MyRabbits
Well-Known Member
On Sunday afternoon, one of my Flemish Giant sandy does had a litter of eleven. It was her second litter, and the peanut didn't make it, bringing it down to ten.
Bessie is a great mom; she did a fantastic job with her first litter and she seemed to know that she was pregnant and seemed to look forward to having more kits.
I had asked my husband to check the kits on two days, and I had meant that he should take them out and count them because I was too pressed for time. He did not take them out and count them but did remove one dead one the other day so we were thinking there were nine.
Last night I took them out and counted them. There were only six. I could not find any dead bodies for the missing three.
Is Bessie cannibalizing her litter? Did she eat the kits after they died? I am very surprised. With her first litter, two of the seven did not make it, and she simply removed them from the nest herself.
I am surprised at how little a couple of these kits are. I suppose with that many initially they had trouble getting milk, but I am also beginning to wonder whether Bessie is being such a good mom this time around.
Anybody have any insights?
Bessie is a great mom; she did a fantastic job with her first litter and she seemed to know that she was pregnant and seemed to look forward to having more kits.
I had asked my husband to check the kits on two days, and I had meant that he should take them out and count them because I was too pressed for time. He did not take them out and count them but did remove one dead one the other day so we were thinking there were nine.
Last night I took them out and counted them. There were only six. I could not find any dead bodies for the missing three.
Is Bessie cannibalizing her litter? Did she eat the kits after they died? I am very surprised. With her first litter, two of the seven did not make it, and she simply removed them from the nest herself.
I am surprised at how little a couple of these kits are. I suppose with that many initially they had trouble getting milk, but I am also beginning to wonder whether Bessie is being such a good mom this time around.
Anybody have any insights?