Managing Litters

Master litter management from kindling to weaning. Track kit development, monitor performance metrics, and make data-driven decisions for your rabbitry.

Key Insight: Proper litter management is crucial for rabbitry success. BunnySync automates tracking while providing insights that improve survival rates and growth performance.

Litter Management Overview

BunnySync's litter management system provides comprehensive tracking from birth through weaning and beyond. The system handles:

Birth Recording

Quick litter creation after kindling
Track born, alive, and DOB counts
Automatic kit generation
Foster kit management

Performance Tracking

Weight monitoring and growth curves
Survival rate calculations
Individual kit tracking
Automated task generation

Creating a Litter Record

After a doe kindles, create a litter record to begin tracking:

Method 1: Quick Litter Creation

From the Dashboard

Click "+ New Litter" button
Select breeding method:
- From Existing Pair: If you tracked the breeding
- Manual Entry: For untracked breedings
Enter litter details:
- Litter ID: Your identification system (e.g., "2024-15", "DOE1-L3")
- Born Date: Date of kindling
- Live Kits: Number born alive
- Dead Kits: Number stillborn
- Prefix: Optional kit naming prefix
Choose task template or use default
Click Save

Method 2: From Doe's Profile

Direct from Breeder Page

Navigate to the doe's profile
Click "Record Kindling" in the Actions menu
The doe is pre-selected
Select the buck (if breeding was tracked)
Enter litter details as above

Record litters immediately after kindling for accurate data. Even if you plan to cull or foster kits later, record the initial born count for proper statistics.

Understanding Litter Details

Key Information Fields

Field	Purpose	Best Practice
Litter ID	Unique identifier for the litter	Use consistent format: Year-Number or Doe-Litter#
Born Count	Total kits born (live + dead)	Count immediately after kindling completes
Alive Count	Kits born alive	Recount after 24 hours for accuracy
DOB Count	Dead on birth (stillborn)	Document for breeding statistics
Prefix	Auto-naming for kits	Use litter ID or date-based prefix
Cage	Physical location	Update if doe is moved

Automatic Kit Generation

When you create a litter, BunnySync automatically:

Creates individual kit records based on your counts
Assigns unique codes to each kit
Sets initial status (active for live kits, died/stillborn for DOB)
Links kits to the litter for tracking

Screenshot: Litter creation form showing kit count fields

Tracking Litter Development

The Litter Timeline

Day 0: Kindling

Record litter with accurate counts
Note any birthing complications
Check for and remove stillborn kits

Day 1-7: Early Development

Daily nest box checks
Monitor doe's milk production
Record any early losses
Consider fostering if needed

Day 10-14: Eyes Opening

First individual handling possible
Begin identifying exceptional kits
Watch for eye infections

Day 21-28: Emerging from Nest

Kits begin eating solid food
First weight measurements
Evaluate for potential breeders

Day 35-42: Weaning Period

Separate from doe
Individual evaluation
Update kit statuses

Litter Task Automation

BunnySync can automatically create tasks when you record a litter:

Default Task Schedule

Standard Litter Tasks

Day 1: Nest box check
Day 10: Eye check
Day 21: First handling
Day 35: Weigh 1 (5 weeks)
Day 50: Weigh 2 (7 weeks)
Day 65: Weigh 3 (9 weeks)

Custom Task Templates

Create your own task schedules:

Go to Settings � Task Templates
Click "New Litter Template"
Name your template (e.g., "Meat Production", "Show Rabbits")
Add tasks with days from kindling:
- Task name
- Days after kindling
- Task type (general, weigh, health)
Save template
Select when creating new litters

                            Example Template: "Show Quality Litters"
                            - Day 1: Nest box check
                            - Day 7: Count and evaluate
                            - Day 14: Eye check & first photos
                            - Day 21: Individual tattoos
                            - Day 28: Type evaluation
                            - Day 35: Weigh & photograph
                            - Day 42: Wean top prospects
                            - Day 49: Second evaluation
                            - Day 56: Final selection
                        

Weight Tracking

Regular weight monitoring is crucial for evaluating growth rates and identifying issues early.

