Also, before you put the nest box in, run your hand under the doe's belly ... at this stage, you should be able to feel the full mammary glands. If they are not full, I would switch the kit over to hand feeding, and breed the doe back ... some of them just don't get it all right in the right order the first litter, and it sounds like she needs her instincts and hormones kicked in.
Singleton kit and first-time doe problems! (Update 5/14)
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I like that kangaroo pouch idea, Squidpop! 
Teddy2511
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Well...
Thursday night the kit did not get anything from mom, so I gave my first attempt at bottle feeding. It took us quite a while to get the hang of it, but he at least got some food into his belly. Then, yesterday morning, I tried the kangaroo pouch idea and he still didn't get any milk; I think mom is too stressed to feed him when she is in my lap. So, we did a second bottle feeding and he again got at least some of it inside.
And then last night, I put the nestbox in her cage (I am still giving her a chance to try nursing before I feed the bottle) for 30 minutes while I did something in the other room. When I got back I found the kit lying on the wire, but with at least a half full belly. He was a little cool, but I warmed him up for a few minutes and soon he was doing fine.
I didn't give him a bottle last night thanks to Mimi finally feeding him again, but we'll see how things go this morning.
By the way, his belly never looks distended, only fuller and a little hard/firm when either me or mom is finished feeding. Is that normal?
He still doesn't not have the plump and healthy look about him like the other litters I've had, but that is most likely due to him having a rougher time of it.
Thursday night the kit did not get anything from mom, so I gave my first attempt at bottle feeding. It took us quite a while to get the hang of it, but he at least got some food into his belly. Then, yesterday morning, I tried the kangaroo pouch idea and he still didn't get any milk; I think mom is too stressed to feed him when she is in my lap. So, we did a second bottle feeding and he again got at least some of it inside.
And then last night, I put the nestbox in her cage (I am still giving her a chance to try nursing before I feed the bottle) for 30 minutes while I did something in the other room. When I got back I found the kit lying on the wire, but with at least a half full belly. He was a little cool, but I warmed him up for a few minutes and soon he was doing fine.
I didn't give him a bottle last night thanks to Mimi finally feeding him again, but we'll see how things go this morning.
By the way, his belly never looks distended, only fuller and a little hard/firm when either me or mom is finished feeding. Is that normal?
He still doesn't not have the plump and healthy look about him like the other litters I've had, but that is most likely due to him having a rougher time of it.
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I'm glad the little guy is getting some food now, even from his mom!
At about a week old, it takes about 4 droppers (half full) to make a kit look like he swallowed a small marble. That's about what you're going for. I have supplemented kits that were getting some milk from mom, though, if I knew they weren't getting enough.
It can be a little harder to tell, though, if you have one of those kits that seems to have skin that's a size too big.
At about a week old, it takes about 4 droppers (half full) to make a kit look like he swallowed a small marble.
That's about what you're going for. I have supplemented kits that were getting some milk from mom, though, if I knew they weren't getting enough.It can be a little harder to tell, though, if you have one of those kits that seems to have skin that's a size too big.
MamaSheepdog
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Progress!
Akane has mentioned before that some kits just never get that rounded belly, but as long as their fur is glossy, they should do fine.
Akane has mentioned before that some kits just never get that rounded belly, but as long as their fur is glossy, they should do fine.
That's good news
MamaSheepdog
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Teddy,
how is the little guy doing? Still hanging in there?
how is the little guy doing? Still hanging in there?
Teddy2511
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The little singleton is doing pretty good right now.
He is eating about 50% formula and 50% from his mother. (Together we're keeping that belly full! )
Unfortunately, he does pee on himself a fair bit and Mimi doesn't want to help with the cleaing; just the feeding. :lol:
Mimi still doesn't seem to feed him enough all the time, but I am feeding her lots of dandelion leaves which seems to be helping. Tomorrow I am going to move the kit back in with her for the whole day, and if things go well I will let them continue to live together. He is fully furred now, so getting chilled is no longer a problem.
I am also continuing to check her vent, and if things look good should I breed her back soon?
Here is a picture of the little guy at 12 days old (he's hiding his face):
He is eating about 50% formula and 50% from his mother. (Together we're keeping that belly full!
)Unfortunately, he does pee on himself a fair bit and Mimi doesn't want to help with the cleaing; just the feeding. :lol:
Mimi still doesn't seem to feed him enough all the time, but I am feeding her lots of dandelion leaves which seems to be helping. Tomorrow I am going to move the kit back in with her for the whole day, and if things go well I will let them continue to live together. He is fully furred now, so getting chilled is no longer a problem.
I am also continuing to check her vent, and if things look good should I breed her back soon?
Here is a picture of the little guy at 12 days old (he's hiding his face):
Demamma
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He is so fluffy how cute. What breed is he?
AmysMacdog
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LOL He IS fluffy! I had to look twice at him, I had trouble finding his cute little ears. He's going to be a pretty bunny!
He's going to be a pretty bunny!
Teddy2511
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He is a Holland lop, Demamma.
And yes, he does look quite fluffy in every picture I take...
