babies!

[chickenchaps]

I finally got some babies! I have NZ white does and a Calif/NZ red buck.

One doe had 11 babies on Monday (or sunday night) day 31 (or late day 30).
My other doe just now had 2 HUGE babies last night thursday day 34.

Can doe one feed 11 babies ok? or can I put some of her babies with doe 2?

Being that they are so many days apart, would that be bad to do?
(and I cant do anything today, I have to leave for the day and be home late tonight, so if I moved any, it would be either late tonight or tomorrow)

Any advice appreciated! Thanks!

 

[oneacrefarm]

I finally got some babies! I have NZ white does and a Calif/NZ red buck.

One doe had 11 babies on Monday (or sunday night) day 31 (or late day 30).
My other doe just now had 2 HUGE babies last night thursday day 34.

Can doe one feed 11 babies ok? or can I put some of her babies with doe 2?

Being that they are so many days apart, would that be bad to do?
(and I cant do anything today, I have to leave for the day and be home late tonight, so if I moved any, it would be either late tonight or tomorrow)

Any advice appreciated! Thanks!

You could take the two or three smallest ones from the mom with 11 and foster them to the doe with two. That would certainly help even the load.

 

[Citylife]

I totally agree with oneacrefarm......... I have done it many times and it sure saves the first momma from over-load.
Congrats! on your new babies.

 

[AZ Rabbits]

8 is the optimal number in a litter. I'd foster over at least 3 babies to the mother who had 2.

 

[flemish lops]

I agree with the above, and congrats on the litters!

 

[chickenchaps]

Great! Thanks folks! There will be no concern of the foster mom harming the new additions? I am so worried she will hurt the new ones...

btw, how many teats does a rabbit have?

Want pictures? or seen one seen them all? I think they look so alien! lol

I appreciate the responses!

 

[brentr]

Large breed rabbit does usually have 8 teats, they run from right up under their front legs all the way down to their hind legs - four on each side.

Rabbits usually feed early morning and at dusk; I've had the best luck fostering kits into a litter by moving them right AFTER the morning feeding. That way all kits are fed, and momma won't be checking the nest for a while. Gives the new additions time to wriggle around with the existing kits and pick up/exchange scent, so when the momma comes back to feed in the evening, all is well.

Some people swear by the trick of rubbing a drop of vanilla extract on the doe's nose so that all she can smell is that scent for quite a while, and not anything new in the nest.

Since your kits are only a few days apart, you shouldn't have any troubles. The sooner the better, though.

 

[chickenchaps]

Ok, I moved 3 babies from Reeba and gave to Hops. Crossing fingers now that they will be ok.

Thanks for the advice!

Reeba's 11 babies

Hops' 2 Big babies

 

[TherapyBunnies]

So Cute

 

[Genipher]

I love all the different colors!

How has the fostering gone so far?