Happy Hollands
Well-Known Member
hello! last night, we were blessed with another litter! 3 healthy babies, but unfortunately there was also 2 stillborns mom and dad are both under 3 lbs so assuming the two stillborns were peanuts (legs were crossed, and they looked a bit different than the healthy babies).
I have personally never had a litter this small (except that litter of 1 a while ago... but it didn't make it), and I have no litters of similar age to foster babies to so that's not an option. my other babies are 5 weeks old already!!
anyways, I'm wondering if a heat lamp is necessary or if their body heat will keep them warm enough since there is only 3?? the rabbits are housed in our garage, the temperature is around 55°F in there. I live in Seattle, WA where we have mild temperatures. on my last litters in winter, I have always provided a heat lamp but I've ALWAYS still had issues with baby bunnies getting out of the nest box early and one case where I think the baby overheated. plus, it's expensive to run continuously and my dad gets mad because he doesn't believe it's necessary. maybe it isn't, but I really don't want to lose any babies from this litter, and they are very valuable and I am planning on keeping one! I don't really have a good place to hang it, except for a wood pole 2 ft above the box on the top of her cage.
please help!! is there any experienced breeders on this forum you could tag?! heat lamp necessary, or not? thanks for reading
I have personally never had a litter this small (except that litter of 1 a while ago... but it didn't make it), and I have no litters of similar age to foster babies to so that's not an option. my other babies are 5 weeks old already!!
anyways, I'm wondering if a heat lamp is necessary or if their body heat will keep them warm enough since there is only 3?? the rabbits are housed in our garage, the temperature is around 55°F in there. I live in Seattle, WA where we have mild temperatures. on my last litters in winter, I have always provided a heat lamp but I've ALWAYS still had issues with baby bunnies getting out of the nest box early and one case where I think the baby overheated. plus, it's expensive to run continuously and my dad gets mad because he doesn't believe it's necessary. maybe it isn't, but I really don't want to lose any babies from this litter, and they are very valuable and I am planning on keeping one! I don't really have a good place to hang it, except for a wood pole 2 ft above the box on the top of her cage.
please help!! is there any experienced breeders on this forum you could tag?! heat lamp necessary, or not? thanks for reading