Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Litter Issues

This is what I've had so far this year:
Litter 1: 1 live, 1 dead, 2 deformed
Litter 2: 2 live
Litter 3: 1 peanut, 1 live (died on day 3)
Litter 4: 3 live, 1 peanut
Litter 5: 6 live
Litter 6: 9 live (all killed by doe around day 4)
Litter 7: all DOA, unknown #
Litter 8: doe put litter on wire, unknown #, 1 peanut born 4 days late
Litter 9: 1 DOA born 4 days late
Litter 10: 5 born, all froze

Not quite how I'd envisioned my return to breeding. Still, I blame the weather for all the recent litter troubles, and doe age for some of the others. Regardless, this kind of record, while not uncommon, is a big reason why so many breeders suffer from mild depression this time of year. Especially when it took so long to get several of these does bred. I may go through and begin to cull (remove from the herd) does that cannot seem to bear/raise a live litter. Particularly the doe that kindled litter #9. She's an older doe than even some of the others and to my memory, has never raised a litter to weaning for me. She may be one that sees the door. Another on tenterhooks is the doe of litter #6, who was on a short leash to begin. Most of these does have been re-bred, so they'll have a chance to make up, but those that miss... beware.

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