I'm not sure if it is because all the fur on his back is stuck in this permanent "mohawk" shape or because there is a chance that he could be a Fuzzy Holland... I guess I'll have to wait and see!
And yes, he does look quite fluffy in every picture I take...
I'm not sure if it is because all the fur on his back is stuck in this permanent "mohawk" shape or because there is a chance that he could be a Fuzzy Holland... I guess I'll have to wait and see!
Mine are 11 days old today and I just took pictures of one in my hand too and yours looks much smaller than mine and fluffier. Please keep posting photos because I'm really curious to see how your little guy turns out.
Teddy2511
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Well, he's 2 weeks old today...
The little guy is still small and fluffy, but I think the cause for his size may be lack of nutrition. I don't think he's getting enough food from me feeding him in the evening and Mimi feeding him in the morning so I am going to switch him to two formula feedings a day and see if that helps. (I had held off feeding formula too often as long as Mimi seemed to be feeding him enough, but that seems to changed in the last 1-2 days.)
Also, I am wondering, since he is 2 weeks old now and his eyes have not yet opened, should I help him out or could it be that he is just slow in this area too and I should just let nature take its course?
And on another note, Mimi's vent is back to normal and she has completely cleaned herself up so should I think about breeding her again? I need her to be in condition and ready to go to fair in exactly 12 weeks... She seems to be doing pretty well condition wise right now, and is eating 3 oz of food per day (she usually only eats 2). Also her vent was a bright red today and looking quite healthy.
What are your opinions? The earliest I have bred back in the past was about 3 weeks post kindling for a doe that only had two live kits.
The little guy is still small and fluffy, but I think the cause for his size may be lack of nutrition. I don't think he's getting enough food from me feeding him in the evening and Mimi feeding him in the morning so I am going to switch him to two formula feedings a day and see if that helps. (I had held off feeding formula too often as long as Mimi seemed to be feeding him enough, but that seems to changed in the last 1-2 days.)
Also, I am wondering, since he is 2 weeks old now and his eyes have not yet opened, should I help him out or could it be that he is just slow in this area too and I should just let nature take its course?
And on another note, Mimi's vent is back to normal and she has completely cleaned herself up so should I think about breeding her again? I need her to be in condition and ready to go to fair in exactly 12 weeks... She seems to be doing pretty well condition wise right now, and is eating 3 oz of food per day (she usually only eats 2). Also her vent was a bright red today and looking quite healthy.
What are your opinions? The earliest I have bred back in the past was about 3 weeks post kindling for a doe that only had two live kits.
Teddy2511
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Okay, I've been really busy, but here's the update...
Sadly, the little kit passed away on Sunday, and unfortunately I could not figure out why. He was 2.5 weeks old and had been on only formula for 2-3 days. Saturday night he seemed kind of uninterested in eating, but I assumed he just wasn't as hungry now that he wasn't living with his mother (she had quit feeding him all together.)
It was really sad and frustrating to find him like that after all his progress.
Ever since Mimi gave birth to the little singleton, I have been struggling with wanting to give up on my rabbits all together... :roll:
But I just keep reminding myself that it was her first litter and the miscarriage/death in January must have been something internally wrong with that doe, and the death of this kit must have been a fluke...
Whatever the case, Mimi was bred back to the same buck today, and I'm hoping 31 days will improve my opinion of my bunnies!
Here's to hoping everything goes well with the next litter!opcorn:
Sadly, the little kit passed away on Sunday, and unfortunately I could not figure out why. He was 2.5 weeks old and had been on only formula for 2-3 days. Saturday night he seemed kind of uninterested in eating, but I assumed he just wasn't as hungry now that he wasn't living with his mother (she had quit feeding him all together.)
It was really sad and frustrating to find him like that after all his progress.
Ever since Mimi gave birth to the little singleton, I have been struggling with wanting to give up on my rabbits all together... :roll:
But I just keep reminding myself that it was her first litter and the miscarriage/death in January must have been something internally wrong with that doe, and the death of this kit must have been a fluke...
Whatever the case, Mimi was bred back to the same buck today, and I'm hoping 31 days will improve my opinion of my bunnies!
Here's to hoping everything goes well with the next litter!
opcorn:
MamaSheepdog
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Aww.
Poor little guy.
I'm sorry you lost him after all the effort you put into him. It makes it so much harder when you are attached to them.
Don't give up on bunnies, though! There is lots of joy in them as well, and when you have a successful litter you wont ever look back.
Poor little guy.
I'm sorry you lost him after all the effort you put into him. It makes it so much harder when you are attached to them.
Don't give up on bunnies, though! There is lots of joy in them as well, and when you have a successful litter you wont ever look back.
AmysMacdog
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So sorry for your loss. I hope she'll give you a nice healthy litter this time.
I hope she'll give you a nice healthy litter this time.
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I'm so sorry he didn't make it! He was such an adorable little thing!
I sure hope the next litter goes well. :clover:
He was such an adorable little thing!I sure hope the next litter goes well. :clover:
Teddy2511
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Thank you everyone; I hope this litter goes better for both of us (me and the doe).
I'll keep you posted!
I'll keep you posted!
