First-time Mommy.

[kirstin]

Hullo all!

My 8-month old Holland Lop doe, Kaira, gave birth to 5 kits this morning. Either 3-4 were fetal giants, but one normal kitsurvived!! He/she seems to be healthy. Kaira seems like an excellent mother. She had made a good nest, as well as pulled fur for the little ones. She seems to be spending quite a bit of time with the baby. I've heard that a mother that only has one kit to nurse can possibly be overfed and die..?

This is myfirst litter. Can anyone give me some advice on this subject? Things that I should do or helpful points?

 

[Jaded]

She seems to be a good mum and knows what shes doing
when the bunnies are young its very importnant that they get as much milk as they can, does normaly nurse one a day (at night) limite the milk feeds.

 

[kirstin]

Thanks.

 

[Jaded]

Oh and sorry that the others died, its completely normal for most of the babies to die on the first litter.

 

[kirstin]

It's all good. I find myself lucky that one actually lived.

 

[kirstin]

Bad news... the other kit died... Kaira seems to be doin alright though. How long until I can rebreed her...? And when does all her milk go away?

 

[butsy]

what does fetal giants mean?

 

[kirstin]

A fetal giant is a kit that's born about twice the size of a normal one.

 

[Nancy McClelland]

bummer.

 

[butsy]

so they just die? sorry to hear

 

[kirstin]

It's alright. It's normal for a first-time mother.

 

[Maple Front Rabbitry]

I would breed her right away.

 

[kirstin]

I just bred her again today. She seems to have recovered. Best luck to the next litter.

 

[RAL Rabbitry]

Be careful how you feed her while she is pregnant. She should be getting no more pellets than when she is not bred. They do not need an increase in feed while they are pregnant. I had a doe that was on the small side that would have fetal giants. I cut her pellets in half and gave her unlimited hay while she was pregnant and she stopped having fetal giants. Good Luck!

 

[kirstin]

Thanks.