Too many Kits...need suggestions!

[sammysue63]

We are now up to breeding 3 does per weeks. Today is kindle day and as expected I checked the nest boxes and 2 of the 3 had already kindled, I am pretty sure the third will kindle today or over night tonight she is hauling around the straw mustache. The first doe I check had her third litter and had 15 kits some are pretty small but seem healthy although I am sure they will not make it unless I foster some, the most our does have raised so far is 11. I checked doe number 2 and she had 9 healthy kits, but this is a first time doe so I don't really want to overwelm her. So do I take 2 of the larger kits from the 15 litter and put them on with the 9 or do i wait and see what the 3rd doe does, she has had two small litters in the past and is a great foster mom but she did had a litter of 13 once so I am not sure what to expect.
Any suggestions? :?

 

[ladysown]

divide the 15 into two groups. One gets fed in the a.m., the other gets fed in the p.m.

If desired, pull some from doe 2, but if she's a meat doe, should be able to handle one kits.

 

[sammysue63]

For some reason I never seem to think about doubling up on the feedings and yes they are meat rabbits so I may lighten the load by moving one.
Thank you ladysown.

 

[MaggieJ]

I'd wait, if the third doe is expected to kindle soon. A lot less work if you can just foster a few kits over and not have to juggle feedings. Ladysown's idea is a good one if the third doe turns out to have a large litter as well, but it does mean more work.

 

[sammysue63]

Going to check now and see how things are going. I usually wait 24 hours to make sure they get they get the Colostrums that they need.

 

[OneAcreFarm]

Going to check now and see how things are going. I usually wait 24 hours to make sure they get they get the Colostrums that they need.

I could be wrong, but I don't think rabbits have colostrum....anyone?

 

[akane]

http://www.2ndchance.info/bunnies-coates.pdf

Samples of colostrum were taken
within 24 h of the birth of the litter.

I was told though that sometimes they don't get the first feeding for up to 48hrs later. I had one doe who waited that long before feeding her litter normally after that.

 

[sammysue63]

Ok so waiting for the colostrum theory is out because 48 hrs seems like a long time to wait.
Doe number 3 is not going to help, she had a litter of 12.
I separated the 15 and added one off the 12 to make it 8 and 8.
Now I need to know how often or when would be the best times to switch the boxes, and should I leave one box in or take them both out?
I obviously have never done this before so any and all help is appreciated.

 

[ladysown]

depends on how you want to do it.

you can put one in overnight and remove first thing in the morning, and put the other one in.

OR you can leave both out and simply rotate who goes in when.

NOW MIND YOU.. 90% of my does nurse twice a day usually about 12 hours apart. So this works REALLY well for me (on the odd time I've done it). I simply do a "group a" goes in at 11 p.m. and comes out at 6/7 a.m., and "group b" goes in until 11 p.m. They've always been fed.

 

[sammysue63]

That is great thank you very much. How long do you continue to switch out the boxes? We usually wean at 6 wks but I know they don't feed the kits for that long. They start coming out of the box at 2-3 wks is that when you stop switching them out?
Sorry I don't mean to be annoying I'm just really am uneducated when it comes to this.

 

[fuzzy9]

Wow! I want to know what you are feeding, that you are getting such large litters! It's gotta be something in your water! :lol: The most I've had is 11, and that was only once.

I really hope everything works out for you, and the kits!!

 

[ladysown]

once they hit two-three weeks they can all be put in with mom together. They should be starting to eat solid food by then. To help.. introduce them to hay and oatmeal fairly early. I tip my boxes when their eyes open and remove at two weeks. Gets them going sooner.

 

[Legacy]

All that switching would drive me nuts. I would totally lose track. If it were me, I think I would let the mommas raise 12, 12, & 13 respectively and hope for the best. The kits would have a lot better chance of survival than depending on my brain to remember who needed to eat when.

I hope everything works out for you. My rabbits are due any day now. I have 3 that have puller fur and 3 more that seem to be nesting. I haven't had any babies since June. I am so excited I can't stand it.

 

[akane]

It's not that hard. Slide all boxes you have out in to a cage and remove the boxes that are in those cages. In the evening do it again. You don't have to keep track of anything except that you replaced the correct number of boxes. If you don't have predator or weather issues you can even just leave the box on top of the cage you plan to switch it in and out of then just go down the line twice a day.

 

[sammysue63]

Thank you Ladysown for your knowledge and patience, my hubby works afternoons so he is going to switch them out around 1 in the morning and I will do the afternoon switch so it should work out ok.
Fuzzy9 I woiuld like to think it is our knowlede and experince :lamo: but you're right it has to be the water :lol:
Thanks everyone for the help I will keep you posted on the progress. If anyone thinks of anything else please let me know. inkbunny: inkbunny: inkbunny:<br /><br />__________ Sat Oct 15, 2011 4:35 pm __________<br /><br />Just an update.
Switched out the nest boxes at 1pm and it looked like they were all fed and healthy.

Hubby went to switch out the boxes again at 1am, but they didn't have the nice round bellies, it looked like she hadn't fed them yet so didn't switch the boxes and left that one in for the am feeding.

Checked again around 11am and it still didn't look as though they had been fed and some were starting to look pretty skinny. I got worried and split them up 12, 12, and 12 and put the first nest box in that she had fed originally, I thought maybe she didn't like the second nest box even though we had tried to pack it down good like she did and divided her fur between the two boxes. Anyway that was yesterday, today one of the little ones from the original 15 litter did not make it. I had expected that and I think there are 2 more that are on the iffy side only because they are very small. The other 2 litters that now have 12 in them look to be very healthy and well fed.

I was told today that "it is the part of the business and you can't save them all."
My answer was "maybe not but I can try".

 

[MaggieJ]

I think most people try to save them... but we also learn to be philosophical when it doesn't work. Sounds like you are doing a great job. :goodjob:

 

[Jack]

Stuffed and slow poached, on a stick (actually this is true- church(catholic) labeled it 'fish' and it was considered a easter - ash week treat)

 

[MaggieJ]

You're right, Jack. Weird, eh? Talk about splitting hares. I mean, hairs.

 

[sammysue63]

Thank you