Anybody breeding meat rabbit?

[jennabug]

That's rough. I haven't had success trying to help a litter/kit yet. But it's better to do something than nothing.

[jackelope]

That's rough. I haven't had success trying to help a litter/kit yet. But it's better to do something than nothing.

We foster all the time. Even if there aren't issues. Kiddo will have a litter of 3 and a litter of 7 and we'll take 2 from the litter of 7 and put them with the small litter. Sometimes if there's a well marked baby with a new mother we'll take that baby and put it with a proven mother rabbit just for a little extra insurance. She had bred 2 this time, just the other doe who has had several litters didn't take. I think the problem with these was they were too far gone and we didn't realizr it in time. We try and mostly leave them alone for the first few days.
The 4th baby is now missing...lol. Our friend can't find it. Great. Presumably dead. Maybe foster mom ate it.

[jennabug]

Dang it. 

[nwwanderer]

Is cross fostering only successful at birth like pigs or do you have more time with rabbits?

[jackelope]

Is cross fostering only successful at birth like pigs or do you have more time with rabbits?

I've only ever seen it done in the first few days to maybe a week, but the babies have to mostly be the same age. There's a big difference functionally between a day old baby and a 5 day old baby. The older babies would not cooperate with the littles.

[Machias]

I've successfully moved babies, but it's always been within a day or two of birth.  I've had a doe have one or two babies and another have a boatload.  I always try and have at least two does kindling at around the same time, just in case.  I give mom something nice to munch on and make the switch.  After a few minutes of wiggling around with the other babies, they all smell the same.

[Jingles]

Ok rabbit breeders I went from 2 rabbits on Saturday to 12 on Monday, on visually checking Sunday night there were 6 kits and Monday there were 10 when I did an actual hands on count. Talk about a surprise. Now just hope the doe can support them all. Feeding quality pellets and supplementing with home grown alfalfa.

[jackelope]

Ok rabbit breeders I went from 2 rabbits on Saturday to 12 on Monday, on visually checking Sunday night there were 6 kits and Monday there were 10 when I did an actual hands on count. Talk about a surprise. Now just hope the doe can support them all. Feeding quality pellets and supplementing with home grown alfalfa.

The alfalfa is really rich and very high in protein.  Might want to pull it when the kits are out of the nest box as it will mess with their gut heatlh as they transition to solid feed. Calf Manna is a good supplement for nursing does. Maybe 1/2 to 1 tablespoon per day. You can get it in 10lb bags at feed stores. The doe should be ok with 10 babies.

[Jingles]

Thanks for the tip on the calf manna and alfalfa,  had planned on holding off on the alfalfa once the kits are out and about was just supplementing for the doe. One thing for sure won't be letting the buck and doe out in the yard at the same time for awhile. Made that mistake once and learned the hard way.

[jennabug]

Congratulations Jingles!

[jackelope]

@Jingles  How are the 10 babies doing??

[Jingles]

Thanks for asking All 10 have survived and growing nicely had several out in the yard yesterday and a couple were even munching on the grass

[Machias]

Got three nice young does today from jennabug, very nice meeting you!!

Working on the new hutches, gotta get a roof built.  In the meantime I have a metal roof panel over the hutches while I build a three sided shelter.

[KFhunter]

That hutch is WAY too simple, you gotta go complex the heck out of it lol

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[Machias]