What percentage of kits should "thrive" with a first time mom?
Looking for advice!!
Obviously, breeds only improve with aggressive culling...and I would like to have a solid genetic foundation for my Fluffle.
That being said, I was really excited to get started with a new-to-me breed (after a very limited foray into rabbitry in 2021). Conformation-wise, the doe and buck that she was exposed to were both fairly high quality.
She is a first time mom, and did a decent job of fur pulling, but 2 of her kits died within the first 24 hours. A third died within 48 hours. One of the remaining 5 looks thin and puny while the 4 others are clearly eating well. If this 4th one dies, that is HALF of her kindle! That seems like an insane amount!
I know that some loss is to be expected, and I know that first timers are learning on the job...but this seems like a lot.
I have decided to do a bottle feeding with the puny kit to help it get SOMETHING at the very least. Hopefully with a little more vigor it can get some time at the nip!