Lost 3 babies. :-(

[wendymac]

Well, now I know the problem with a doe that doesn't use a nest box. When I was cleaning out her pen, I found 3 dead babies. One by the feeder, one between the nest and feed, and one almost to the feeder. I think they might have been still latched on when she left the nest to go eat (or maybe were just trying to follow her?)...then froze last night. :-( So now we're down to 7. Pretty bummed, and wasn't sure what to do to keep it from happening to any more. So I found a pretty big box, cut the bottom out of it, and put it around the nest. If Ad leaves it there, no more babies should die. I hope...

Here are the remaining 7, day 6...getting really cute!

Here are the Cals, day 2. VERY pudgy little tummies, and not nearly as wrinkled.

 

[MiniLopHop]

I'm so sorry for your loss, that is sad.

The babies are so cute! I love the bottom picture, it almost looks like a wee piggie!

 

[woahlookitsme]

I'm sorry for the loss. Do you have a picture of the nestbox? I've heard you can get the wooden ones and size them so she has to actually jump out of it and as her tummy is crossing above it it scrapes off any of the kits still suckling. I don't think one with a half moon cut out accomplishes this

It's so hard loosing babies. We lost one two weekends ago because we think it wasn't getting fed. So sad. I can't wait to see what colors you have!

 

[wendymac]

Thanks, guys.

Sarah, she didn't use a nest box. I had one in with her, and she built her nest beside it. So I took it out. It was one like this one, the biggest they make:

http://www.tractorsupply.com/home-rig-house-trade-nesting-box-2179570

 

[I_heart_Fraggles]

Oh how sad.
But at least the 7 look healthy and well. Love the top picture. The baby looking at the camera is saying "Geez.....Close the door!"

 

[CCWelch]

Looks like your cals have nest box chilling so their fur will be "frosted". This means their fur will likely come in gray but once they molt it will turn the correct color. The yare not supposed to be marked down on it for meat pens but I think they can be as a jr.

 

[wendymac]

I'm not sure why my camera, without the flash, puts all those shadows on. But they're as pink as can be. Even Ad's little fawny colored baby comes out looking like it's half black. But we're not showing them as meat pens. The buck is going to be 3 in a few months. I want to get as many litters out of him now, because he comes from superior bloodlines. He and Twila have the same bloodlines, so hopefully these babies will be good replacements for Dad.

 

[ZRabbits]

So sorry you lost 3. But as a first time Mom she's doing good. 7 babies still growing.

K

 

[Nancy McClelland]

:cry1:

 

[ZRabbits]

How's Mom and the babies doing today? Hope everyone is healthy and growing and Mom is doing her best.

Still amazes me how well Adeline is doing for a first time Mom. I know she wasn't perfect, but 7 healthy babies is still something to cheer about.

K

 

[wendymac]

The remaining 7 are doing great. Their tiny eyes are already starting to squint open. She had them uncovered when I got home (it got really hot here) and was covering them back up a few minutes ago. VERY good mother, for sure!

Thanks for asking! I wish I could bring them into the house, and never take my eyes off them. They're so cute to watch, especially fighting for bottom position in the nest. lol

 

[ZRabbits]

wendymac wrote:

The remaining 7 are doing great. Their tiny eyes are already starting to squint open. She had them uncovered when I got home (it got really hot here) and was covering them back up a few minutes ago. VERY good mother, for sure!

Thanks for asking! I wish I could bring them into the house, and never take my eyes off them. They're so cute to watch, especially fighting for bottom position in the nest. lol

Great to hear babies are doing well. And Mom, well, I can't say enough about how well she is doing.

Must be something to watch those babies. It will be really something when they get bigger and they are all trying to nurse. I saw one pic of a Holland Lop with all these little feet sticking out from under her. And she only had 4. lol

K

 

[wendymac]

LOL!! I had taken them all out of the nest, to count them and check them. Usually they wiggle back into the nest as fast as I move them out. Last night, they wiggled to Mom, sitting at the front of the cage. All you saw were feet everywhere, and Ad looking at me like, "Really? You couldn't let them sleep?" LOL I unlatched them, put them back in the nest, and she went in and nursed them all. It just worries me because she wouldn't leave the box I cut the bottom off of, to keep them in the nest area. It's still getting cold at night, and I don't want to lose any more because they're wiggling out, looking for mom.

I flipped them over, and I swear I have all donuts and no tacos. Unless you can't really tell at a week old. Or I don't know what a darn taco is. LOL

 

[ZRabbits]

I hear at that age it is very difficult to tell boys from girls. Even the pros have a hard time figuring it out too at that age.

I know you are excited to find out. Me too. lol. But they need to grow up a bit before you can really see donuts and tacos.

Excellent sign for the babies scurrying to Mom. Boy their sense of direction, sense of smell and bodily strength is improving. THAT IS GREAT!

K

 

[wendymac]

And here I thought it would be easier, since they don't have hair yet. haha I really don't care whether they're donuts or tacos, even though I have 3 people that want tacos. I plan on keeping the majority of them. The ARBA convention is going to be practically in my back yard in 2 years, and I really want to get some nice show stock to pick from. Just don't tell hubby I said that! lol

They already have their little eyes squinted open...just slits, but I think that's allowing them to figure out where Mom is more easily. We need to get through 7 more days, and then I won't have to worry about them moving out of the nest as much.

I'm love them all, but the little fawny broken one, with the big blaze, is becoming my favorite. Still not sure what the really light ones are. They look aren't quite white, but close to it. Like a creamy color.

Is it daylight, so I can go check on them yet? LOL I went to take a nap after we got back yesterday, and ended up sleeping until 4 this morning. I need my bunny fix.