What Rabbits Do You Have? Show Off Your Rabbits Here!

[PrimroseMom1]

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Anyone know if there is anything I can do about this litter that was born yesterday evening? First time mamma holland lop gave birth to 4 small kits. One passed today, the rest look thin and weak. I don't think she's feeding them.

I'm contemplating taking one of my friends Hollands that have birth yesterday as well but none of the babies survived, they were horn outside overnight and it was too cold. What are the chances that doe will take on and care for these kits???[/quote

Some on here know if another rabbit will accept the kits. The other alternative is to hand feed them. There is no time to waste, really!! If she's not feeding get them out NOW. She will likely kill them. It's not hard to hand raise bec you only have to feed them every 12 hours. There was a detailed discussion on hand raising on this thread not too long ago, but if you can't find it, say so and we will repeat it. Get them out now. Put in a container with a heating pad on low and cover with a towel. I also put some hay on top with mother's fur that she pulled. Put the wire of the heating pad in a way that it can't get chewed later. Act quickly if she's not feeding. Their tummies should be full so they look like frogs.

 

[Bunnylady]

Anyone know if there is anything I can do about this litter that was born yesterday evening? First time mamma holland lop gave birth to 4 small kits. One passed today, the rest look thin and weak. I don't think she's feeding them.

I'm contemplating taking one of my friends Hollands that have birth yesterday as well but none of the babies survived, they were horn outside overnight and it was too cold. What are the chances that doe will take on and care for these kits???

The absolutely best thing would be to have a rabbit raise these kits. I have sometimes had to teach a doe to feed her own litter; that isn't always successful. If you have another doe you can foster the kits onto, that works fine. Rabbits can't count; I frequently rearrange litters and the does never seem to notice. If you do put the kits with another doe, putting them into her nest so they can pick up her scent would be best.

 

[PoultryPower]

Lynzi, sorry to hear about the problems your having with your litter. I'm having such a hard time with my Hollands. One is 5 days over due. This is the second time in a row, both of these the only times she's been successfully bred despite many attempts. I'm just waiting for her to pass the most likely now dead kit(s). Not sure what to do with this rabbit after this. She's not showable because her mom bit off her tail when she was a kit, she's not a good brood doe, and she's aggressive in her cage so I couldn't pet her out. Unfortunately I paid good money for this rabbit and she's from one of the top breeders in my state. Feels like such a waste to just cull her after all these months, but not sure of what else to do.

Not to get extremely graphic and heartless, but a couple days ago when I realized she was going to do this again, I was really tempted to butcher her and try to save the babies since I could still feel them moving. Is that even possible?

 

[Lynzi777]

Thank you all,
I've finally gotten all three that are left to nurse from the mother while I lay mom down on her back on my lap. I finally have three full bellies.

Should I not keep mom in the cage with them? I have them in a nest box and she seems to be leaving it alone. Is there any chance after me helping them to nurse from her that she'll see what I'm doing and take over herself?

 

[kacklinkelly]

Wow, great job!! I'm sorry I don't have any experience to offer. I am amazed at what you've already done.

 

[Lynzi777]

Lost another kit last night :-( not sure why.
However on a good note, I woke up this morning to two squirming full bellied kits! She must have fed them! Phew! Now I just gotta keep an eye on them to make sure she keeps it up!

 

[Animals970]

Hey everyone, I just wanted to get on here and say... If you have any Holland lops than go to my new thread 'Holland Lop Thread', it is on this same board.

<a href=https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/867259/holland-lop-thread</a>

 

[PrimroseMom1]

Lost another kit last night :-( not sure why.
However on a good note, I woke up this morning to two squirming full bellied kits! She must have fed them! Phew! Now I just gotta keep an eye on them to make sure she keeps it up!

Yes, watch closely. A poster on this thread recently had the last kit die when the mom urinated on it to kill it. It was a wacky mother like yours. The doe can turn on the kits. Also, my doe kicked my remaining kit out of the nest when she didn't have milk. With only one kit suckling, there wasn't enough stimulation to keep the milk flowing. Bec I was checking constantly, I could intervene in time. Just some thoughts.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Lynzi, curious as to which kit you lost? If you don't mind me asking...

 

[Lynzi777]

Lynzi, curious as to which kit you lost? If you don't mind me asking...

One of the pink ones in the picture above. I have a pink one left and a dark one. I had 4 born-2 light and 2 dark, like two sets of twins so I don't know exactly which one in the picture it was other than it being one of the lighter ones.

These are the two I have left:

Looks like maybe it was the one on the bottom up above that I lost?