a few weaning questions!

[bhoffman]

So, my kits turned six weeks old yesterday and today. All still with their mommas, and I am also prepared to keep them in as long as needed. Usually by morning their water bottles are empty of course. THe water bottles are big ones. Anyways, when I put the bottle in, of course they are all fighting to get at the water (I put two for each hutch with kits).

A few questions for all you breeders.

1. What age do your kits normally wean?
2. What are the clues/signs that you watch for to tell you that your kits have started weaning or are finished weaning?
3. Is there a way to tell on momma bun that she has started weaning or has finished weaning.

I am so sorry for all the questions. I just want to be sure that I do not remove any kits before they are ready to be removed! They are all quite a nice size.. well , most anyways. Some are smaller than others.

Any advice would be awesome!! I just want to get some opinions so that I can try a few different things until I find what works best for us.

Brianne

 

[woahlookitsme]

1. As far as weaning in nursing terms they are eating solids by 4 weeks and done nursing from mom around 5-6 weeks. Some really nice moms will even still be nursing them at 6 or 7 weeks LOL. As far as removing them from mommas cage. We leave mom in her cage and will start taking babies away at 10weeks. Sometimes (especially if its a small litter) we won't take them out till after 12 weeks. This is partly because of cage space also. Sometimes when we have litters we don't have enough room so I have to wait until I sell some or we move some rabbits around. I always try to keep siblings together when first taking them away from mom and putting them in a new cage. This helps them gain confidence I feel when they can experience something new with their siblings. Then I eventually split up boys and girls. Sometimes ill even just move the boys out together and keep mom and daughters together

2. I don't really watch for clues. We mostly watch by age. Mom will almost always take car of it by herself. If mom gets super agitated by the babies we move them out earlier. With one doe I have (she has litters of 4-5 normally) we would remove them at 5wks just because she would act so stressed with them.

3. I don't really look at mom for when her glands start going down. When babies stop nursing milk stops producing. We haven't had any problems with mastitis thank god but we definitely watch mom to make sure she's not lethargic or anything.

I am sorry I can't answer alot of your questions lol we kind of just let them tell us when it's time. Now if a fight or hair pulling ever happens then we separate but we've only had to do that once.

 

[pamnock]

We remove the doe from the litter at 5-6 weeks of age. The kits will continue to nurse far longer if left with the doe. We separate the litter by sex by 10 weeks of age.

 

[woahlookitsme]

Oh I forgot to add. If they are that thirsty you might want to put a big crock in there if you have room. Just to make sure they're getting enough water.

 

[bhoffman]

Fabulous!! You guys are the best!! I may remove them this weekend then. We have litters of 8, 5 and 3 kits. So 6 weeks is not too early then?! THat was my main concern.. was removing them too early. I don't want them to suffer down the road, that was my main concern. I do think that the does have started weaning with the two bigger litters.

 

[bhoffman]

And yes, about the crock!!I have to buy a couple. I tried using just regular bowls... but.. of course they like to play in it and spill it all over! Crazy bunnies! lol. So we will be in the city this weekend and will buy some.

 

[Blaze_Amita]

Dog bowls from the dollar store do work well! I usually have my girls weaned by 6 weeks (sometimes if it's not bothering either one I do it later) boys around 5 weeks. I but all the boys in one big weaning cage with toys to play with and the girls in the other, with only wire separating them so they can still see and sniff each other.

 

[CanucksStar17]

1. Kits can be weaned at 4 weeks old but it is very stressful for the Mum and the babies, I wean mine between 6 and 7 weeks depending on when I breed the Mum again.

2. There aren't any clues really, I just wean them at 6 or 7 weeks, they are often done nursing by that time

3. Not really but if your keep an eye on her and her kits you will be able to tell she isn't producing any milk and when the kits try to nurse she will move or she will kick them and if they still bug her she might even nip at them. You can also feel her tummy and if you feel her nipples and if they are big and fat then she is still nursing but if they aren't really that noticeable then she is likely done.

I know I am late answering this and I very likley just said what everyone else just said but I wanted to give my opinion:dunno:

 

[bhoffman]

That's great!! They have all been weaned now and are mostly gone to their new homes But, we had another litter born last Monday, and am always happy to see more methods and others opinions. I left all kits in with the doe until they were 6 weeks, then separated them. My lion heads were with their mom for the full 8 weeks.