doe is kindling on the wire

[Ebers]

I read somewhere that they sometimes eat the kits out of nervousness, they said it's a survival instinct because they know they can always have another litter if they survive or that she possibly confused it with placenta that she was eating but the nervous theory wd make sense to me because she was very vocal & whiny when I checked on her. After talking with the guy I got her from he said "oh yeah I think that's how she lost her 1st litter... she ate them" that was something he conveniently left out when I bought her lol.
He hadn't bred her since last spring because he raises his buns outdoors, I've got em inside in an insulated climate controlled room do you think if I breed her right back say when the kits are 2-4 wks old she'll have a better chance of remembering what to do? It really seemed like she was unsure of what was goin on

 

[samssimonsays]

It could have also already been dead. They will usually do that then too. Mine never did until one day I found only a head in the food dish I could have gone without THAT for sure! That rabbit really liked to play tricks on me

 

[Ebers]

That's all I found too was a head it was pretty gross

 

[Ebers]

I've raised rabbits off & on all my life but yesterday was the 1st time I'd ever had anything like that happen... my doe seemed super stressed by the whole experience but she's bk to normal as far as I can tell

 

[samssimonsays]

Yes, it is pretty gross...

It is funny because I have a pretty strong stomach. Always have. I can handle a lot but the 2 times that I have ever gagged with the rabbits was when I thought she hadn't cleaned up a placenta and when I grabbed the glob, it was hard. I should have never looked but I did. Was about 5 heads of babies. She had 10 in the nest alive and well. G-R-O-S-S! Then there was the one who left the head in her food dish. I can handle half eaten babies, dead babies and even legs left but there is something about the head that gets me.
I am glad the rest are doing well and hopefully she continues to do well

 

[Pastor Dave]

After talking with the guy I got her from he said "oh yeah I think that's how she lost her 1st litter... she ate them" that was something he conveniently left out when I bought her lol.

Now if you decide to sell a Sr. buck or Sr. doe for whatever the reason, you know to remain reputable you need to be honest and upfront about habits and "defects". If you ever buy off that breeder again, you will question what kind of stock you're getting and what he might be hiding or holding back. That is not a good way to interact with folks getting started or otherwise. Of course if I need to cull a particular rabbit, and no one wants to buy it or even take it, mine go in the crock pot.

 

[Ebers]

I appreciate all the help & advice I wanted to post a pic of the kits

 

[Goatgirl47]

Awww, they're cute!

Sorry about the two you lost...

 

[Ebers]

Awww, they're cute!

Sorry about the two you lost...

It's ok I don't like it but that's just part of raising critters

 

[Hens and Roos]

congrats on the kits!