __________<br /><br />I have no idea what's with these guys,they've been doing this all day, went right past the dog in the hallway. Where do they think they're they going?