Need help caring for a newborn litter

1255 Views 7 Replies 4 Participants Last post by Wight Isle Stud, Jan 4, 2011

Rosewood

Discussion Starter · Jan 3, 2011

Well, I wasn't planning on starting breeding for a little while, at least until I was ready and absolutely sure what I was doing.

I have arranged to buy a breeding pair from someone in Derby, and found out that the doe was pregnant. I thought she was in the early stages, but it turns out that she was bordering on giving birth. The kid rung me the other day and said she had given birth to nine little pups. I'm picking up the pair on tuesday and I'm going to take a wild guess and say that in a couple of weeks, she's gonna be pregnant again, because I think the buck and doe are being housed together all the time.

So now is a better time than any to ask, what do I need to do to take care of them? Any specific dos and don'ts, anything that's best to feed the doe and the little ones? It would be a big help for now and the future if I got help from anyone, rather than having to look it up online. Because the net really isn't the best way to go about it.

As soon as I pick them up, I am going to split the pair so hopefully no more breeding.

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SarahY

· #2 · Jan 3, 2011

Your new doe will most likely be pregnant again unfortunately, if dad is still in there.

This is what I would do (doesn't mean you have to do it this way

): Cull the litter down to three or four. If you need help with culling, ask for access to the culling or PM me if you like. This way the doe won't be sucked of all her energy while she's pregnant again. You can leave the buck in with her if you like, the damage will already be done as does come into heat straight after birthing but stop when they are lactating. The buck will help look after the babies and if you take him out when the litter are two weeks old you'll prevent it happening again.

Feed mum her normal diet supplemented with bread and milk/lactol/goats milk, chicken, mashed potato etc. She should be fine.

The move to your house may cause her to eat her babies, which in your case is not a particularly bad thing, especially if she is pregnant again.

Sarah xxx

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SarahY

· #4 · Jan 3, 2011

Handraising is not impossible, but it very nearly is. It's so easy to drown them, unbelievably easy.If you decide to raise the lot, just make sure there is a water bottle containing Lactol solution within easy reach of the kittens. Although this means you can only help them and mum after the babies are over two weeks old, it's better than nothing and they may catch up by 6 weeks old.

You'll need to seperate bucks from their mother when they are between four and five weeks old. I go for one calendar month as it's easy for my numerically challenged mind to work out!

I understand your thoughts about culling, but although this situation is not your fault you need to do what's best. Nine is a lot raise when the doe is pregnant with another litter. But it is completely your decision, not mine

Sarah xxx

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SarahY

· #6 · Jan 3, 2011

Certainly, just post them on this thread, it's helpful for other people too

Good luck with them!

Sarah xxx

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