Weaning Method: Remove the Kits

Move the kits from the doe's cage into a clean grow-out cage at weaning time, leaving the doe undisturbed. This method suits operations where the doe needs immediate recovery time or is being rebred on a tight schedule and the kits will be separated by sex or size into dedicated grow-out housing.

Why It Works

Keeping the doe in her established cage preserves her territory and reduces stress on a potentially pregnant or recovering animal. Moving kits together as a group preserves litter bonds, which helps buffer weaning stress. This approach also lets you sort kits into appropriate grow-out groups by sex or size at the same time.

Tips

• Set up the grow-out cage with fresh bedding, food, and water before transferring kits
• Move the entire litter at once rather than removing kits one at a time over days
• Separate bucks from does by 10-12 weeks to prevent early breeding