mother rejecting kits need help!

[chandraalto]

My chin gave birth about 24 hours ago. At first everything seemed fine, then I noticed the babies were fighting aggressively so I looked it up on here and on other forums and it said that mom wasn't producing enough milk for her 3 babies and if I don't rotate them with mom and supplement them then I could lose one. I can't have that happen so first thing this morning I went out bought kitten replacement milk and began the rotation. when I first picked them up this morning one had injuries and the others were fine. The next feeding a second one had injuries. The next feeding The first one had new injuries and the biggest one had an injury. My husband and I went to put one back in and we notice the mother was acting aggressive towards and maybe trying to kill or injure it more? Looking at the wounds I think it would had to be her. Those tiny babies cant cause that much damage yet. I put the babies with dad who is separated at he cuddled them to keep them warm. So I figured that the mother maybe because its her first (and last) litter doesn't know how to be mom yet? If anyone has insight or advice I would appreciate it. I keeping them separate for now and feeding them KMR every 2 hours.

Is there anything else I should be giving them?

Every two hours often enough and how long is too long without food?
How much should they eat each feeding?

 

[chandraalto]

Another question

Should I try to put them with mom or just feed them myself? They act very healthy and active and are climbing to the top of the cage.

 

[tunes]

Kitten milk is not what is used for chin kits. You need to use goats milk, fresh or canned, but they prefer the fresh.

It sounds as though mom is stressed and with the kits fighting it is just making it worse. At this point, you may need to prepare to hand feed and not put them in with mom at all. That means every 2 hours, around the clock, 24/7 until they are several weeks old. You will also need to take care of their urination and defecation. If you look under the FAQ's, you'll find a detailed FAQ on how to care for kits.

 

[chandraalto]

Thank you I will try to find some goats milk tomorrow.. I have no idea where to look though..

 

[Mt. Zion Chins]

If you use can goats milk (they I do because that is all I can find easily) you can find it at Walmart in the 'foods for cooking section') with the cow's ev. milk.

 

[Mt. Zion Chins]

sorry I meant which I do (not they I do)

 

[addictedtochins]

At our Wal-mart it is in the baking aisle with cake mixes etc. in a can. You may consider getting it tonight and starting now if you can. Kits are pretty fragile. Good luck
Whoop's posted to slow

 

[chandraalto]

I'll go to walmart tonight then since its open 24 hours! I'll pick up some cotton balls too for helping with their waste. Thank you both for your advice it's much appreciated! I did just check on the and either they washed each other or dad washed them clean. So I think that's a good sign!

 

[chandraalto]

Ok my husband got evaporated goats milk with vitamin d. Is this what they need? Do I mix it with 1 part water?

 

[VolunteerChin22]

yes one can of milk to one can of water - it only keeps for about 48 hours in the fridge - you will know by the smell it's bad. I usually divide it and freeze it so as not to waste so much.

Keep an eye on the kits - they CAN do lots of damage to each other. Hopefully they will settle down since there is food. Likely her milk hadnt come in yet or she only had a couple working nipples.

Good luck - trouble always seems to follow triplets.

 

[6Dusters]

Have you tried to introduce just one kit and watch her for a while and see what she does? Triplets can be pretty overwhelming. I've had bigger litters born here.
I had triplets born two weeks ago and by day two they were fighting. I had to use mini rotations until her milk came in.
Keep in mind some moms never get milk in and other moms take a day or so. I'm guessing they are like all mammals that provide colostrum at first before milk starts. Kits nurse and hormones jump start that transition over.

Just a thought: Your new mom "may" be able to cope with one kit instead of all three. One never knows.

I've found that kits will start to nibble hay at a little over a week. They see mom do it and they start to try it.

To help my new moms out with big litters I do the following at about a week old.
I have a coffee grinder that I grind about a quarter cup of pellets and add a pinch of oatmeal. I then add about half a tablespoon of powdered goats milk to the ground mix and place in a very shallow dish. This helps fill up those bellies and lessen the fighting. Moms like it too.

HOWEVER YOU STILL NEED TO HAND FEED!! This is in addition to helping mom out. This also worked well for me and quads.


Here is a threat I started about powdered goats milk. I hope you find it informative.

http://www.chins-n-hedgies.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21688

 

[tunes]

If you read this FAQ http://chins-n-hedgies.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21 it tells you how to mix the goats milk, how to hand feed, etc.

 

[chandraalto]

Update on babies

The mother was injuring them so we took them away. She wasn't feeding at all either. One stopped eating so we rushed it to the vet and left it there and they tried to save but no luck! The other two have been hand feeding 100% for two days and and seem to be thriving. They are very hungry and eating more and more with every feeding. The only problem I have is that one has diarrhea but the other doesn't. We're taking them both to the vet today for a check up and I need to find a way to harden it's poop. Hopefully the vet will have some insight but if any of you have any advice it would be appreciated.

 

[tunes]

Addressed the diarrhea issue in your other thread.

 

[Riven]

For the sake of these kits I would stop taking them to the vet. Chances are there's only a 1/100 chance the vet knows anything about chins, and all it's going to do is stress them out and expose them to other illnesses because their immune system isn't getting help from mom's milk.

I'm hoping this is a chin that came bred and you didn't know...

 

[chandraalto]

Yes, the babies were an accident. I rescue I dont have time for more at the moment. I have 2 kids with #3 on the way, 2 Degus, 2 hamsters (one with neurological disorder), 5 rabbits (fixed), 3 guinea pigs, 6 finches, 2 turtles, and 2 now 4 Chins. So I already spend my time cleaning cages and whatnot daily. Babies take time away from my existing pets.