what to do with final kit?

[user 3861]

So both my does finally gave birth!

The first set got too hot and died. Bassically i knew she was pregnate but never checked her cage till late afternoon. By then they were dead.

The second set got too cold and only one is left. The second set is from a first time mother who showed no signs of being pregnant and apparently decided to build a nest after they were born this morning.

Now, i would like try to keep the remaining kit. However, I am pretty sure he will die soon no matter what. My reasoning is the giant slash on one of his legs. Its down to the muscle and was clearly bleeding at one time. Seems like a great beginning to a nasty infection.

So what should I do?

 

[Susie570]

You can treat the would with something like blue-kote and keep him in the house with a source of heat, like a heating pad (on low), making sure he can roll away from it if he gets to warm and see if you can bring him out to the doe for feedings, or if that doesn't work, hold the doe on your lap for feedings. If that still doesn't work, you can try bottle feeding, but the kits often don't survive it.

I'm sure others will offer experience and best of luck.

 

[katiebear]

If you are serious about breeding...cull the kit and start over..Clean the cages breed both does and give them mint sprigs for about 3-4 days to start the milk drying up..do this or you will loose your does mastitis is painful and deadly.
Mark the date on the calender, count out 28 days put a nest box and material for nesting in the cage for her, no later than day 28 I do it no later than day 25. Check pregnant does frequently, like three or four times a day, you never know what could happen, depending on your area you can have heat or cold issues or predator, or just stray dog issues all of which will stress out a doe. You also need to check frequently to be sure they have cool water and lots sf hay,and pellets or whatever you feed.
Rabbits are amazing they are programed to know what to do you just need to provide the means to do so.Some first timers get the order mixed up but will do perfectly on the next round.
If you are not serious about taking care of your does when pregnant or after kindling then do not breed them...But in any event right now your most pressing problem is getting these does dried up. And yes suzie is correct in her advice on the kit but be aware single kits rarely survive....
Just reread the post and relized that you said it was a bad wound..sorry old eyes...Dood is right if it is deep you will loose him anyway,cull it...

 

[Dood]

Cull the kit

I would never put blu-kote on such a deep wound - the poor thing might die from shock due to the pain

Blu-Kote is 30% alchohol and recommended for minor skin abrasions and fungal infections - Not burns, puncture or deep/muscle wounds - http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/dr ... 09a182f969

 

[Susie570]

Cull the kit

I would never put blu-kote on such a deep wound - the poor thing might die from shock due to the pain

Blu-Kote is 30% alchohol and recommended for minor skin abrasions and fungal infections - Not burns, puncture or deep/muscle wounds - http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/dr ... 09a182f969

Please listen to Dood, he's far more familiar with this stuff than I am. I had no idea Blu-Kote was alcohol based, I've just seen it highly recommended for rabbit wounds. :/

 

[user 3861]

Blu-Kote is 30% alchohol

...ouch.

Mark the date on the calender, count out 28 days put a nest box and material for nesting in the cage for her, no later than day 28 I do it no later than day 25. Check pregnant does frequently, like three or four times a day, you never know what could happen, depending on your area you can have heat or cold issues or predator, or just stray dog issues all of which will stress out a doe. You also need to check frequently to be sure they have cool water and lots sf hay,and pellets or whatever you feed.

yep, did all that with the older doe. had i checked more frequently or earlier her kits would likely still be alive. as for the young doe, i dont recall either buck "finishing" with her. so i assumed she never got bred. she also acted entirely normal up until she gave birth. the older doe is pretty obvious. she stops eating food/oats, but devours her hay. covers the entire cage with hay, weather there is a next box or not. when box is in, she spends all her time one it, not in or besides it. the old doe makes it nice and easy.

If you are not serious about taking care of your does when pregnant or after kindling then do not breed them...But in any event right now your most pressing problem is getting these does dried up. And yes suzie is correct in her advice on the kit but be aware single kits rarely survive....

I am really not sure I want to do any more breeding. I want to have kits throughout the summer, yet the metal shed I have is already showing to be very stressful on the adults. Their getting overheated at 80 degrees and sense we often get 95+ weather in the summer, I am thinking it may be best to just cull the herd. Using bottles of ice and a fan seem to be helping. but I assume they will fail when the temperature hits 100. If I can get them to survive till august they may be ok sense I should have my own house by then. the land lord will not allow me to raise them here so the shed they are in is in on my neighbor’s property in direct sun light and so small I can almost reach all 4 sides by stretching my arms out. It was great for winter, but will suck in the heat of summer.

 

[Nyctra]

Not saying an oven in the sun is a great place, but - overheated at 80? :shock: Are you sure about that? Overheated buns tend to drool, but uncomfortably warm buns may breathe harder and lounge around more. They may still be acclimating to warmer weather.

As for kit wounds...I've had kits get gashed open, but the hair in the nest always acted like glue. The fur always sealed it shut and the kits were fine. :? I was curious about them, so I didn't just do them off.

 

[Zass]

Is there any way to shade that metal shed??? I have several layers of tarp shading my rabbitry right now, as I wait for the trees to leaf out.

 

[katiebear]

I want to have kits throughout the summer, yet the metal shed I have is already showing to be very stressful on the adults. Their getting overheated at 80 degrees and sense we often get 95+ weather in the summer, I am thinking it may be best to just cull the herd. Using bottles of ice and a fan seem to be helping. but I assume they will fail when the temperature hits 100. If I can get them to survive till august they may be ok sense I should have my own house by then. the land lord will not allow me to raise them here so the shed they are in is in on my neighbor’s property in direct sun light and so small I can almost reach all 4 sides by stretching my arms out. It was great for winter, but will suck in the heat of summer.

I am in Arizona...It gets hot here.I never breed in summer my last litters are born in May and no more breeding until October or November. Your Bucks should be heat sterile so will be shooting blanks, and you can loose does to overheating. I have been pregnant in the summer heat and it is not fun at all,I would not do that to an animal...
Yeah that shed is an oven, rabbits need air flow lots of air flow. You can try a misting system inside the shed. And coating the roof with foam insulation, insulation is kind of expensive though.you can put cooler pads and a drip hose up on the roof, that works too. There are some DYI air conditioners on you tube you can try one of those.

As for kit wounds...I've had kits get gashed open, but the hair in the nest always acted like glue. The fur always sealed it shut and the kits were fine. :? I was curious about them, so I didn't just do them off.

My concern with the kit is that as an only he wont be able to regulate his temperature and with his energy going toward healing...will he make it???don't know, Is it worth a shot?Kits do heal remarkably well and quickly in most cases but..you have to make that call...each of us does what we feel is in the best interest of our animals....