When to become concerned about kits being fed?

[cnichols]

Just wondering how long I should wait to make sure the kits are being fed?

I checked the nest boxes this morning and the smaller litters seem to be well fed, but the mom who had 10/11 only appears to have about 1/2 of them fed. I don't want to jump the gun on fostering (would rather not have to if it can be avoided) but I don't want to loose any either.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Ivory]

If their tummies look empty and they look hungry I would foster them onto a smaller litter or remove the ones with the full tummies until the others have been fed.

 

[cnichols]

Thanks Ivory ...

When should I do this? It's been about 7 hours since I checked them today, should I go do it now or wait until the morning?

 

[Ivory]

Rabbits only feed their young once or twice every 24 hours, so I'd wait at least 12 hours from when you last checked them.

 

[AnnClaire]

How are they doing now? With larger litters, sometimes the doe or the kits themselves will seperate into 2 groups. The doe will feed one group in the morning and the other group in the evening, so removing the fed group overnight will help the doe get them straightened out as to who gets fed when

 

[cnichols]

Ann - The doe who had 10 lost 1 and the doe who had 9 lost 1.

We are down to 8, 7 & 9.

Keeping an eye on things daily. Hoping we don't loose any more!