2 does both on day 34

[ipoGSD]

Hi I have 2 does that I know are pregnant. I felt the bumps at 2 weeks and have even seen their bellies moving they are in separate cages.

They were both bred last month on the 19th. So if I don't count that day, they are now on day 34. If you're supposed to count that day, it's day 35. (Which day do you start your count?)

They are both flemish/satin crosses. One looks like a giant grey flemish the other looks like a pure satin. They were bred to a satin buck.

I have read so much to know not to really worry but to also keep an eye out for issues.

I couldn't for the life of my find any fresh lavender plants, everyone said it's off season. I was able to find a health food store that sold dried lavender @ 54.99! I was shocked! But I bought 4 dollars worth. About half a sandwich baggies worth.

But no where online said how much to give. I gave the girls about a teaspoon full. I don't know if that was enough or too much? I just worry because this is their first litters, they are about 7 to 9 months old. I worry about a small litter and big kits.

I've massaged bellies and let them hop around our living room. (They are indoors until I can make hutches this spring)

I have them the teaspoon of lavender about 30 minutes ago. I had to mix it with some greens and then it was falling off even tho I wet the greens first lol so then i pureed a tiny bit of carrot, ebony gobbled hers right up. Ruby ate some but was less then thrilled and left about half of it. Was that enough? If not, how much more should I give? How much longer do I wait of I have to give more? All this info online about giving lavender but nothing at all specific about amounts/time frames.

At this point I've done all I can think of. Just wish I knew how much lavender to give. I read it's potent so I don't want to over do it.

Any info or advice is appreciated

Oh.. I've heard a little digging the last couple of days but only a little. Havent seen any hay stashes. Only nest building they have done is them squishing the Timothy hay down that I put in there.

 

[Tiny Buns]

You can try putting them in with the buck again. A mount will get things moving. Often it me just an exercise is patience. Nature does things in its own time.

Also does can absorb a litter so a positive palpation doesn't automatically equal kits

 

[ipoGSD]

Ive read they can reabsorb kits but I still see them moving in their bellies. especially Ruby (the grey one) And from what I read (tho I'm sure there's no rules set in stone) anyway I read that once the kits are a certain age, it's unlikely.

Guess im just nervous, its their first litters..and mine lol <br /><br /> -- Sat Jan 23, 2016 7:22 pm -- <br /><br /> Well still nothing. I don't get it. I felt round things inside them they were definitely too big to be feces. Also seen movement in their bellies.

But still no babies @ day 35.

I checked their um "down stairs area" they both were very pink, ebonys was very pink but very swollen. Is there a difference in appearances between ready to breed vs nearing kindling? I looked at the sticky and saw the pics. A couple of the pics looks like the girls areas. I'm curious as to what it looks like before kindling. Any have a pic?

I also introduced the male to them last night, thinking if they weren't pregnant may as well try again. And if they are, here's to hoping it helps them kindle.

Should I take the nest boxes out or leave it in there for a day or 2 longer? I feel bad because it takes up a decent amount of cage.

 

[Tiny Buns]

Did they lift for the buck or did they try to run away/fight/grunt/growl at him?

 

[Deer Heart]

Rabbit's bellies always move visibly when they're digesting. This was a hard lesson for me when I was first starting out... not an indicator of pregnancy (digestion looks like waves/ripples across the sides usually) If their vulvas are dark pink and swollen, I'm guessing they're in heat. At day 25 and by what you've been describing, I'm doubting highly that it took.

 

[ipoGSD]

Yeah I learned last night that their stomachs move while digesting. Talk about bummed out!! Because that's the movement I saw, the slow wave like motion.

As for the breeding on the 19th. I didn't see it. The man who gave me the does said he bred them to his satin male the morning I picked them up.

Since day 32 I had tried introducing my mini rex male to help induce labor but it never worked because the breeding didn't take or possibly from the stress reabsorbed?
But what sucks is I didn't let him do the deed which I regret as their areas were both hugely swollen and pink. And both lifted for him too! But I didn't know what would happen of they were pregnant and he bred with them???? I thought their hormones from being pregnant was causing them to lift for the male.

So today.. Ruby will not accept him at all. She was actually somewhat aggressive with him, even started chasing him and bit him so I took him out. But there is a very slim chance he did get her last night. I didn't see it (turned away for a second because my kitten was climbing where she isn't allowed) but my wife said she thinks he got her. So do I keep checking her area and if it looks red and swollen breed again or wait a whole month to see of it actually happened?

Ebony did allow him to mount her twice today and last night too. He didn't fall off like I've seen via YouTube. He kind of kicked his back legs straight out in the direction of her head (if that makes sense) but he is also a very small buck and had plenty of room to kind of stay on her without falling. He's my daughter's mini rex. I'm using him until I get another buck this spring. I figured let him earn his keep.. maybe it will help with lighter bone density.. if I see a kit or 2 that look meaty and not so boney but still a decent size, I'll keep them for more breeding stock.. then when I get the meat male, breed him into them.. hey ya never know lol

 

[Deer Heart]

You said she became aggressive so you removed him... did you take your buck to the doe's cage or was this in his cage? Always take your doe to the bucks cage. Does can be extremely territorial and aggressively defensive of their cages. This might be what you saw if that's the case, you may want to try again anyway and bring her to his cage if you hadn't already (and I simply misunderstood your statement) just to be safe.

 

[ipoGSD]

Hi Sali, I have one of those hard plasric kiddie pools (it's actually my german shepherds pool lol) with a puppy pen around so they can't hop out. They love it! All the rabbits get exercise without worrying about wires getting chewed and pee all over the carpet. They get put in there anywhere from a few hours each day or sometimes over night. One at a time of course except when trying to get them to breed.

But you make a good point. I know not to put the buck in the does cage, but this play pen area... I didnt even think of it! I see it as the play area, but maybe by now she sees it as another cage of hers? I'll go put her in his cage with him right now and see how it goes. I'll brb, shouldn't take long lol <br /><br /> -- Sun Jan 24, 2016 1:46 am -- <br /><br /> Yeah she wanted NOTHING to do with him. Running away? Jamming her head in a corner, making squeaky noises. But at least she wasn't as brutal to him this time.

Ps I meant PLASTIC kiddie pool.. darn cell phone

 

[Deer Heart]

It's honestly hard to tell if he got her last time. I've had does reject bucks like that simply because they weren't in heat. Test breedings are useful if you already know your doe well enough to know she would accept the buck normally (if they're not pregnant). I've also had does accept breeding from bucks even while undeniably already bred (it doesn't hurt anything). Still, to avoid stressing her out, you could just watch her vent area for a few days. If color doesn't change after a week (she's not going into heat) then you would probably be safe waiting to see.

 

[ipoGSD]

I appreciate all the help and advice you've given me. I'll keep a close eye on her vent. if it changes, I'll see if she will accept the male. If it doesn't.. I'll assume she's pregnant..