How old do kits have to be before touching?

by Joann
(USA)

Hi, I was wondering how old the kits have to be before you can touch them and bring them out to check up on them.

****Karen Sez****
We always check the kits immediately after kindling, meaning as soon as we find that the doe has kindled. We pull the entire nest box out of the cage in order to count the kits, make sure they're all healthy, and to clean out any damp or bloody straw, bedding or placentas.

Then, we frequently check in on the kits once a day, especially if the litter is huge. At 2 weeks, the box comes out for good.

99 times out of 100, your doe that knows you and knows your scent is not going to freak out because you touched her babies. That other time...either the doe freaked for other reasons, or her instincts are messed up.
K