New Rabbit babies not warm enough

[KHoward]

Hi,

I had a doe kindle last night and she made a decent nest but the babies were not really covered and close to death (it's 24 out right now). In an effort to save the 10 kits, I put them in the incubator to get their body temps up. Which seems to be working for 8 of 10.

My question is: Now what? I don't have another doe to put them with and I do not have the time/availability to hand feed them.

Thanks!

 

[Wickedchicken6]

Hi,

I had a doe kindle last night and she made a decent nest but the babies were not really covered and close to death (it's 24 out right now). In an effort to save the 10 kits, I put them in the incubator to get their body temps up. Which seems to be working for 8 of 10.

My question is: Now what? I don't have another doe to put them with and I do not have the time/availability to hand feed them.

Thanks!

Is she still taking them? Would she take them if you move the nest and her inside or to a warmer spot, like a kennel in a garage?

 

[KHoward]

My garage isn't heated so I don't know if that would help.

They are now up to temp and full of life. I lost 3.

I pulled as much fur from the nesting box as I could to put it on them. The nesting box is in the house right now but I will need to put it outside at some point.

 

[Athena2344]

What all is in her nest? List everything she used

 

[Athena2344]

What all is in her nest? List everything she used

 

[Wickedchicken6]

My garage isn't heated so I don't know if that would help. Some of them have milk in their bellies so I think she fed them once. They aren't up to normal temp yet (i just found them an hour ago) so I haven't tried to put them back into the nesting box to see what will happen.

That's encouraging. I see someone else on the forum is dealing with kits that are not being taken.

Is your doe a new mom?

 

[KHoward]

1) Yes, the Doe is a first time mom.
2) She used straw and made a hole in the back of the nesting box where the kits were, and she pulled fur but it was scattered throughout the box. That's all she used. (I collected the fur and lined the hole and put most of it on top of them.

Is there something else I can use for warmth for them?

 

[Athena2344]

With my does nesting box, i put shavings on the bottom almost up to the lip of the box, i then offered her strips of on old sock which she arranged as well as timothy hay, she thenn added her hair two days before she gave birth, adding more afterwards. she had five kits last tuesday, all five are growing like weeds, and 3 opened their eyes as of last night. I dont think she felt comfortable enough in her box

 

[Tale of Tails Rabbitry]

It sounds like the real problem is keeping them warm and the doe will feed them when you return them to her. If you feel that they cannot stay warm enough, you may consider keeping the kindle inside and taking them out to the doe about twice a day at least until their eyes are open or a few days afterward. About that time they usually have enough fur and mobility to huddle together for warmth, possibly bringing them in on colder nights, if necessary. This is far less labor intensive than hand feeding them all and it sounds that feeding them probably would not be necessary.

I use warming pads in my cages and under nesting boxes, even though I am in the Southeast where winters are less severe and shorter, but this winter has been hard even on us. Some people just do not breed rabbits in the winter.

 

[twisted-acres-farm]

maybe a heating pad under the box and make sure doe can't nibble the cord