MINI REX KINDLED 6 KITS! TWO ARE SMALL???

[DrakeMom]

My Mini Rex doe kindled last night/early this morning. I counted 4 kits but upon further investigation, I realized there were actually 6! And two of them were alot smaller than the other 4...

Back story: usually when I breed my rabbits, I leave them together till I see at least 3 fall-offs. This time I decided to try leaving them together for about half a month. I watched 2 fall-offs and counted 31 days from then. Halfway through the month I separated them. She wasn't even nesting at the 31st day. One week later she started nesting and a week after that(today) she kindled. So... what's y'alls thoughts? Why did she have 6 kits and two of them small? Usually she has 3 kits. She's had 4 litters previous to this.

One of the smallest kits☝︎

 

[JacinLarkwell]

It's likely two are just runty. They might be fine or they might not make it.

She likely didn't take the first two times, and that's why she was late

 

[DrakeMom]

It's likely two are just runty. They might be fine or they might not make it.

She likely didn't take the first two times, and that's why she was late

I sure hope they're just runts and make it. I had this whole theory in my head that maybe she got pregnant and then got pregnant again and kindled when the first pregnancy was to term and the second litter is just underdeveloped. I probably isn't even possible but I sounds cool lol.

I've heard of "peanut" babies from someone who raises Holland Lops but I don't know if that can occur with Mini Rexs. The "peanuts" apparently happen when a baby gets two of the dwarf gene for those of you that don't know.

 

[TwoCrows]

My Mini Rex doe kindled last night/early this morning. I counted 4 kits but upon further investigation, I realized there were actually 6! And two of them were alot smaller than the other 4...

Back story: usually when I breed my rabbits, I leave them together till I see at least 3 fall-offs. This time I decided to try leaving them together for about half a month. I watched 2 fall-offs and counted 31 days from then. Halfway through the month I separated them. She wasn't even nesting at the 31st day. One week later she started nesting and a week after that(today) she kindled. So... what's y'alls thoughts? Why did she have 6 kits and two of them small? Usually she has 3 kits. She's had 4 litters previous to this.View attachment 2744784
View attachment 2744786
One of the smallest kits☝︎

Oh how precious!!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I sure hope they're just runts and make it. I had this whole theory in my head that maybe she got pregnant and then got pregnant again and kindled when the first pregnancy was to term and the second litter is just underdeveloped. I probably isn't even possible but I sounds cool lol.

I've heard of "peanut" babies from someone who raises Holland Lops but I don't know if that can occur with Mini Rexs. The "peanuts" apparently happen when a baby gets two of the dwarf gene for those of you that don't know.

It's possible for a rabbit to have two pregnancies, but usually they have labor for each batch separately and the first litter is killed off because she knows she's pregnant and needs to conserve her milk for the ones not born yet.

 

[HorsesRMe123]

I sure hope they're just runts and make it. I had this whole theory in my head that maybe she got pregnant and then got pregnant again and kindled when the first pregnancy was to term and the second litter is just underdeveloped. I probably isn't even possible but I sounds cool lol.

I've heard of "peanut" babies from someone who raises Holland Lops but I don't know if that can occur with Mini Rexs. The "peanuts" apparently happen when a baby gets two of the dwarf gene for those of you that don't know.

Yeah those just look smaller like runts. They don’t look like peanuts to me, but Mini Rex can have peanuts. I don’t think they are though so that’s good! It’s always exciting when a litter is born. Congrats!

 

[MissE]

Definitely runts. Peanuts would be deformed.

Since there's only six total, she has a good chance of being able to feed everyone at the same time, so they likely will be ok.

I had a Silver Fox that would have huge litters, like 9-13. If I didn't have another doe that kindled a smaller litter at the same time that I could use as a foster, I would cull any runts. They just didn't stand a chance against the bigger littermates.

Congratulations on the new buns!

 

[LizzzyJo]

As a holland lop breeder, I would guess peanut. They are not always deformed. They normally die within a few days. I hope he's just a runt, though! You're such a great person for trying so hard for him!! I am interested in the double pregnancy idea... Good luck!

 

[DrakeMom]

Would y'all try to bottle feed it? I know there's those that will pry say its the survival of the fittest and weak rabbits need to be called but... I'm not of that theory. I'm just wondering if it would even have more than a 50% chance of living if I try to bottle feed it.

 

[HorsesRMe123]

Would y'all try to bottle feed it? I know there's those that will pry say its the survival of the fittest and weak rabbits need to be called but... I'm not of that theory. I'm just wondering if it would even have more than a 50% chance of living if I try to bottle feed it.

I had a runt in my litter just born today. Just hold mama and let the baby nurse. That’s what a lot of people do. That way they don’t have to have any competition.