Why Do Kits Die More in Winter?
📝 Summary
Winter breeding matters to rabbit farmers; with fewer pathogens, survival should be high — but poor conditions (bad temperature) kill frail kits. Here are the causes and prevention.
1 Common Winter Death Causes
Not enough colostrum: first-litter does with little or no milk lose kits in 2–3 days. Colostrum is rich in nutrients and antibodies — the survival base — so kits must nurse enough within 6 hours or likely die.
Large litters with size gaps: without planned repeat mating, one litter is too big; winter’s scarce greens lower the doe’s milk, and un-fostered weak kits die.
Underdeveloped kits: unscientific feed or moldy food during pregnancy yields weak fetuses; some diseases without abortion still starve the fetus.
Doe does not pull fur or nest has little bedding: low winter temperature freezes newborns, especially in first-litter does.
2 How to Lower Winter Mortality
Ensure colostrum within 6–10 hours: a full kit sleeps still with round belly, rosy face and bright coat. A kit crawling and crying means too little milk — check the doe and foster it.
Manage the doe well: full-price feed plus greens, no moldy food; do not catch or scare her.
Prepare the nest 4–5 days before birth, disinfect it, add clean bedding, arrange by weather; if she will not pull fur, manually pull abdominal fur, especially around the teats, and cover newborns with it against cold.
If milk is short, feed more juicy greens (carrot, cauliflower leaves) and add brown sugar or bean juice to water; keep the nest quiet for the first month.
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