Is this normal

[R_Oldroyd 17]

Hi all,

 

One of my jills had 12 kits this year. Its the first time i have chosen to breed as i usually get them from other people. Anyway. Over the last couple of weeks i have been losing kits and now there are only five left. The last one looked like is had been squashed and had difficulty breathing.

 

I'm i doing some thing wrong or is this just whats happens sometimes. I know about natural selection but is there anything i can do in the short term to help the remaing kits which are about 7 weeks old.

 

Regards Roger

Edited June 13, 2008 by R_Oldroyd

[runforyourlife 361]

Hi all,

 

One of my jills had 12 kits this year. Its the first time i have chosen to breed as i usually get them from other people. Anyway. Over the last couple of weeks i have been losing kits and now there are only five left. The last one looked like is had been squashed and had difficulty breathing.

 

I'm i doing some thing wrong or is this just whats happens sometimes. I know about natural selection but is there anything i can do in the short term to help the remaing kits which are about 7 weeks old.

 

Regards Roger

Yes you can take the kits and remove them from there mother. They will take meat now. The thing is, your not doing anything wrong, and neither will the mother but it is a little strange for them to dying at nearly 8 weeks.

[The one 8,511]

At that age i would of had them off the jill and in another cage by themselves checking that they where all eating ect by themselves mate ,there pretty old to be losing them now

[victor 10]

mates sell them at 8 weeks old.

[R_Oldroyd 17]

I have recounted the age of the kits and they are seven weeks, I read in a book that they are supposed to stay with the mother until 12 weeks as they are still learning from her.

 

So you think at sevens week i should remove the jill?

 

regards Roger.

Edited June 13, 2008 by R_Oldroyd

[stubby 175]

under normal conditions, I leave kitts with the jill until 8 weeks, but sounds like you aint got normal conditions, so best split them up now, and keep a close eye on them,

[R_Oldroyd 17]

under normal conditions, I leave kitts with the jill until 8 weeks, but sounds like you aint got normal conditions, so best split them up now, and keep a close eye on them,

 

Would this have anything to do with this being her first year of rising a litter.

 

regards Roger.

Edited June 13, 2008 by R_Oldroyd

[Kay 3,709]

this may be a long shot but are they getting enough fluids ? its been really close here again although not very sunny , mayby dehydrated ?

 

Oh also if your feeding dry food they should be drinking lots more than if you meat feed them

[R_Oldroyd 17]

this may be a long shot but are they getting enough fluids ? its been really close here again although not very sunny , mayby dehydrated ?

 

Oh also if your feeding dry food they should be drinking lots more than if you meat feed them

 

I are in a court which is quite cool. They are feeding on dryfood but mashed up and fresh rabbit. I are drinking from a bottle feeder type. I will separete from the jill next weekend.

 

regards Roger.

[The one 8,511]

If a first year jill loses her litter you can always put it down to a learning curve but not at 7 weeks of age . as i said i would of had the jill out at six weeks and feeding them rabbit and watching there behaviour

[runforyourlife 361]

this may be a long shot but are they getting enough fluids ? its been really close here again although not very sunny , mayby dehydrated ?

 

Oh also if your feeding dry food they should be drinking lots more than if you meat feed them

 

I are in a court which is quite cool. They are feeding on dryfood but mashed up and fresh rabbit. I are drinking from a bottle feeder type. I will separete from the jill next weekend.

 

regards Roger.

 

 

Do you have a sore throat or a virus, or been on antibiotics? Because you never, with you sharing there water with them,(I are drinking from a bottle feeder type) you my be passing on the infection. :-)

[Hob&Jill 258]

I have had this before with a litter- not nice.

 

Everyday I would go down and se one had got worse and worse and they were getting worse everyday. I would never re home them, until you are certain that they are 100% fine. If its just the breathing then it could be some infection but if one looks squashed then it suggests they are pretty deformed.

 

I culled the litter as it was clear that they were fecked and in pain. Run your finger down there spines, are they bent?

 

Do what you think is right but I wouldnt rehome as you dont know whats gonna happen to them.

 

Good luck,

 

HJ

[R_Oldroyd 17]

I have had this before with a litter- not nice.

 

Everyday I would go down and se one had got worse and worse and they were getting worse everyday. I would never re home them, until you are certain that they are 100% fine. If its just the breathing then it could be some infection but if one looks squashed then it suggests they are pretty deformed.

 

I culled the litter as it was clear that they were fecked and in pain. Run your finger down there spines, are they bent?

 

Do what you think is right but I wouldnt rehome as you dont know whats gonna happen to them.

 

Good luck,

 

HJ

 

None are deformed and hopefully the remain 5 will be ok.

 

regards Roger

[Guest bigredbusa]

mine had 11 and lost 7 in the first couple of days , but mine was a first time mum so i put it down to that .

 

good luck with the rest

[maddogs 0]

mine had 11 and lost 7 in the first couple of days , but mine was a first time mum so i put it down to that .

 

good luck with the rest

 

mine had 9 and i've not lost none yet and my ferret is a first time mother