Kelly, first time kindles only work sometimes. It's mostly a temperament thing, but most rabbitries find that 1/3rd to 2/3rds of first litters fail no matter what you do. It's something you get used to after a while, though failed litters always suck. I have had a few good first time moms, and a few that had really bad first litters. Regardless they all went on to become good moms by the third litter! (I have a third strike you're out rule on my rabbits. Three badly failed litters in a row is a cull.) I find that with first time moms, watching them close helps. One of my best moms had her first litter on the wire after building a nest... I found the kits right after they were all born, cleaned and fed... Put them all in the nest and she raised them out just fine. A lot of first time moms accidentally pull kits out of the nest and I find that to be the biggest cause of deaths in my first litters. They tend to be nervous and confused and in and out of the nest box a lot. Sometimes that nervous confusions leads to completely botched litters with half-eaten kits or unfed kits or the like. Had a few of those too.
These are the four kits she had! They're all doing well.... The top kit was out of the nest when I checked on them the morning after and so had to come in to warm up for a few minutes. (First time moms and all that.) It's doing quite well now! I have been checking 3X's a day and no more kits out of the nest since, kits are always covered up and fed and warm! They're now just starting to get their fur in but I can't tell what colors they are yet... Just black, or somewhat mottled like their mom. It'll be a few days yet and then I'll post more photos!
In the meantime, have a photo of Cana, one of my first-time moms with her litter of seven at three weeks! These bunnies are now five weeks and will be weaning soon and then the does will be going to new homes!
These are the four kits she had! They're all doing well.... The top kit was out of the nest when I checked on them the morning after and so had to come in to warm up for a few minutes. (First time moms and all that.) It's doing quite well now! I have been checking 3X's a day and no more kits out of the nest since, kits are always covered up and fed and warm! They're now just starting to get their fur in but I can't tell what colors they are yet... Just black, or somewhat mottled like their mom. It'll be a few days yet and then I'll post more photos!
In the meantime, have a photo of Cana, one of my first-time moms with her litter of seven at three weeks! These bunnies are now five weeks and will be weaning soon and then the does will be going to new homes!
. She's about 2 1/2 months old 
