The Nursery

Rosie & Sweet Tea - 2 Kits

Rosie presented us with four babies early this afternoon. There is definitely one peanut baby, but possibly two. (Edited to add, the second kit is a peanut, too.) The other two babies are beautifully chubby and healthy looking. The one we're not certain about could be a healthy runt or a larger peanut; time will tell. You may be puzzled as to why a papa Bun is not listed. We aren't yet certain who sired this litter. Initially we tried her with Yoga Pants, but he still didn't seem to figure out what was required of him. After about 10 minutes together, we ended up taking Yoga out and putting Sweet Tea in with her. Once we see the coloring of the kits, we should be able to determine which buck gets to claim this litter. ***ETA Sweet Tart is the winner!

3/2/24 UPDATE: One of Rosie's peanut babies passed early in the morning on 3/1. The other one, who was larger, is still hanging on. We hold and cuddle it a few times throughout the day, just as we do with the other newborn kits.

Coloring-wise I'm thinking we have a squirrel and an opal again. Sweet Tea's genes are going strong in the recent litters, and we believe that he sired this litter, as well. Poor Yoga Pants! He still can't seem to figure this out. :(

Rosie is needing extra attention to make certain she is nursing her kits. A few hours after she kindled, we noticed very fresh blood spots on her mats. Upon closer examination, we realized she was bleeding from a one of her teats, which we found to be very strange, as she had not yet nursed her babies. Rabbits typically wait 12-24 hours after kindling to return to the nest box for the first feeding. We carefully shaved her tummy so the babies could find their way to nurse through her exceptionally thick fur, and saw no reason for the bleeding to occur. At the 12-hour mark following their arrival, we carefully set the nest box on a small table, and picked up Rosie to place her inside. After covering the box with Rosie inside, I picked up the box securely and swayed gently back and forth in a soothing motion. The babies nursed for a few minutes and we did not see any sign of additional bleeding when we examined Rosie after the feeding. The following morning, we checked the babies and noticed she had not fed her babies, so repeated the process yesterday, last night, and this morning.

Occasionally we will have a doe who refuses to nurse kits when there is a peanut in the litter, so this could be the cause for her unusual behavior. The remaining peanut is now too weak to attempt to nurse, so will most likely pass in the next 24 hours. If, after the peanut passes, Rosie happily takes on feeding duties without intervention on our part, we will understand her behavior more fully. Until then, we will check the kits regularly to make certain they are being fed on schedule.

March 3, 2024 UPDATE: Rosie's second peanut passed away during the night. She nursed her babies without help this morning, so all should be well going forward. Enjoy the first pictures of her babies!

March 22, 2024 UPDATE...We're so enjoying the interaction between Rosie's babies. The squirrel is definitely a nurturer and comforter to the little one. We believed it was an opal, but are now thinking it might actually be a chestnut. We need to get a good look at its eye color to determine which it is. A chestnut will have brown eyes, while an opal will have blue-grey. We have begun to supplemental feed the smaller kit. It's uncertain if Rosie isn't producing enough milk (it's never been a problem with past litters), if the squirrel is being a complete piggy and gets all the milk before the smaller kit (I keep calling it "Mouse"_ realizes it's dinner time and Rosie hops away before it gets its share, or if something else is going on. If we can keep it at a safe weight until it starts to nibble hay and pelleted food, Mouse should be okay.

April 7, 2024 Update...It looks like both of these wee ones are little does! They were dishing out the stink eye during their photo shoot today, LOL

Date of Birth: February 28, 2024

Posey & Sweet Tea - 1 Kit

Posey is a very proud mama of a single, roly-poly nest box wiggler. She also kindled a stillborn baby, which always saddens us and the mother Bun. She didn't pull much fur, so we were very blessed to have discovered the new arrival quickly. Although it was born safely in the nest box, hay doesn't provide much warmth without the additional layers of fur the doe typically pulls from her chest as kindling becomes imminent. Clouds of stray fur are typically our first indication that a litter has arrives, as it tends to get everywhere. We added a lovely insulating layer of wool from our pet French Angora doe, Sukie, who is always happy to help out in such times as these. The fur, combined with a heating pad underneath the nest box soon provided the warmth and safety this little one needed.

Because Posey (and her sister Rosie) have exceptionally thick coats on their tummies, we have to shave them shortly after kindling litters with living kits, so the babies are able to find their way to the right places to nurse easily and don't use their limited energy to search around in a forest of fur. Her baby was delightfully plump this morning when we checked on all the Buns.

March 3, 2024 UPDATE: Posey's baby had his/her first photos taken today! We believe the coloring of this wee one will be chestnut, or possibly chinchilla.

March 22, 2024 - UPDATE...Posey's little chunka-muffin is definitely a chinchilla. We are planning to keep this little Bun, depending upon its gender and whether or not Country Road managed to sire any kits with our most recent breeding attempts.

March 29, 2024...We've decided this little Bun is definitely going to remain with us.

April 6, 2024...This little one has finally shown us that she is a little doe! Now to come up with the perfect name...

Date of Birth: February 28, 2024