Apart from waking up and seeing the little kits in with Bella bickering, all is quiet. When I left for work this morning there were kits on each side of both mothers, contentedly suckling.

Fingers crossed it remains that way and they all start gaining weight.

Ah yes, Leila has certainly produced 3 mini Grenville and Griseldas. Precocious, mischievous, bickering, monsters!

Poor little runt female has been having a hard time trying to feed. The two larger kits scuffle with her, especially the other female and so she has not been getting much in the way of feeds. Leila is still trying to separate them when they fight but she is having difficulty. I have been keeping a close eye on when all and, whilst no damage is being done, the little one is getting tired. She has not re-gained her birth weight yet. I separated the bigger female out for a while earlier today and the male and the runt got on either side of Leila and settled down immediately. It was only when I tried to re-introduce the bigger female that things deteriorated again.

Bella’s little kit is continuing to gain weight. Bella continues to be very protective and I have always doubted she would take on another kit (I have tried it before and failed) – but she has surprised me today. I took the runt away from Leila because she is going to get hurt or fail to feed and starve – the other two get along fine, one on either side of Leila and no bickering (famous last words, eh?).

Cautiously I handed the runt to Bella and she sniffed her all over, gave her bottom a quick wash, and then tucked her underneath her belly. The kit was a little bewildered at first and was wandering about but Bella simply followed, groomed her gently and then tucked her up again. Both “Shorty” and the runt have met, sniffed noses, and ignored each other. On the baby monitor I can currently see Bella in the “feeding kit” position, with both kits plugged in to each side of her – so far so good!

All is quiet in the chin room.

Oh and, as predicted yesterday, Leila’s groomed all the marking off the kits’ ears!!

Well, Bella’s little fella (must not keep referring to him as “shorty” or it is going to stick!) seems to be doing great considering how wobbly he was when first born. Bella is now in full mothering mode and is very protective of him; open the cage door to take him out to weigh him and she’s there like a short, all grumpy and defensive.

He’s putting on weight slowly but surely and the tell-tale curly tail has appeared. He spends most of his time tucked happily under his mother, back legs waving in the air as he’s upside down.

He’s looking more chin-like too.

Bella's Kit at 2 days old

Leila’s kits, on the other hand, are being complete monsters. They have been climbing the bars and pinging off backwards and are currently still jostling for teat position. Leila is being brilliant, bless her, and is separating the offenders when scuffles break out.

What is not so helpful is that Leila also seems to be grooming off the pen marks we put in the kits’ ears so we could distinguish them. We ut fresh marks on today – what’s the betting they are nowhere to be seen again tomorrow?

Anyway ……….. kit photos as promised. These were all taken by Talie yesterday.

Leila with the male kit

1st standard female, just born

2nd Female Kit Born

Looking for milk