Bunny Labor and delivery

[2cool4sure]

My doe only delivered one kit two days ago and still is pulling out fur.
Can anyone give me some info on this. Thanks :bunnyhop:

 

[MamaSheepdog]

She may not be done. Sometimes a fright can cause them to stop their labor. What breed is she? Some breeds tend to have more problems.

Is the kit still alive?

 

[2cool4sure]

I saw her in labor and then went back 10 minutes later and the kit was dead. But the doe did not eat the kit. The kit was nice in clean but not in the nest she had made. Dutch is the breed. Yesterday she pulled out lots of fur in the morning and and night but no kits. The doe is in a hutch alone.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I haven't heard of Dutch having the reputation of being difficult to breed... getting show marked kits is another story!

Was this her first time? Sometimes does (even experienced ones) will not start pulling fur until after they give birth.

Does kept in a colony setting will often get bred the day they give birth or soon after. Semen contains prostaglandins which help induce labor. If you have a buck handy, you could breed her back now. With any luck, you will have a litter within hours, and another in 4 weeks.

Ideally, I try to breed two or more does the same day so I can foster kits over if there are any problems.

 

[2cool4sure]

I do have a buck but the doe and the buck are brother and sister and I was told not to breed them together. By my calculation today should be 31. My doe was breed at the fair two different days so it could be 30 or 31 days. This is her first litter and she is only 10 months old. Thanks for your help.

 

[Piper]

I do have a buck but the doe and the buck are brother and sister and I was told not to breed them together. By my calculation today should be 31. My doe was breed at the fair two different days so it could be 30 or 31 days. This is her first litter and she is only 10 months old. Thanks for your help.

Please keep us updated, I am curious how the dutch are as mothers. Sounds like the has the nest part, down pat. Waiting game, now?! Does she seem to have more babies in her?

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I do have a buck but the doe and the buck are brother and sister and I was told not to breed them together.

As long as they don't have major faults, you can breed them. Inbreeding isn't that big of a deal with rabbits, and is the norm with rabbits bred for laboratory use to get rabbits that are nearly identical.

My doe was breed at the fair two different days so it could be 30 or 31 days.

They can go as long as 35 days, so there is still time.

:welcome: to the forum, by the way! Nice to have another Californian here! What part of CA are you ? I am near Bakersfield and breed Standard Rex.

 

[2cool4sure]

I am only about 3 hrs from you. I live in Santa Maria. My two kids joined 4-H last year so I'm babysitting bunny's while they are at school. Our buck has perfect markings he wins at all the shows. And I'm still trying to get the hang of this web site LOl.<br /><br />__________ Fri Aug 17, 2012 9:57 am __________<br /><br />Ok I just tried to put the buck with the doe and she attacked him and snorted at him.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

That's great- all of it!

I would definitely breed them then. You should get some really nice babies. If you can get another doe from the same breeder not quite so closely related, you will be set.

You will find a lot of useful information here at RT, so have fun exploring the site! If you have any questions about the ins and outs of the forum, someone will be more than happy to help. Just ask!

 

[Piper]

Ok I just tried to put the buck with the doe and she attacked him and snorted at him.

I think you and MamaSheepdog - posted at the same time. MSD does not seem to be logged in right now, so ---
If the doe is attacking, she may not allow him to breed. I would not leave them unsupervised and if it gets worse, to take her out.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Ok I just tried to put the buck with the doe and she attacked him and snorted at him.

I think you and MamaSheepdog - posted at the same time.

:rotfl: Yup... the "sounds great- all of it!" doesn't apply to the doe getting after the buck!

I would not leave them unsupervised and if it gets worse, to take her out.

:yeahthat:

 

[2cool4sure]

ok the doe ran away from the buck. He did get on her once then my son pulled the buck off. I couldn't feel any babies moving in the doe. So I'm not sure if she is still pregnant. I know she has balled spots now under her chest from pulling the fur out. I guess it's just the waiting game.

 

[MaggieJ]

Yes, just wait until day 36. If she has not kindled by then, you can rebreed her. The activity today may trigger kindling if she is still pregnant.

 

[2cool4sure]

Update on My Dutch Doe,

She still hasn't had any more kits since the still born 3 days ago.

My Doe starts freaking out if the buck comes even a few inches near her.

Anyone have any ideas on this

 

[Piper]

I am out of my league, here. Am watching to see what answers you get!

 

[skysthelimit]

Not every doe will breed back quickly. My doe is 60+ days past kindling and still won't accept a buck. I've been trying since day 5.

 

[dragonladyleanne]

Ok, I am about as far removed from "experienced rabbit breeder" as it gets. BUT . . . lots of experience getting animals who "NEVER liked . . ." whatever to DO whatever. Sounds like something about the breeding "session" is scaring your doe. COULD be the buck, but could also be the surroundings. My doe who was "bred" before I bought her didn't produce squat, but the mutt-bunny did. The difference, besides breed? The mutts ran around in a natural surrounding (fenced, but 12' x 20') for a week. Humans aren't the only ones who like a more romantic setting. :mrgreen:

 

[Miss M]

Ok I just tried to put the buck with the doe and she attacked him and snorted at him.

Did you put the buck in the doe's cage? That's how this appears to be worded. If that is what you did, that is probably the problem.

If you put the buck in the doe's cage, she will try to defend her "territory" -- her cage.

You should put the doe in the buck's cage. He won't be interested in defending his cage, he'll be interested in her. She won't have anything to defend but herself, and she might not bother.

 

[Piper]

Did you put the buck in the doe's cage? That's how this appears to be worded. If that is what you did, that is probably the problem.

I should have caught that. Good reading MissM! If you do make that mistake, and the doe has gotten angry at the buck.
Could she still be aggressive to him, if put in the bucks cage?

 

[3mina]

Usually not, especially if she's in the mood