fostering babies

[sheandg]

i have 2 litters one a lionhead that are 4 days old and an AFL litter that is 3 days old. Well the AFL litter all are very wrinkly and so I tried to place them on mom but it doesn't look like she's got the milk they keep coming off and looking for another teat. So my question is will the milk come in more or should I look at fostering the healthiest ones to the lionhead litter, the lionheads are all super fat and a litter of 4 whereas the AFL litter is 6. I know trying to bottle feed is pretty much impossible. should i just wait and see what they look like either tonight or in the morning? How long without food will they start fading away? Yesterday they looked ok but not fat. I did squeeze her teats and after the third one i got a tiny bit of milk.


thanks

 

[TinysMom]

I would have the foster mom feed them today for sure and then keep trying to get the AFL to feed them.

I once had a problem where I had bred several does that wound up not having their milk come in. Fortunately - one of my bigger does nursed all TWENTY FOUR babies for 2 or 3 days until my last does kindled and could help her out. Basically every three hours I put a group of 8 with her to nurse - she was fantastic about it.

Once the last 3 does kindled...the babies got split up between all the mamas and everyone had 8 I think...something like that.


Anyway - I'd have the lionhead mama keep them alive until hopefully the AFL mama can take over.

 

[Fancy77]

I'll Keep'em...err...umm...foster them lol

 

[sheandg]

I have been nursing all 10 babies off the lionhead and they seem to be getting some so hopefully AFL will have enough milk very soon. It is so stressful!! I did put 2 AFL in the lionhead nest box in hopes we can save at least 2 AFL from this litter. So lionhead has 6 in her nestbox and 4 in the AFL so I will nurse the 4 again tonight and hope they all survive the night. They are still looking wrinkly but i can tell they have some milk in their tummies. One great thing are lionheads are known for fostering and having a lot of milk!!! This is both their first litters. I would have breed more at the same time to avoid this but I only had 2 that were old enough. They are all in the garage which is 45-48 degrees but wondering if I should bring the babies in I read they lose fluid more when it is colder. They all have a ton of fur from their mommas that they pulled and they all seem very toasty. I think maybe keeping them all put is probably best???


I know this all goes with the territory of breeding and I expected it not to be perfect but it is still stressful seeing how helpless the lil' ones are

 

[Blaze_Amita]

If you think it's too much on the lion head momma then i would put the less nice babies back with the AFL momma.

I've had the reverse problem, a doe with too few kits(1) and too much milk. I had to foster some from a momma that was fine with her 6 kits to give the momma with one kit a couple extra mouths to feed to wear down her milk. they were all well fed kits in those two litters.

 

[sheandg]

everyone looks good this morning. Maybe AFL mom's milk just took awhile to come in?? I am glad lionhead was able to help out. She is still fostering 2 of the AFL kits in her nestbox so I might just leave them?? I guess I'll see how everyone is doing tonight and tomorrow. One less thing to stress about for now....

 

[Fancy77]

Oh good glad to hear things r looking up what a weight off your shouldes

 

[sheandg]

thanks it sure is a relief. I can't wait until they are a couple weeks old and a little less fragile

 

[Fancy77]

I cant wait for pics...wink...wink

 

[polly]

I have found with the nethies sometimes u need one that has a turbo suck lol to clear the nipples. Sounds like its a lot better though maybe she was just a while for her milk to drop