Doe kindled day 40!

Vconmy · Apr 16, 2014

Hello! I am a fairly new rabbit owner. I have a german angora and she just kindled 40 days after I bred her. Has anyone heard of that before? She had no access to my make after I bred her. I assumed when she was a week late that she wasn't having babies. I removed the nesting box. Then I let her out for some hop about time and low and behold she dug a hole and made a nest and kindled that day. There were 9 in her litter but 1 didn't make it. They are big too. I am worried that they all may not be getting enough milk. Has anyone tried holding the doe down and placing babies on her to nurse? They were born 3 days ago and I have seen her nurse. But some that were at the bottom of the nest don't seem to have gotten their fair share. I made a new nest for her where they can all reach her better. I would love any advice.

Miss M · Apr 16, 2014

I had a doe kindle on day 41 once. Of 7 kits, only two were born alive. One of those died at 13 days, having not grown at all (got fur in, and we supplemented with formula, but something was just wrong). So one survivor.

I have had to hold a doe in the nestbox to get her to feed her babies for the first few days. Basically just make it so she can't get out, and can't move too much, either.

I have not had luck with turning the doe over and putting the babies on her. Some have been able to do that, but I just end up with flying babies.

Sounds like you're doing what you can. If she's staying in for a few minutes, she's doing what she can. If you have babies not getting fed, you may want to let them have a feeding all to themselves, or supplement, perhaps.

kbhunnybunny · Apr 16, 2014

Congrats on the day 40 with survivors!!! I wasn't so lucky :-( I have rebred and am now on day 18

Not sure if both does took, but I am pretty sure one did. Good luck with the babies...I didn't have much luck with formula feeding, so I just let the doe do her best.

skysthelimit · Apr 16, 2014

I've had no success with turning does over either. The doe is agitated and doesn't let milk down. Holding in the box has been the best option for me. Supplement the does feed to help milk production as well.

Congrats

My latest litter so far has been day 36.

OneAcreFarm · Apr 16, 2014

Sit with your legs slightly apart and drape a towel over your legs. Put the kits in the hollow of the towel between your legs and set the doe on your lap, over the kits. This allows you to hold her, and it is a much more natural position for her to nurse in.

MaggieJ · Apr 16, 2014

If they are not being fed, then I would try One Acre Farm's suggestion, but you need to know that one rarely sees a doe nurse her young. Some nurse once a day, some twice... but most prefer privacy and since it only takes a very few minutes it is easy to miss the event.

We have a "sticky" showing pictures of fed and unfed kits. Take a look at it and then examine the kits one by one. It should give you a better picture of what is happening - or not happening.
fed-vs-unfed-kit-pictures-t3052.html