SA Farm's Kindling thread!

Awww!

I am in the process of testing my palpating skills with two does that are due the beginning of October. As far as I could tell, both are pregnant, so we shall see if I have indeed acquired this skill or not.
Come on Midnight and Tali!
Jade's kits are growing nicely! Can't believe they're almost 4 weeks old already!

Love the black!

Jade's kits are now 5 weeks old and technically ready to go. They range from 1+ -2lbs right now and I'm considering keeping a few to sell as proven breeding stock in the spring since I have a few unrelated bucks I can breed them to early next year. I'm thinking about these two:

I put Jade with Cranberry today, but she didn't show any interest, despite her vent appearing to be ready. She probably just wants a good long break in between like she's used to, so I'll wean her kits off her this week and try her again next week. Brat
Expecting kits over the next week or two from the does I palpated, so

Good luck! I have a question for you, whenever my girls kindle, no matter how many kits are born, inevitably only three -four make it to adulthood. What am I doing wrong? Or is it that Bridey and Barley don't make enough milk for more? Is there a supplement I should be using?

happy acres said:

Good luck! I have a question for you, whenever my girls kindle, no matter how many kits are born, inevitably only three -four make it to adulthood. What am I doing wrong? Or is it that Bridey and Barley don't make enough milk for more? Is there a supplement I should be using?

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From what you've said, it sounds like it's the does that are having the problem (though there could be many factors that I don't know about). Older does at the end of production usually start losing quite a few kits, but if they're young, there shouldn't be a problem and if it's constant I wouldn't keep any of the kits for future breeding as they may have low milk production as well.
There are herbs that can boost milk production such as Dandelion, Blackberry, Lemon Balm, Milk Thistle, Dill, Nettles, Parsley, Raspberry Leaf etc. As always, introduce new foods gradually, but if it's just milk production, any of those should help - they also have other beneficial effects. Raspberry and Blackberry leaves are both cooling, so great for summer snacks!
Often you can tell who is being fed as does typically feed their kits at dawn and dusk and if the kits have fat bellies, they're being fed. If they don't have fat bellies, you can force feed them - take the doe and the kits that aren't being fed and allow them to feed while holding the doe to supplement them in between normal feedings.

Lavender, Mint, and Thyme should not be fed to pregnant does or does raising kits as they decrease milk flow.

Thanks! My does are older, I think ... They were adults when I got them and I'm not sure how old they were exactly. I've had them for about seven /eight months now.

happy acres said:

Thanks! My does are older, I think ... They were adults when I got them and I'm not sure how old they were exactly. I've had them for about seven /eight months now.

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If it's just age, I would probably keep back some replacement stock for them and consider retiring them soon

Tootsie Roll and Candy Corn are the proud parents of 8 kits! (Pics in order )

Expecting more litters over the next week or two, so stay tuned

Congrats!!!