Day 17 & Pulling Fur

[Kat872]

My rabbits are really trying to stress me out today! My buck is in surgery and my doe, who was bred 17 days ago just started pulling fur and digging in her litter box.

Should I put a nest box in for her now? I'm kind of worried that it's so early and she'll just use it as another litterbox. (She has two...the princess pees downstairs and poops upstairs)

 

[Susie570]

(She has two...the princess pees downstairs and poops upstairs)

:lol: :roll: Spoiled bunny!!

But sure, why not put a nestbox in to give her something to do?
No harm in it. If she uses it for a litterbox, you'll just have to keep cleaning it out.

 

[katiebear]

She seems to to be asking for a nest box..That's really early but I have e a couple of does that build and rebuild.. my most experienced doe pulled fur a week early this time :?: yeah they like to keep you on your toes. :?

 

[Kat872]

Yup, I put a box in and she is haystaching and hopping around her cage so proud of herself. She keeps running to the door to show me.

At least she's keeping me distracted while I wait for the vet's call.

 

[Susie570]

Yup, I put a box in and she is haystaching and hopping around her cage so proud of herself. She keeps running to the door to show me.

At least she's keeping me distracted while I wait for the vet's call.

Some does just enjoy building their nest early. Some of them even like to build a nest when they're not pregnant (goofy does). Just let her enjoy herself

 

[katiebear]

Yup, I put a box in and she is haystaching and hopping around her cage so proud of herself. She keeps running to the door to show me

So sweet sounds like she is anxious to be a moma..doing up the nursery already.... :lol:

 

[Kat872]

Having never seen a rabbit build a nest before, I need to ask...can it seem a little obsessive? Possibly manic??

Since putting the nest box in Annabelle's cage she has been very busy. First she took everything out and started to build in one corner. Then she put everything back in the box. Then she started building in another corner. Then it all went back in the box. When I let her out thinking she could run off some steam all she did was search the house for good nesting areas.

She is haystaching and paper-staching and continuing to pull fur. If I didn't know beyond a shadow of a doubt what date she was bred I would start expecting kits any minute now, but there is zero chance she was bred any other day.

My worry is...is this normal nesting behaviour? She has hardly eaten and rarely stops to catch her breath.

Funny story from this morning... she actually stopped and came to the door for head scratches and we had a little "talk". I was telling her what a good mama she is and explaining how important it is for mom's to take care of themselves and remember to eat and rest. My son (he's 17) sat there looking at me and said, "Mom...she doesn't know what you're talking about." I said, "Hey...us mom's gotta stick together!" He walked away, shaking his head. He just doesn't understand... <br /><br /> -- Thu Apr 09, 2015 10:58 pm -- <br /><br /> OK, I guess she must be happy with her nest now as she has been much calmer today. She tidied up her cage and is back to her normal self. I'll keep checking her nest to make sure she doesn't soil it. At this point she isn't hopping in it at all.

 

[Miss M]

:lol: What an adorable picture!!!

Anyway, yes, that is normal nesting behavior. It can seem like the doe has lost her mind. Pretty funny to watch...

 

[MaggieJ]

What you describe IS normal nesting behaviour--some does are more obsessive than others. Some does are entirely laid back and casual and don't do much until kindling is imminent.

I feel I should mention, however, that Day 16-17 is typically the time when a doe experiencing false pregnancy takes to nest building. So it is possible that she is not pregnant, but her hormones are playing tricks on her . . . so don't be too disappointed if she doesn't kindle around Day 30-31. In any case, please. please, please leave the nest box in until at least Day 36. I don't know how often I've heard the sad story of kits born on the wire because the caregiver decided too soon that that doe was not pregnant.

 

[Homer]

...
-- Thu Apr 09, 2015 10:58 pm --

OK, I guess she must be happy with her nest now as she has been much calmer today. She tidied up her cage and is back to her normal self. I'll keep checking her nest to make sure she doesn't soil it. At this point she isn't hopping in it at all.

Kat, I have a French Lop doe that does this every time. Around day 17/18 she goes nuts and builds like crazy. Once she's happy with the results she completely ignores it until right before she kindles. Then she pulls more fur, hops in and the magic happens all in about 10-15 minutes.

 

[Schipperkesue]

What you describe IS normal nesting behaviour--some does are more obsessive than others. Some does are entirely laid back and casual and don't do much until kindling is imminent.

I feel I should mention, however, that Day 16-17 is typically the time when a doe experiencing false pregnancy takes to nest building. So it is possible that she is not pregnant, but her hormones are playing tricks on her . . . so don't be too disappointed if she doesn't kindle around Day 30-31. In any case, please. please, please leave the nest box in until at least Day 36. I don't know how often I've heard the sad story of kits born on the wire because the caregiver decided too soon that that doe was not pregnant.

This exact thing happened to me just last month. Early nest building, gave her a box, and then nothing. She has been rebred and is due next week.

 

[Kat872]

Thanks everyone! Glad to know that she's "normal".

I will definitely just leave her be with the box and see what happens (until day 35). If she has babies or not, its fine with me.

 

[imajpm]

Yeah I have a French/English Angora cross doe who starts with the haystache around mid pregnancy. I end up breaking down and giving her her nest box a few days later. She makes her nest then leaves it alone until eventually the kits show up

 

[Kat872]

She seems pretty content and the box is still clean. In fact, the whole main floor of her cage is clean (she's in a bunny condo right now) and that never happens!! She is still rushing the door for head scratches, but she won't let me touch her tummy, so the watch continues. Tomorrow is day 21.