Our first baby came on Monday and we almost lost it. Momma didn't have it in the nest area (and hadn't even really made a decent nest), instead it was found half hanging out the door, cold and limp. The children brought it in, thinking it was dead. However, once we got it warmed up, it immediately started moving around. The second baby was found around 4am Tuesday morning, strong and healthy, but again not in the nest area (again, there wasn't a nice nest made). By Tuesday night this same Momma bunny had made a beautiful nest, lined with fur and delivered 10 more rolly polly babies. We are hopeful that she is able to keep all 12, as we've never had a doe keep more than 9 before.
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| ~ 6 Day Old Giant Chinchilla Kits ~ (from a previous litter) |
Our second litter was the tragic one. The entire litter was delivered before dawn and crawled out of the nest... and chilled to death. Three were big and healthy but warming them up didn't help to revive them. The fourth was a peanut and wouldn't have survived anyway. The poor Mamma bunny was stomping and sniffing in her nest looking for her babies. Such a sad sight. She got extra attention and treats but spent the day searching for what was lost.
Next I'll share with you the biggest surprise of the week. On Friday, one of our oldest does decided to kindle a single kit. I was so shocked. I allowed the children to breed her but never expected her to take. With the cold evenings, we were afraid that we would loose her baby so we gave her two more. We took the smallest two from the overly large litter, for her to foster. All are doing well so far.
Sadly, we did have another doe that lost her litter. She passed one very large kit that looked as though it hadn't fully formed. I doubt that it was alive when she kindled.
So, of the seven does that were bred only four kindled. Not good odds but better than nothing. We generally don't breed so early in the year, while it's still cold.
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