A fader is, put simply, a kit that isn't meant to survive. Faders are not peanuts, but faders tend to have just a tiny bit too much of the dwarf gene, which impacts the gut and the pituitary gland in the brain. The pituitary produces growth hormones, so the kit grows a little slower than its siblings at first. Because the kit isn't getting enough signals from its endocrine system that it needs to grow and develop, the gut never matures enough to be able to handle solid food. This kits tend to die of starvation at weaning age as they will not eat any or enough solid food to survive.
Sometimes a fader will turn itself around and gain back weight by itself. I wouldn't consider that a fader necessarily though. It might just be a kit that missed a couple of feedings because mom hopped away or something. Faders usually die somewhere around the 5 week mark, although there are telltale signs before that time that point to a kit fading. The kits are usually on the small side, though not alarmingly so, and tend do have ruffled fur that stands up on end. They are less playful and energetic than their siblings.
Many well-meaning people desperately try and bottle feed or force feed the kit to help it survive. Please do not attempt this. Not only will it probably not work, but it will stress out the kit and cause it to die earlier. Don't even try putting it in a cage by itself with food, as this stress will certainly cause it to die sooner.
Faders that are 'forced' to live often unexpectedly die at around the 8 week mark or later, and they do not thrive. They are genetically weak, so should never be forced into surviving. It sounds harsh, but do you really want to grow attached to it, or sell it to someone, even as pet quality, when it could suddenly die at any time?
Everyone gets faders from time to time, but if you have a buck or doe who seems to produce a lot of faders, it's possible that they carry the genes for genetic weakness. I would personally pet out any rabbit that produces lots of faders. As the genes for faders are recessive, there are no health risks associated with a rabbit that produces faders.
Sometimes a fader will turn itself around and gain back weight by itself. I wouldn't consider that a fader necessarily though. It might just be a kit that missed a couple of feedings because mom hopped away or something. Faders usually die somewhere around the 5 week mark, although there are telltale signs before that time that point to a kit fading. The kits are usually on the small side, though not alarmingly so, and tend do have ruffled fur that stands up on end. They are less playful and energetic than their siblings.
Many well-meaning people desperately try and bottle feed or force feed the kit to help it survive. Please do not attempt this. Not only will it probably not work, but it will stress out the kit and cause it to die earlier. Don't even try putting it in a cage by itself with food, as this stress will certainly cause it to die sooner.
Faders that are 'forced' to live often unexpectedly die at around the 8 week mark or later, and they do not thrive. They are genetically weak, so should never be forced into surviving. It sounds harsh, but do you really want to grow attached to it, or sell it to someone, even as pet quality, when it could suddenly die at any time?
Everyone gets faders from time to time, but if you have a buck or doe who seems to produce a lot of faders, it's possible that they carry the genes for genetic weakness. I would personally pet out any rabbit that produces lots of faders. As the genes for faders are recessive, there are no health risks associated with a rabbit that produces faders.