Removing kits from mum for the night

[ButtonsPalace]

Would it be okay for me to remove one or two kits overnight so my littlest two have a chance to catch up? I already tried holding the mum down and feeding my littlest runt but she showed no interest in momma

 

[Celice]

I wouldn't.

you don't want the kits that you took out to fall behind ether. I know a lot of people that will cull the runt because most don't live very long anyway.

 

[ButtonsPalace]

Well I had a runt from a litter of 9 survive so I am keeping high hopes for this little guy

 

[Susie570]

Folks recommend doing just that all the time. Remove the biggest kits and put them back in tomorrow.

 

[Ncrabbit]

I have been removing the largest two from my litter for the past few nights so one can eat. No problems thus far.

 

[alforddm]

I did this with one of my last litters. Worked fine. The kits were a smaller than another litter at the same time but they are catching up now that they are eating solid food.

 

[ButtonsPalace]

I have been supplement feeding as of today and it seems to help. She is about the size of a newborn to one week while the rest have hit the 1-2 week size so she isn't quite as active as them

 

[Preitler]

I did this with my current litter, took 4 of 9 out for one meal, and one full belly really did make a difference, runt really does well now.

My doe nurses at dusk and dawn, so I had to return them in the night.

Preitler