Any Thoughts??

[anthonyjames]

I know this is not chicken but it is meat related..

So this is my second time breeding a doe that I have. First time she ate her kits. This time she made her nest kept it for 3 days perfect. Last night she commenced to eating her nest.

This AM I came out and there were 10 kits in the bottom. So I got some hay and nest filler mixed it together put the nest box back in the cage. I went in the house to get water and when I returned she was ripping the nest apart by eating it and pulled a kit out and started eating it.

Questions that I have are other rabbits due to deliver this week but not until the end of the week and with 9 kits I am unsure how to present them back to the mother or keep them alive until the others have theirs and try to spread them out.

I pulled the nest box out and kept it filled with the hay and filler to keep them warm. So if I present them back to the doe do I pull all of that stuff out and put the box in and watch?

And how many times do I try to present them back as I work all day and I am assuming I have to stay with her so she doesn't try to kill them.

I am pretty sure that if I can't get these rabbits back with her she will be dispatched and I will keep one or two of my kits that were just weaned and are growing right now to replace. I currently have about 30 to choose from not to mention what is coming due. Potentially another 30 - 40 kits

Any thoughts or recommendations?

 

[CoopCrazy]

Sadly I have had a few does that did this everytime.. ( They got three chances, then the chop) .. I personally was never able to break one of it and sadly did not have any luck with the other kits as well... If i were you i would take some of foster mamas fur and rub on the babies before presenting them to her, she may just let them nurse.. The only issue i could see would be if she gave didnt have enough teats to care for them all .. Let us know what happens and good luck

 

[anthonyjames]

So is it safe to assume that these babies are destined to die as well? Seeing as none of the other rabbits will have theirs until at least Friday.

I know this is going to sound crazy and I can't believe I am even going to ask because I believe in nature running it's course but, is there a way to bottle feed them until other kits arrive with other rabbits? And if so what would I feed them? And what size bottle?

Just seems a sad waste to loose another 10 kits from this one making that 20 total in 6 weeks. And to me I see $$ signs of money lost.

 

[CoopCrazy]

I have seen and heard of folks using raw goats milk and tube feeding... BUt it seems like it would be very time consuming and tedious..

 

[anthonyjames]

Well just an update. Pulled out all the hay and filler. Petted the doe to get some of her fur and rubbed it on kits. Put in nest box and watched. She commenced to pulling fur and making a nest and all seems to be good.

I am wondering if when I came out this AM she just got done cleaning them and messed everything up.

Maybe timing or maybe luck. But seems the 9 kit I was expecting the worse of will make it.