Single kit destined to die?

[Frecs]

As mentioned in another post, Sugar Girl kindled two, one survivor. Someone on a facebook group expressed concern that one kit usually doesn't survive. Are the odds against this little thing? Should I really tick Sugar Girl off by taking her baby away except for feeding times?

 

[Secuono]

I would bring the nest in.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Don't worry, you wont upset her by removing the nest. Just be sure to bring it out morning and evening so she can feed.

Once its eyes open and it has plenty of fur it will probably be fine left outside with her as long as the weather is not extremely cold.

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

I would also reccommend bringing the nest in.

 

[Frecs]

Why? Just because temps? It's not cold out...

Or is there another reason you say I should bring it in?

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Infants of any species have a very hard time regulating their body temperature, and chill very easily.

What is your expected overnight low?

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

It is my understanding that you need a certain number of kits to maintain a "group temperature"...and with only one, there's no other kits to provide body heat from. Even in summer, I'd bring in a single kit...too risky to leave them alone in case of a sudden temperature drop. One sudden chill can cause them harm.

 

[Secuono]

Most infants, if not all, cannot regulate body temperature at all until a week or older. If you care to save the kit, bring in the nest anyway.

 

[Frecs]

I see. Forecast overnight low of 45. I'll go bring it in.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Good call. 45 is definitely too cold.

 

[Miss M]

You can heat a bottle of water and put a sock over it. You'll probably want to reheat it in the middle of the night.

Or you can put half of the nest box over a heating pad on LOW, with nest material between the baby and the heating pad. The baby can crawl away from the heat if it is too much, and stay where it is just right.

Heating pad is riskier. As long as you've got plenty of fur around the baby, the water bottle should do the trick. Or maybe you don't need anything else at all.

 

[Frecs]

I kept the nestbox in my room where I was able to set the room's temp to 75 (I like to warmer than mother does when sleeping). Kit was ready for breakfast this morning and Sugar Girl was ready to have her baby back.

 

[Jack]

Yeah, it all depends on the mother, some are really good, and can raise a singleton, others...

 

[Disney]

I had a single kit last year and it was fine.. he got loads of cream milk!

 

[Miss M]

I remember Maggie had a singleton... the little fuzzball got so much milk, she named him "Pudge". :lol:

I think he's one of her working bucks, now... :thinking:

 

[Frecs]

Well, so far so good. "Only" came close to strangling himself by getting wool wrapped around it's neck. I had to work to get it undone and little Only took two big gasps of air as soon as it was loose. It looked like it hadn't eaten (probably because of the noose) so I flipped Sugar Girl and let Only suckle till full. Sugar Girl is not happy with this arrangement one little bit. I do suspect that if Only manages to survive, he/she will not be going to freezer camp. I just don't think I could do that will one I've worked hard to keep alive. Besides, it has been named which means it isn't food.

(I spent time pulling the wool into smaller strands so we hopefully will not have a repeat performance of the noose.)

 

[MaggieJ]

Frecs, you may need to snip the wool into shorter lengths. I've heard of instances where kits have been strangled or have had the circulation cut off in a limb from Angora wool.

Ladysown, Pudge is still our herd sire. He's not pudgy anymore, but he is the largest of any of our rabbits... Big solid boy! I am still amazed at how fast he grew when he was a popple.

 

[Frecs]

I pulled/snapped the fibers as thoroughly as I could. I'm thinking tonight when I get home, I'm going to take scissors to the wool and make sure they are too short to wrap around the kit. The squirmy little thing is acting like a drop spindle --spinning wool around itself. I hated to even come to work today thinking of the little thing.

I'm definitely getting too attached...

 

[MaggieJ]

Next you'll be popping him into your purse when you go to work! :lol:

 

[Frecs]

Next you'll be popping him into your purse when you go to work! :lol:

Don't think I didn't think of that! If I had a diaper small enough, I probably would have!