Questions-First time breeder

Slugmar · #1 04/03/11, 03:09 AM

So I through my hat into the rabbit ring a couple months ago with 3 does and a buck that a friend was getting rid of, she said the babies where dying from getting stung by bees.

So I waited a little and rebreed.

1 doe kept and has successfully raised her litter the other ones were found cold and dead in the nesting box full of fur and hay, one of the does didn’t have a lot of fur at all in the nesting box.

I had a heifer in the barn next to them didn’t know if she didn’t made to much noise for the moms, Rebreed this time and they both had babies one 2 days ago and the other today both pulled a lot of fur this time gave birth in the nesting boxes but I don’t think either has been in there box to feed them and one of the litters has died already.

Again though I have been putting up a fence near barn for my new chicken coupe and the chicken are running all over right now with some even sleeping on there cages, I’m I the problem or are the bunnies just not good mothers?

The chickens will be put up soon and I can try to rebreed again or should I cut my losses and get some different momma and try again?

SFM in KY · #2 04/03/11, 08:10 AM

I don't think the noise would be a problem, especially if it wasn't something that happened just on the day they kindled. It can be rare to see a doe actually in the box nursing kits, they will only feed kits once or twice a day ... otherwise they stay out of the nesting box. Check the kits ... if the bellies are round and the kits themselves don't look thin and 'wrinkled' they are being fed.

How many kits did each doe have? Unless there are 10 or 12 or more there shouldn't be a problem with feeding. You will occasionally have a doe that doesn't produce enough milk but it isn't common.

Pat Lamar · #3 04/03/11, 02:59 PM

Some does and bucks just aren't compatible for reproducing. You could be blaming the doe unnecessarily. Try a different buck if you can. I had a doe who was a super good mother, but when bred to a certain buck, her babies were either born dead, or her milk wouldn't come down. So, I just had to be sure not to use that one buck and everything was fine.

Pat Lamar