Cull or keep?

[Willowynd]

OK the cal does litter (born 3/17/09) lost 5 at 4 weeks (mom ran out of milk) then at 7 weeks lost 3 more- loose stools and death. One kit remaining now- a doe. I wanted to keep a couple does from this breeding, but not sure I should keep this one. She is smaller than my french lop babies who are now 4 weeks old. Thoughts?

[ladysown]

cull or keep the kit? or the doe?

what caused death at 7 weeks? weaning issues???? did they get cold and get gut issues? too many greens? If she survived illness that would account for being small...and if she's still growing even if it is slowly that would make her a potential keeper in my book..means her immunity is up and good immunity is a good thing in my eyes. what's the harm in keeping her for a bit yet? If she looks horrid at as she matures and just doesn't pick up then you can always choose to cull later.

[SquashNut]

I would think it would depend on the cause of illness.
For me the disire to keep any thing from that breeding would be put on hold becuase I have only so many cages and those are for the healthy rabbits.

[Willowynd]

The death at 7 weeks...no greens, just hay and pellets, one day loose stools, bathed and gave just hay and 2 days later, they died. I am talking about the kit. I am going to try the doe one more time with another buck. Baby had poo caked on her butt today so bathed her butt.

[Willowynd]

Squashnut, I am with you, limited cage space, but currently only one cal doe and one creme d' argent doe, and 2 cal bucks. I wanted to keep a couple does out of the cal litter to breed to the other cal buck...then keep a doe out of the creme and do the same. My plan was use buck one with both does, then place that buck and breed the babies to buck 2.

[AprilW]

Well there's a few ways to look at it.

One, the kit survived when her littermates died. This may indicate better health/immune system.

Two, she could be carrying the illness her littermates died from and may pass it to her offspring.

I think I may keep a watch on her and see how her dam does with a second litter. If the kit does ok and the new litter survives she would probably be alright to keep.

[Willowynd]

OK thanks