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Rosie had two kits on the same winter day that Kasey had
three. Initially, I gave all five kits to Kasey to
nurse. I wanted to make sure there were enough kits in
one nest in order to keep warm, since these were February
babies. But Kasey's milk was late coming in and I did
not want to take a risk, so Rosie got the combined litter.
I did nothing special to foster the
babies, just put them all in the next box that Rosie had
prepared. She immediately hopped in and started
nursing.
The tort kit in the middle and the
one in the top right hand corner below to Rosie. The
rest belong to Kasey. Rosie's solid kit is marked with
a permanent hot pink marker. There's no need to mark
the only broken baby. The babies are one week old in
this photo.
Between
two and three weeks, the kits begin looking a lot more like
bunny rabbits. Two
of the kits developed eye infections which I treated with
eye wash and antibiotic ointment. That should have
been enough to clear up a simple nest box eye infection.
At three weeks, the kits are beginning to
eat solid food and pull cute antics. Three weeks old
is my favorite time in a kit's life. They are
scrumptious at that age. I could watch them play for
hours. One kit's eye infection is improving, but the
other's persists.
Rosie has a broken doe and a solid buck.
Kasey has two does and a buck. I will recheck their
genders again later for accuracy.
It is quite unusual for nest box eye
infections to hang on so long, but now both of Kasey's does
have eye infections. I've decided to take them to the
vet even though they've gotten a bit better because they
have not gone away completely.
I had high hopes for this little broken doe.
Her mother Tunes Rosie was getting older and I hoped to have a comparable doe to replace her when
the time comes. I'm keeping my eye on this little buck, too.
I like that wide crown. Keep your fingers crossed! All of
these babies are eating well and generating lots of fertilizer--most of
which sticks to their fur, unfortunately.
We're still struggling with eye infections at
four weeks of age. They have been out of the next box for a week
now and that hasn't helped. I've changed medications and they've
improved for a second time, but not healed completely. Both does
have eye infections. The buck has had no eye problems at all.
Rosie's babies are still growing, but not
changing as rapidly now. At five weeks, they are eating well and
are just two weeks away from leaving their mother.
Kasey's
does still struggled with their eyes this week. Each of them
developed ulcers on their affected eyes over the cornea. A trip to
the vet and a change of medication was necessary. They are
improving once again, but will go back to the vet for a check and, if
doing well, they will change back to a tri-optic ointment after one week
of the ulcer medication.
We've almost
conquered the eye infections that have plagued the two does. The
ulcers on their eyes improved better than the vet expected. The
infection is gone, but the mark from the ulcer is still visible in each
eye.
A Case of Late
Milk >>>>>
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