bad doe second time around.

Bunnylady

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Just a word of caution - does can kill themselves by being too good a mom. Over the years, I have had a few does that died, apparently in convulsions, when their litters were about 3 weeks old. In each case, they had large litters that were growing like weeds. I finally got a hint about what might be going on when I was moving a Netherland Dwarf doe with half a dozen babies to a larger cage and realized that she was trembling, and not with fear. The only thing that made any real sense was calcium deficiency. Long story short, I weaned her litter (had to; it might be hard for them, but it was life or death for her) and started her on a mineral supplement. Within a few days, the shaking stopped, and she seemed brighter. She made a full recovery. Ever since then, I have made a point of giving a little extra calcium to any doe whose babies seem to be doing too well. I think it has helped - haven't lost any other does that way, at least.

If Alfalfa was with the buck when this litter were born, chances are good that she's pregnant again. Doing as well as she is with this litter, she may be at risk; I'd say the Calf Manna would be an excellent idea for her.
 

Lowstorm

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Yup, it's on my list, along with the supplies to help feed too. And thank you for reminding me. Mineral blocks!!!

Amazingly the does aren't doing back to back litters. If they had, these babies would have been born a month ago. They had the frozen litter in mid December. Thmy had these litters Feb 17th. And they've been housed with him since June when I brought them home. I had to do a lot of research before I did it, and I really am glad I'm doing colony style. I know it's against the norm, but the way they interact tells me they're happy with it too. And now that they've been in a giant hutch since August I know the pros and cons of my current set up. Hence them moving into a shed soon. Can't wait! I can make a post about it too, but 6-7 months isn't a success yet.

The biggest con so far is my lack of construction ability lol. 40+ lbs of bunny is what I should have constructed for, I built the cages in a standard way. Yup, wires falling apart. I've had to reinforce the bottom in so many places. Ugh! The second it gets warm enough the shed is going under construction.
 

Pastor Dave

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I give a tsp of Calf Mana to my breeders everyday when I give them a tsp of BOSS.
My lactating does and does ready to kindle get a Tb of Calf Mana. My grow-out pens also get a Tb daily. If I have any Jr's growing out to a year old, they get a Tb.
It helps with their appetite some too, and they generally eat their daily alfalfa pellet ration pretty well.
 

Lowstorm

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We have eyes!!!!

She will only eat the calf Mana when I sprinkle it in the hay of the nest box, she doesn't like to eat it out of a dish I got just for it lol. Stubborn girl.

The ones that fell behind growth wise are still smaller, but not nearly as bad. And boy, are they active! Jumping around when I uncover the nest. Clover goes in and tends them right along side Alfalfa. I don't think she's trying to feed them, and Alfalfa lets her in. Crazy bunnies.
 
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