Beekeeper10
Well-known member
I am not sure if this is in the right section. I might should have put it in Rabbit Care.
Both litters are now 6 days old. The Cali litter is doing great, all seven are growing fast and are all about the same size.
The Dutch X Cali litter is having some problems. I found one of the six dead under a lot of hay and fur this afternoon. Of the remaining five, two are half the size of the other three and the two small ones seem weak.
I think the problem is there is too much hay and fur in the nest box and the weaker ones can't crawl up and through all the hay and fur to nurse. I took about 1/3 of the bedding out and tried to mash and firm up the bedding so the weaker ones don't get bogged down underneath the bedding. The doe pushes so much hay and fur over them to cover them up that the weak ones are having trouble getting out to nurse. I think I am going go back out and check them and if she has covered them back up with a lot of hay, I am going to take some more hay out. If she was just covering them with fur they could get on top to nurse. She has been pushing about two to three inches of hay and fur on top of them. I am also wondering about taking out the three big ones and just leaving the two weak ones in tonight. It is only supposed to get down to about 55 degrees here tonight. I would appreciate any suggestions.
Here are some pics.
Both litters are now 6 days old. The Cali litter is doing great, all seven are growing fast and are all about the same size.
The Dutch X Cali litter is having some problems. I found one of the six dead under a lot of hay and fur this afternoon. Of the remaining five, two are half the size of the other three and the two small ones seem weak.
I think the problem is there is too much hay and fur in the nest box and the weaker ones can't crawl up and through all the hay and fur to nurse. I took about 1/3 of the bedding out and tried to mash and firm up the bedding so the weaker ones don't get bogged down underneath the bedding. The doe pushes so much hay and fur over them to cover them up that the weak ones are having trouble getting out to nurse. I think I am going go back out and check them and if she has covered them back up with a lot of hay, I am going to take some more hay out. If she was just covering them with fur they could get on top to nurse. She has been pushing about two to three inches of hay and fur on top of them. I am also wondering about taking out the three big ones and just leaving the two weak ones in tonight. It is only supposed to get down to about 55 degrees here tonight. I would appreciate any suggestions.
Here are some pics.