Recording Weights

Quick Weight Entry

From litter page, click "Weigh" button
Choose method:
- Individual: Enter weight for each kit
- Batch: Enter total weight, divides equally
Select date (defaults to today)
Enter weights in your preferred unit
Save to record

Growth Analysis

BunnySync automatically calculates:

Average weight: Current litter average
Growth rate: Weight gain over time
Individual performance: Compare kits within litter
Historical comparison: Compare to previous litters

8.5

Avg Weight (lbs)

0.85

Daily Gain (oz)

92%

Survival Rate

7/8

Alive/Born

Handling Special Situations

Fostering Kits

When you need to move kits between litters:

Go to the source litter
Click on the kit to foster
Select "Foster to Another Litter"
Choose the receiving litter
Add notes about the reason
Kit moves to new litter with foster status

Foster kits maintain their original parentage for pedigree purposes while being raised with the foster litter.

Recording Losses

When a kit dies:

Navigate to the litter page
Find the kit in the list
Click "Update Status"
Select "Died"
Enter date of death
Select reason:
- Stillborn
- Fading kit syndrome
- Doe aggression
- Disease
- Unknown
- Other (with notes)

Splitting Large Litters

For does with many kits:

Consider fostering excess to smaller litters
Rotate kits for nursing if keeping all
Document your management strategy in notes
Monitor weights closely for equal growth

Managing Kit Statuses

Track each kit's journey with status updates:

Active Died Sold Breeder Butcher

Status Transitions

From Status	To Status	When to Use
Active	Breeder	Kit selected for breeding program
Active	Sold	Kit sold to customer
Active	Butcher	Processed for meat
Any	Died	Kit mortality at any stage

Litter Performance Metrics

BunnySync tracks key performance indicators:

Survival Metrics

Birth Survival Rate: (Live born / Total born) � 100
Weaning Rate: (Weaned / Live born) � 100
Overall Survival: (Final count / Total born) � 100

Growth Metrics

Average Daily Gain: Weight increase per day
Feed Conversion: If tracking feed (Premium feature)
Days to Market Weight: Time to reach target

Economic Metrics

Revenue per Litter: From sales and processing
Cost per Kit Raised: Including feed and care
Profit Margin: Revenue minus costs

Best Practices

Daily Checks: Check litters daily for the first week, then regularly until weaning. Early detection of problems improves outcomes.

Consistent Recording: Record all events as they happen. Delayed data entry leads to inaccuracies and missed insights.

Use Notes Liberally: Document anything unusual - weather, doe behavior, health issues. These notes provide context for future analysis.

Regular Weighing: Weigh at consistent intervals (weekly is ideal). Weight trends reveal health issues before visible symptoms.

Complete Records: Record all outcomes, including losses. Accurate mortality data helps identify systemic issues.

Common Issues & Solutions

Create a single litter record with the total count. In the notes, document that kits were found in multiple locations. If some kits were chilled or died due to separation, update their individual statuses accordingly.

Use the "Manual Entry" option when creating the litter. You can estimate the breeding date (31 days before kindling) or leave it blank. The system will still track all litter metrics properly.

Keep kits in their original litter records for genetic tracking. Use the notes feature to indicate they're being raised together. You can also create a custom cage assignment to show physical location.

Yes, edit the litter to update counts. However, this won't automatically create or remove kit records. You may need to manually add kits or update statuses to match your new count.

Advanced Features

Litter Comparisons

Compare performance across litters:

View doe's litter history from her profile
Compare growth rates between litters
Identify your best producing pairs
Track seasonal performance variations

Export Options

Export litter data for analysis:

Litter Report: PDF summary of litter performance
Weight Data: CSV export for spreadsheet analysis
Pedigrees: Generate for promising kits
Sale Records: For customer documentation

Integration with Other Features

Financial Tracking: Automatic ledger entries for sales
Health Records: Link treatments to specific kits
Task System: Automated reminders for litter care
Reports: Litter data feeds into rabbitry analytics

Pro Tips for Litter Management

=� Photo Documentation

Take weekly photos of the entire litter together. This creates a visual growth record and helps with marketing.

<� Early Identification

Use temporary markers (nail polish, markers) on ears for early identification of exceptional kits before permanent tattoos.

=� Benchmark Setting

Establish target weights for different ages. This helps quickly identify underperforming kits that may need extra attention.

=� Consistent Timing

Weigh kits at the same time of day for consistency. Morning weights before feeding are most accurate.

Ready to Optimize Your Litters!

You now have the knowledge to effectively manage litters in BunnySync. Consistent tracking and analysis will help you improve survival rates and growth performance.

Remember: Good records today lead to better decisions tomorrow. Start with basic tracking and add more detail as you become comfortable with the system.