Monday, March 26, 2007
Switcharoo
You might already know that my favorite doe is May. She placed at two different Conventions, granded easily, has a Best In Show under her belt, has produced several grand champions, and has a great personality. What you might not know is that she produces so much milk that it is almost problematic.
Or I should say that it would be problematic if I didn't manage the nest boxes carefully.
May's last kits were born on March 20. She had 7 non-peanuts. I needed to take a few away to give to a dam who delivered just one kit. That left May with four kits to raise herself. I had hoped to foster the rest of the kits so that she'd be free, but no other doe that I trusted had room.
Three days ago, I noticed that her kits were uncomfortably fat - they couldn't roll over. And, I noticed that Roxie's were a little skinnier than I like. So I gave May's to Roxie and vice versa. I wrote myself a note and switched the labels on the cages so I could keep up with the switch.
I just switched babies and let each dam keep her own nest box. It didn't seem to bother either one.
Two days later, Roxie's babies were nice and fat. May's babies were still well fed. And I think that Roxie benefitted from the strong-nursing kits, too. I switched them back for a day.
But 24 hours later, May's kits were once again alarmingly fat. I found two in the front of the nest box on their backs, stuck in pockets of hay.
So, I checked out Markie's babies. They were being fed, but were far from fat. They went into May's box and May's kits made another change. By tomorrow or Wednesday at the latest, Markie's will be fat and I'll have to do another switcharoo.
Now it may sound like I'm complaining because I have to keep such an eye on things. But I'm not. Having a milking overachiever gives me options and helps me keep all of my kits robust. It's hard enough to get kits here sometimes; I hate to lose them because of poor nursing, especially when it's just a slow start for some bunny moms.
May's sister HIlary is a good milking doe just like May, so I hope that the characteristic runs in the family. So far, daughters Padme, Panache, and April have done well with their babies. I haven't had to do the switcharoo with them yet, but you never know what the future will bring.
Laurie ¶ 9:11 PM
Or I should say that it would be problematic if I didn't manage the nest boxes carefully.
May's last kits were born on March 20. She had 7 non-peanuts. I needed to take a few away to give to a dam who delivered just one kit. That left May with four kits to raise herself. I had hoped to foster the rest of the kits so that she'd be free, but no other doe that I trusted had room.
Three days ago, I noticed that her kits were uncomfortably fat - they couldn't roll over. And, I noticed that Roxie's were a little skinnier than I like. So I gave May's to Roxie and vice versa. I wrote myself a note and switched the labels on the cages so I could keep up with the switch.
I just switched babies and let each dam keep her own nest box. It didn't seem to bother either one.
Two days later, Roxie's babies were nice and fat. May's babies were still well fed. And I think that Roxie benefitted from the strong-nursing kits, too. I switched them back for a day.
But 24 hours later, May's kits were once again alarmingly fat. I found two in the front of the nest box on their backs, stuck in pockets of hay.
So, I checked out Markie's babies. They were being fed, but were far from fat. They went into May's box and May's kits made another change. By tomorrow or Wednesday at the latest, Markie's will be fat and I'll have to do another switcharoo.
Now it may sound like I'm complaining because I have to keep such an eye on things. But I'm not. Having a milking overachiever gives me options and helps me keep all of my kits robust. It's hard enough to get kits here sometimes; I hate to lose them because of poor nursing, especially when it's just a slow start for some bunny moms.
May's sister HIlary is a good milking doe just like May, so I hope that the characteristic runs in the family. So far, daughters Padme, Panache, and April have done well with their babies. I haven't had to do the switcharoo with them yet, but you never know what the future will bring.
Laurie ¶ 9:11 PM
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Glad to hear, I am not the only one that switches kits around from one mom to another. Nature Trail's Olivia always overfeeds hers, so I have to give her the small, skinny kits. LOL Then after a day or so, I have to give her another litter, because they get too fat.
Alison
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Alison
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