Cold weather for new litter

[VickieB]

3 weeks ago a cold front came through. It got down to 8 degrees one night, and that was the night my rabbit kindled. We lost every baby. I found 4 shortly after birth, and while trying to revive them she gave birth to 2 more.

We have another cold spell coming in. It's not going to be quite as cold, but they are expecting it to get as low as 20 tonight. This morning I had a rabbit kindle and I'm thinking of bringing this litter in. I don't know what she's had yet. This is a first time mother and she's sticking close to the box.

What would you experienced breeders do? Leave them in the box with the mother and see if they make it, or keep them inside until the weather warms up again, taking them out 2x a day for a feeding?

 

[Beekissed]

I'd leave them with mom but maybe provide a heat source near the cage to warm the ambient temps in that locale~not too hot but just warm enough to keep the temps at a tolerable level for kindling. Once they are dry and installed in the nest lining, they should be warmed pretty well by Mom and each other, particularly after their first feeding.

 

[TherapyBunnies]

Some breeders in Oklahoma use heat lamps placed away far enough not to overheat the litter. I think I would bring the litter in. If possible, you could bring mom ( if she is not a thick woolen rabbit) in even if it is a carrier and put the nestbox up to the carrier then let her nurse a couple times a day. You could take them back out during the day. Even tomorrow night is suppose to be about 10 * higher for the low temp.

 

[Hens and Roos]

Hoping your litter is staying warm! Maybe bringing in Mom and litter would be possible. Sorry to hear about the other litter

 

[VickieB]

I brought the kits in. Everyone seems to be doing well. Mama feeds them well when I bring her in to see them. I leave her with them until she starts acting like she wants out. When I put her in last night, all of the babies were healthy and happy. When I pulled her out I found one dead kit. I'm wondering if she accidentally suffocated the kit. There was no sign of any trauma on it.

 

[P.O. in MO]

I have lost 2 kits shortly after kindle in different litters. One looked really emaciated when it was born and only lasted a day and the other one just died after a day or two. I think some are just born that are too weak to make it. Hope you don't lose any more. I know they make a nest box heater but I seemed to recall that they are pricey and somewhere I read that they didn't last too long. You said before that you were raising them on a porch so fire safety would be a major concern with anything you would use to provide heat. Heat lamps are pretty safe if they are well secured and can't fall and break but the smallest infrared bulb I have ever found is 250 watts and that would cost about 60 cents a day in electricity. They make a bulb for chicken brooders that are 125 watts so electricity cost would be half the infrared. I have no idea if light cycles would affect the nursing instincts of the mother or not. Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[VickieB]

I have an empty cage with my quail cages that I keep a 250 watt infrared bulb in for the quail. It keeps them warm and happy and busy laying eggs. The quail are not as cold hardy as the rabbits, so that is why they get the cage with the bulb. The rabbits are set up further down the patio. I don't have an empty cage to use in the same way. It really is the only way I would feel safe enough to leave a heat lamp. The cage keeps anything that could ignite away from the bulb.

I do keep several layers of plastic over the rabbit cages. I don't use the tarp because it doesn't let the light through, and I would hate to think of them being in the dark for long periods of time. The first layer gets holes chewed through it when they are able to reach it. That's why I have the several layers. The outer layer has no holes, and keeps the wind off of them. I have 25 rabbits total under the plastic. I'm hoping the body heat generated between them will help keep it warmer.

 

[Hens and Roos]

Sometimes the kits are pushed out of the way by the others and the doe might have suffocated it. Hope they continue to stay warm!

 

[Bitterroot]

I always bring kits in if it's below freezing. Rabbits only feed one or two times a day anyways. I make my morning coffee, then take nestboxes out and enjoy the morning while mommas jump in and get right to feeding little ones. Good luck!

 

[VickieB]

Actually, I bring the mom in to feed the kits. She doesn't seem to have a problem with it. She jumps in the nest box they are in and feeds them. When she's done she starts to acting fidgety. That's when I take her out. Once the kits have plenty hair on them I'll probably take them out to their box with the mom. I am so looking forward to spring... and winter has just started.