We had a very bad frost last night, and despite me leaving the oil heater on, I went in this morning to find all but one away from the nest, dead
I'm gutted. I don't know what else I could have done as I'd tried getting her to stand over the nest and tried laying her across my lap and latching the kits on, but she just wasn't having any of it. She WAS feeding the reamianing kits as their bellies were fat, but I suspect she'd been in at their nest as they were inches away, and the nest was uncovered, either that or they'd crawled out and died. The live one was buried right deep down and seems well.
I've brought her into the house now, in a warm box with a nesting box with the remaining kit inside. I'm keeping a very close eye on it. It's belly is fat so I'm happy on that front and she's not aggressive towards it.
Whatever happened I've learnt a stark lesson and have bought a new hutch and a little wooden nesting box, prepared for the fact she may well give birth again in a matter of weeks.
I spoke to the vet nurse again today and she said that this can be common in first litters, plus the cold weather, but I still feel terrible.
Please can i have huge vibes for the remaining kit? If she stops feeding I'm taking it down the vet asap to get it hand fed, I can't bear to lose this one too
I'm gutted. I don't know what else I could have done as I'd tried getting her to stand over the nest and tried laying her across my lap and latching the kits on, but she just wasn't having any of it. She WAS feeding the reamianing kits as their bellies were fat, but I suspect she'd been in at their nest as they were inches away, and the nest was uncovered, either that or they'd crawled out and died. The live one was buried right deep down and seems well.
I've brought her into the house now, in a warm box with a nesting box with the remaining kit inside. I'm keeping a very close eye on it. It's belly is fat so I'm happy on that front and she's not aggressive towards it.
Whatever happened I've learnt a stark lesson and have bought a new hutch and a little wooden nesting box, prepared for the fact she may well give birth again in a matter of weeks.
I spoke to the vet nurse again today and she said that this can be common in first litters, plus the cold weather, but I still feel terrible.
Please can i have huge vibes for the remaining kit? If she stops feeding I'm taking it down the vet asap to get it hand fed, I can't bear to lose this one too