Ebers kindling thread

[promiseacres]

Next time give them a separate litter box a few days before they get their nest box. And if you see that they are hanging out in the boxes too much remove the boxes and only allow them to have them twice a day for 10 minutes. That's all the more the kits will need to nurse. A smaller nest box may help too. Sometimes its just the first time they have issues.
I would rebreed in 2, 3 days.

 

[Ebers]

Next time give them a separate litter box a few days before they get their nest box. And if you see that they are hanging out in the boxes too much remove the boxes and only allow them to have them twice a day for 10 minutes. That's all the more the kits will need to nurse. A smaller nest box may help too. Sometimes its just the first time they have issues.
I would rebreed in 2, 3 days.

Thanks I'll definitely try that!!!

 

[Ebers]

I re-bred the 2 does that lost their babies, fancy & elsa.... also bred thumpelina so I know I'll at least get 1 litter outa the 3... thump is a great momma, I think I'll keep a lil doe outa her to raise for a breeder

 

[Ebers]

I've got a new litter of 9 cali/NZW cross babies & I seriously knelt down & prayed over those baby rabbits so if it's God's will these will survive... I'm tired of telln my kids the baby rabbits died, it hurts my heart to see them sad plus it's hard to see something you put time & energy into wither away like that

 

[Bunnylady]

I hear you. I have had people tell me that they wanted to breed a pair of rabbits "so my children can experience the miracle of birth," and I soooo want to respond, "do you think they are ready for the tragedy of death?"

The kids do get used to it, though I wonder what larger ramifications a lesson like that may have for them. Ah, well, it is what it is. A couple of days ago, a neighbor brought us a baby cottontail that he had taken away from his cat. My daughter took charge of it, tucked it into a cage with hay and water and brought it grass and other greens from the yard. She even put it in the hall closet, where it could rest undisturbed. It didn't make it, but she knew that was the likeliest outcome (cat bites are nasty things; if the shock doesn't get them, infection often does). I think I may have been sadder about the death than she was. We gave him a chance, even though we knew it was a slim one, and she seemed satisfied with that.

Congrats on your new litter, and wishing you the best of luck with them!

 

[Latestarter]

Really hope these make it for you.

 

[Ebers]

The kids are pretty used to critters dying... we occasionally lose a chicken, rabbit, baby chicks or something like that but it don't seem to make it much easier... they still love animals all the same

 

[Ebers]

Is there anything I can do to encourage the my doe to take care of her babies? They're 1.5 days old & they're still very active but they don't have the lil fat round bellies yet

 

[Ebers]

Ok... I wasn't really excited about it but I held my doe down & my wife let the kits nurse that way... it seemed to work ok but it's gonna be a lot of work nursing them by hand

 

[promiseacres]

Give her some time, it may take a couple days for her milk to really come in good.