Skinny Rabbits

Slightly constipating. Fine if the rabbit is pooping normally, but I'd use it with caution for rabbits where their "poop status" is unconfirmed. Weak tea shouldn't hurt in moderation.

Hello! Just an update. The worse rabbit is doing wonderfully! Really alert and perky! The others are doing much better. I am going to leave one in for one more day then I think it can get put back. I am selling 7 pregnant does today so I will soon have room to seperate them all. If that falls through. I am sure any bunny seller knows how that goes. You get I would be SO interested and you write back and never hear from them again. If I get stuck with them after they wean their babies they are going in the stew pot or freezer camp. Oh and on the poop thing yes they are pooping normal. I have not seen them pee but that is kind of a harder thing to catch them doing ecspecially if you have another 100+ animals to care for.

My goat isn't giving much milk right now so I went ahead and did the molasses water which I feel they liked better anyways. So little stinker Prince decided he would all the sudden take the bottle. So this goat has to produce for 2 babies one getting weaned and 3 rabbits. It just wasn't happening.

Pam, I'm so glad to hear they are doing well. Looks like the goat's milk did the trick.

I am going to try to get some for the rabbits before milking time. So she can fill up again.

Well not so good news. I don't understand it. The worse rabbit was doing super well and died out of the blue. Felt him and he was definantly fattening up. He didn't feel so skins and bones. He felt full. I have no clue why he would have died. The others are still doing great.

Pam, it may have been a separate problem altogether. Sometimes there just isn't an answer. It's unfortunate... but at least the rest are doing well.

Yesterday 2 died. What am I doing wrong? This is so discouraging.

I think the problem may that they were weaned and sold too young. All those stresses on immature little systems... bound to lead to problems. Do what you can for them, of course, but be prepared for losses. It's a tough situation but try to learn all you can from it.

I know that this is going to sound unbelievable.. but it sounds like dehydration!

Whats the water situation like? Bottle or crock?
Babies get dehydrated VERY easily, even if it wasn't summer.

If you have 4 or more kits to a cage for grow out, they need to have more than 2 water bottles, and possibly a crock of water. If anything less.. the kits will stuff their faces under the nozzle and nobody gets enough.

Separate the fat from the skinnies.. keep the skinnies together.. they need the company. Babies are really social, and putting them in solitude can stress them out.

Get a syringe and make a water solution of 2 Cups warm water, 1 tsp baking soda, 2 TBS corn syrup. Feed them as much as you can with the syringe. They should pick right up...

Sometimes we put 1 dish and/or 1 bottle to a cage and think it's enough because the bottle may seem big, but it's the roller nozzle that is the problem. It just doesn't give out enough, and one rabbit ends up sucking on it the most and the others have to wait too long or stuff their noses underneath, hoping to lick some stray droplets! It's sad!!!

Hope this helps!

Cricket

Cricket, you may be onto something there. My kits are 4 1/2 weeks old and they seem to be suddenly drinking a lot of water. It's not that hot, so I figure their momma is weaning them and they are thirsty. I have a large, low crock for them and they can all drink at once. With larger litters, I usually put in a second crock.

Yes I think you all are right. I have 1 bottle that I fill up continuously throughout the day. I have 8 right now in one cage. I put a couple frozen water bottles in and that seemed to help a lot. The ones I have in the other cage are almost back to perfect. The one with 8 they seem to be getting just a tad skinny. Their set up is 2 frozen water bottles 1 water bottle 2 big dog feed dishes low bowls. They get snacks which they seem to devour yet there are pellets in the dish. You can see they definantly are eating. They certainly always have food in front of them. So what you all are saying is making a lot of sense.

It's unbelievable how much water those kits go through!

I've lost several from dehydration this year.. it can take them fast, but since I've changed the watering situation, I haven't had much of a problem there *crosses fingers*.

Eating doesn't seem like a good indication on dehydration from my experiences.. because the kits will actually eat MORE to gain the water they are missing, so be careful!

I'm glad that my watering hardships are finally helping someone else! LOL!

Cricket