Sparing suffering (at least that's my intent)

[ladysown]

Had two litters born today.

Biscuit had her normal 14. I know that if I separate the litter into two bunches she can raise all fourteen as she feeds twice a day BUT she's my "space protective don't bug my babies" doe so I'd rather not do that in the winter. I know that without intervention she can raise 9. As it happened she had nine fat sassy kits and five quite small, not as sassy kits. I culled the five small ones.

Splash, who normally has six, decided to give me 12. yes indeedy...this seven pound doe threw out 12 kits. Her slightly bigger half-sister is raising 10 though one is struggling...so I figured she'd do well with nine (I hope). And once again it happened that three of the kits were on the smaller end and horribly marked so it made the decision easier.

I dislike culling kits, but I dislike more, the watching kits fade and die from lack of enough nourishment.

On the positive end...one of my snake guys is absolutely delighted as he just emailed asking if I'd lost any youngsters this winter yet.

So... do you cull kits that are over what you know your doe can handle?

 

[LeAnn24]

I have never had litters that big, but I don't see any issues with it. Culling out the weaker kits can only make a stronger over all litter, and if you have a buyer for them all the better.

 

[Dood]

Absolutely I cull excess kits at birth.

I only have a small rabbitry with 7 does and I know how many kits each of my girls can comfortably raise and cull or even out litters accordingly.

I don't believe in letting nature take it's course and allowing kits to slowly 'fade', or in compromising an entire litters health, or my does, by forcing her to feed too many mouths. I would rather provide a quick painless death then a slow drawn out one.

'Nature is cruel, but we don't have to be' Temple Grandin

 

[TerriG]

I haven't so far, but don't know what I would do. I won't allow suffering. I have a doe that just had 12. My other doe had 9, so it's not like I can foster so over to her. I am taking the kits out of the box and checking them daily. My plan was to split the litter and take 1/2 out at a time if needed. So far, everyone is doing great. I was actually shocked today to see everyone with full bellies and all a similar size. I don't know how she is doing it, but she is!

 

[mystang89]

If you know what your doe can handle and they have more than that then I would cull them. Give then to the snake guy and natures cycle can continue.

 

[fuzzy9]

I do cull kits too.......I can't stand to "watch and wait" while they dwindle away, and suffer.

 

[lissapell]

I have not, but I have not had to. If mom could not feed them all I honestly cant say what i would do.

 

[Mickey328]

We haven't started breeding yet, but in my mind a quick dispatch is way preferable to a slow death from starvation. It's practical too...why put the whole litter at risk when it seems the same end result is going to be reached? IMO, you're absolutely on the right track

 

[AnnClaire]

I have had kits born with cleft palettes and culled them immediately. Other than that, I will supplement feed any runts for a couple of days, then if they can hold their own in the nursing frenzy after that, they are kept, if not, they are culled. I also will balance larger litters to a foster doe with a smaller number. Other than that, I have not had to decide whether to cull larger litters yet.