Lost my first kit to cold last night

[Rammy]

Last year I decided to start breeding meat rabbits, specifically NZWs. I have a red NZ male, and two pedigreed NZs. One doe is a mix breed. I think she has some Californian in her.
The mixed bred doe I bred with my red buck and she had kits on Dec 23rd. Had 8 total. Lost one, I think, from being stepped on by Momma three days later. Totally unexpected, but it happens.
This morning I go out and find one of the larger kits out on the wire, cold. No blood in the nails yet so I had hope. After trying to warm it up and then seeing the blood start forming in the nails, I knew it was too late.
I know this happens, and being deligent in checking them frequently might have prevented this, but I guess I didnt check often enough.
Just sucks losing one doing so well and just turning a week old.
Just wanted to post about it cause it makes me sad.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

My sympathies - it's always hard losing a kit that survived the rigors of being born and seems to be thriving.

While I don't raise rabbits now, I did for a number of years, and I brought expecting does in to kindle in a heated area because of the risk of chilling...kits wander out of the box, they fail to detach from the teat before the doe jumps away and they get carried out, etc., and they can't get back in. They just get chilled so easily when young, and you can only check on them so often.

It sounds like you still have 6 healthy kits; if a bright side can be found, they should be well fed by Momma due to less competition, and hopefully grow like weeds. Best wishes!

 

[Rammy]

My sympathies - it's always hard losing a kit that survived the rigors of being born and seems to be thriving.

While I don't raise rabbits now, I did for a number of years, and I brought expecting does in to kindle in a heated area because of the risk of chilling...kits wander out of the box, they fail to detach from the teat before the doe jumps away and they get carried out, etc., and they can't get back in. They just get chilled so easily when young, and you can only check on them so often.

It sounds like you still have 6 healthy kits; if a bright side can be found, they should be well fed by Momma due to less competition, and hopefully grow like weeds. Best wishes!

I hope the rest do good. I dont really have an area to bring a rabbit into to keep them warm. Right now they are in the barn. I wish I could afford a heated storage barn like a friend of mine has. She raises Netherland Dwarfs. My fear on that is we get alot of power outages here so Id be worried the power would go out during the hottest time and then Id have heatstroked bunnies
Hopefully no one else gets out or gets cold. Wasnt a good way to start the new year! Thanks for the encouragement.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

I'm in KY, so our weather is probably somewhat similar...I stopped raising rabbits primarily because of the dangerous heat/humidity in summer. I had several breeds, but the NZs seemed to handle the sweltering heat better than other breeds. If only they could shed that thick fur in summer..!

I hope the rest of your year goes better...and that you'll share pics of your growing kits.

 

[BallyFarm]

@Rammy I completely understand how you feel! I just started breeding rabbits this year and bred bunnies in November and they were born on one of the coldest nights. The first mom had six babies and three were dead right away and then in the next few days the other three died for the cold. And my other doe kindled and she had two one died and the other I moved momma and baby into my basement. I bought two extra cages for when these sorta things happen. One thing that you can do is buy fleece and bundle that under your bunnies nest for more insulation. There is also kit cotton that you can buy that you can add to nest for extra warms. Just make sure you mix it with your bunnies fur. Do you have a picture of your hutch? Maybe there is away to make it more winter weather proof.

 

[Rammy]

@Rammy I completely understand how you feel! I just started breeding rabbits this year and bred bunnies in November and they were born on one of the coldest nights. The first mom had six babies and three were dead right away and then in the next few days the other three died for the cold. And my other doe kindled and she had two one died and the other I moved momma and baby into my basement. I bought two extra cages for when these sorta things happen. One thing that you can do is buy fleece and bundle that under your bunnies nest for more insulation. There is also kit cotton that you can buy that you can add to nest for extra warms. Just make sure you mix it with your bunnies fur. Do you have a picture of your hutch? Maybe there is away to make it more winter weather proof.

They are hanging babysaver wire cages. They have a nest box and its nice and toasty in there with the straw and fur. Somehow the baby got out of the box and was under the feeder. I think it didnt detach when it was feeding and got pulled out.
I have the cages in the barn out of the weather.

The white rabbit on the right is the momma. No, the cages arent hung good but when your doing it by yourself, its the best I could do.

This is a pic of the doe. The nest box is there behind her.

The proud daddy.

 

[chickens really]

They are hanging babysaver wire cages. They have a nest box and its nice and toasty in there with the straw and fur. Somehow the baby got out of the box and was under the feeder. I think it didnt detach when it was feeding and got pulled out.
I have the cages in the barn out of the weather.

View attachment 1992073
The white rabbit on the right is the momma. No, the cages arent hung good but when your doing it by yourself, its the best I could do.
View attachment 1992074
This is a pic of the doe. The nest box is there behind her.


View attachment 1992075

The proud daddy.

You definitely have a great set up..Poor Bunny..

 

[BallyFarm]

Your set up is beautiful! I don’t see any issues with your hanging! I’m guessing that is what happened! Good luck to your other babies though!

 

[Rammy]

Your set up is beautiful! I don’t see any issues with your hanging! I’m guessing that is what happened! Good luck to your other babies though!

Thanks. My issues with the hanging is when the buns are being energetic, the cages swing like crazy. It makes thier water bottles empty too fast and they spill thier food. Im going to either make a shelf system or take some 2 x 4s and nail to the rafters vertically and then fender washers to secure the cages to those for more stability. Id like to lower them a little more too so its not so hard taking them out.
Thank you for saying they look good like they are. Im always highly critical of everything I do so I always think I can do better.

 

[cluckmecoop7]