Baby is starting day 6!

I can't believe I have managed to keep the baby alive this long.  I sure hope I can keep it up.  Shane started handling the feedings around midnight so I get to sleep tell 3.  Every night I have been waking up right at 3 to handle that feeding.  This morning I started to feed and baby stopped, was very still for a split second and peed all over me.  Well, at least the bladder is working!  So here are some photos of my baby.  yes, yes the boys call 'him' Roger but I still have hopes that it might be a girl.

 Tried to give some size comparisons for you to see how little she is.  She is quite funny.  When she is sleeping, if she is woke up she cries and cries and when feeding her the other day I stopped to wipe some milk off her nose and her foot was by her mouth and she started to suck on her toes, it was so cute!  When she is feeding if she gets milk up her nose she gets quite upset and will shake her little head so hard and huff air out her little nose.  I don't know what I will do if she doesn't make it now.  Eyes open around day 10.  I am hoping once her eyes open I will feel more confident that she is going to be ok.  She still doesn't eat much at one time.  I am mixing the formula a bit heavy so she gets more nutrients since the volume isn't taken.  These photos are a couple days old.  I was hesitant to post them to just have to post that she didn't make. 

I need to find some small syringes to keep on hand.  This one with the curved end it the smallest end I had and it is the only one like it I have.  The others are too big and I worry about getting milk in the lungs with them, not to mention up their little noses.  My hopes are to never have to do this again though.  We really need to have good mommies to make this work.  There is no way I could have kept this up with a whole litter of kits! 

Sole Surviver

Early on my birthday (Saturday) I found that Rosey had babies but all but one had died.  I decided to not give Rosey another chance since none of the babies were cleaned up and only the one was born inside the nesting box.  With only one there was not much of a chance of it staying warm anyway.  Sooooo I brought the baby inside, went to town and got baby animal milk replacement and started trying to save the baby.

Today is Tuesday and Roger Rabbit is still alive.  I have been feeding tiny amounts every 3 hours or so and although he has not taken large amounts he is still alive so I call that a success!  7 more days and his eyes will open.  He really needs to make it.  I just can't stand another loss.  Roger has made it longer than any other babies we have tried to bottle feed in Spokane and longer than any babies born since living here. 

I feel as sleep deprived as I did when my boys were babies, last night Shane stepped up and handled the midnight feeding which was nice.  I will get a pic as soon as I can keep that thought in my head long enough.  Keep your fingers crossed!!!

...

None of the babies survived the 2nd night.  I have to figure a way to have a nesting box in Sozo's cage without her tossing the babies out.  It was her first litter so I need to be patient.

Life and death lessons

3 babies didn't make it through the night.  I am trying to hold it all together so this can be a life lesson for my boys but, I just want to cry...there are still 6 though so I just need to keep hoping that they make it.  I really don't cope with death well.  On the bright side, the 6 still alive all have round bellies.  The one (at least I think it is the same one) is still rolling on his back with mouth wide open making little squeaking sounds every time Sozo walks over the babies. 

Rosey is starting to be mean to Buck so I need to separate them, I am guessing she is going to have her litter around Friday but usually Wheeler didn't get fussy until closer to her due date.  They chewed a whole between the cages so they could be together so now I need to fix that.  I am thinking to have it be fencing material so Buck can still see his beloved Rosey.  He is probably upset that she doesn't want to be around him and keeps attacking him.

We have babies!

Sozo had her babies during the night.  11 total, but when we found them this morning 2 had pasted.  We have been checking on them and re-piling them up all day so they stay warm and we are still keeping our fingers crossed that they make it...One is always laying on his back and he has the biggest roundest tummy!  I think he latches on every time Sozo gets close enough!  Most are sleeping quietly for most of the day and so gosh darn cute!  Not very big though.  They are much smaller than our previous kits have been.  Sozo is about 3/4 Flemish Giant and 1/4 New Zealand (about) and Buck is pure Californian which is a small boned rabbit.  We closed the front of the hutch to keep the warmth in as much as possible and we will just have to see how many survive the night...please God let them be strong enough and stay together for warmth...I will get a photo in the morning and post I promise!

Fingers Crossed

I think Sozo is getting ready to have her kits!  She started pulling fur this morning!!!  This is her first litter so I am not going to kid myself that they are going to make it, from the research I have done and our personal experience first litters rarely work out.  The new moms have lots to learn.  But keeping my fingers crossed!!!

Learning new lessons...

Everyone has heard to stop and smell the roses, a reminder to slow down and enjoy the beauty around us every day.  But maybe slowing down isn't what we need all the time...  I watched my chickens spend about a half an hour running around after a butterfly.  The entire flock would turn on a dime as the butterfly changed directions going here and there.  After the butterfly flew away all the girls took a long nap after their excitement.  I started to think...when was the last time I was that excited about something?  There are so many things that have happened this last year alone that should I should have enjoyed more.  Even just a swim trip to the Y with the boys, maybe instead of not wanting to deal with getting my hair wet I will just dive right into the deep end with the boys next time.  I do know I will never look at a simple butterfly the same way.

Additions and Subtractions

So I have photos of the additions we had.

Here are the turkeys, their names are Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. 

 This is Brooster Rooster who was cock of the farm until we added...

 

 Rambo! a Belgian Shepard who got ahold of Brooster's tail feathers and Brooster has not been seen since.  I hope he is ok.  Shane he had a bare butt.  We are working with Rambo to understand the other animals are to be protected.  He still licks his lips when he watches the baby turkeys...

This is Christmas, who has become one of the family.  When the house is quiet she will chirp really loud until someone answers her.  Yesterday we were out in the garden with the back door open and we could hear her calling for us clear down by the barn!  Christmas is happiest when she is being held.  I hope she is a she, if not no matter how many boys we have if Christmas is a boy he will be kept!

 

Lastly Rosey had more babies, unfortunately none of them made it.  She is getting better these all survived a day but we are going to give her one more chance and if she is not able to be a good mom this time we are going to remove her from the breeding stock and replace her with a female that can do the job right.  Buck is so in love with Rosey I am really keeping my fingers crossed that she is able to raise her next litter of kits due around May 22nd.  Because it will be warmer I am hoping that will be enough to keep the babies alive this time. 

 

 

We have all been working hard on the garden and we have about half of it planted.  We are trying to grow a little of every thing so we can see what grows well and what doesn't around here.  Shane is getting the other half ready to be planted tomorrow, that half will include the strawberries, potatoes, tomatoes, corn and asparagus.  If there is any additional space I will plant additional green beans, carrots and beets.  I also need to find a good place to plant my onions, leeks, shallots and chives. 

 

Time to start stocking up on more canning jars!!!!