What exactly is the deal with combin. litters?

[Tbgb1912]

So basically, I want to know why it isn't 'right' to combine litters of different ages? Is it because of how a does milk changes over time, or the older kits would take all the milk?

I had a first time doe kindle 3 kits, with only one survivor. I've hand raised that wee fella, who is now 5 weeks old. My other doe had a litter of eight kits 3 weeks ago. Two died, so six are left. I've had all kits out playing with each other, eating together, cuddling up and sleeping together and the doe doesn't seem to mind about having the 5 week old buck with her little ones in their nest.

So why exactly is it not advised?

 

[Zass]

Kits with their eyes open often refuse to nurse from a doe they do not recognize as their mother.
Younger kits will drink from anything.
But often older kits in the nestbox will out-compete younger ones by simply pushing them off the teat.
So the younger ones might not get enough to drink.

And, sometimes does will attack older kits(anything over 2-3 weeks) that are not theirs so it can be risky.

I've had a doe take in a 4 week old kit that wasn't hers, but he never took milk from her, even though her litter was still nursing.

 

[akane]

Sometimes the doe doesn't like it, sometimes the kits don't like it....and various complications. It's less likely to work the farther apart they are in ages. I did have a doe that I gave everything to. She was pet quality but I bred her just because she had small litters and would keep alive any kit. At one point she had 3 different ages from starting to the leave the box to just a few days old and some were large breed, some were mini rex, and she was mini rex. Every kit made it. Sadly while in colony she got a bite by a violent buck who was later culled. The wound was hidden in the fur of her hindquarters and months of infection fighting and rehabilitation went on before she died.

 

[Tbgb1912]

So, basically it depends on the doe? This wee guy is obviously eating solids now, and probably weaned off his mother as she is due to kindle this weekend so her milk would have dried up?

The kits accept him, and my doe is extremely placid. She isn't pushing him away while they're eating together, and she's already protective of him when I have them running around the lounge and our kitten tries playing with him. :shrug: it's looking promising

 

[Zass]

Yeah, use your judgement, all rabbits are a bit different. I think that the best place for your hand raised kit would be with other kits that are slightly younger, if the doe doesn't mind.

It's just one of those things that tends to be recommended against because it would be really bad if someone told you it was fine, and then you had a kit get killed or maimed due to it.

I'm not saying that's going to happen, but it can with some does, so people are rightly hesitant to recommend it.

 

[Tbgb1912]

Yeah, use your judgement, all rabbits are a bit different. I think that the best place for your hand raised kit would be with other kits that are slightly younger, if the doe doesn't mind.

It's just one of those things that tends to be recommended against because it would be really bad if someone told you it was fine, and then you had a kit get killed or maimed due to it.

I'm not saying that's going to happen, but it can with some does, so people are rightly hesitant to recommend it.

I felt like he needed some company - bunnies he can kick his heels up with and clean. Normal bunny stuff
I will definitely keep an eye out for warning signs from the doe.