EEEEEEKKKK!!!! HELP!

[hlboswell]

I have 2 minirex bucks and 4 does. I bought them when they were seven weeks old and seperated them at 2 1/2 months (about 4 weeks ago). This morning when I went to feed them I noticed that one of my does, Fauna, had some of her fur pulled out and stuffed in a corner of the cage. She has gained a little weight the past week, but I just thought she was filling out. But now that I've looked at her closer, I'm afriad she might be pregant.
I'm freaking out!!!!! What should I do?!?!

PLEASE HELP!!!!!! :help:

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Give her a nest, ASAP! Even a small box will do- line it with shavings/shredded paper/hay, give her more hay or straw to gather up, and wait for popples!

Edit: if you do use a lightweight box, attach it to the cage somehow so she doesn't accidentally flip it when she hops in and out. Zip ties would work, or a piece of wire.

I'd also give your little bucks a firm talking to!

 

[ohiogoatgirl]

oh wow... i wish i could help but i'm afraid i have nothing to offer. i think what mamasheepdog said sounds good. that way if she is preggo she will at least have a nestbox. hope things turn out okay for you and your buns.

 

[akane]

Put the box where her current nest is and put the fur in it so she hopefully sees what it's for or she'll just keep building her current nest.

 

[Frosted Rabbits]

oooh, so jealous!!!

 

[MaggieJ]

Agree with the advice already given... Give her a box with nesting materials, anchor it if it is lightweight, and put it in the same corner she is using for her nest. It's all you can do for her at this point... but take comfort that most of us have had an OOPS litter in our rabbitries at one time or another. Many of these very young does do okay, although naturally one would prefer they had a chance to grow up first.

 

[Miss M]

Do keep us posted!

 

[Hucksdaddy]

I'm afraid this advice may be a little late, as she has probably already kindled. But I've found that if you have to move the fur by hand, the doe may avoid the nest box because it smells like you. This doesn't happen most of the time, but it does happen, especially if the doe is not used to being handled by you. To avoid this, put a drop of vanilla extract on her nose. This will cover up your scent and by the time it wears off, the nest box will smell like her.

 

[hlboswell]

Thanks for all the advice, guys. It's all really appreciated. I just went out and bought another cage as she was housing with 3 other does. I moved the 3 does into the new cage and added a nestbox to her cage. I really hope everything goes well, because this is her first time and my first time also. I've never breed rabbits before and this will be my first kits. I'm kinda nervous!

 

[MaggieJ]

Don't be too nervous, hlbosworth. I think you're doing okay. You separated the does from bucks at 12 weeks, which is normal. You noticed that your doe had pulled fur and took action promptly. She is now in her own cage with a nestbox. The rest is pretty much up to her. Don't expect too much from her since she is a very young teenage mom... but she may surprise you. Good luck to you and your little doe! :clover: :clover: :clover:

I wouldn't worry about your scent being on the fur or nest box. She's accustomed to your scent and will simply ignore it. I've never seen a doe have a problem with either nesting materials or the kits being handled.

 

[Hucksdaddy]

I've never seen a doe have a problem with either nesting materials or the kits being handled.

I have unfortunately lost an entire liter because of it.

 

[MaggieJ]

I've never seen a doe have a problem with either nesting materials or the kits being handled.

I have unfortunately lost an entire liter because of it.

But how do you know it was because of your intervention and not for another reason?

 

[curlysue]

I had a buck breed his mother once.oops!the babies turned out fabulous.crossing my fingers.sometimes first timers do very well.

 

[Secuono]

You should also separate the does into their own individual cages, same for the bucks. Or are you trying some kind of colony?

 

[Hucksdaddy]

I've never seen a doe have a problem with either nesting materials or the kits being handled.

I have unfortunately lost an entire liter because of it.

But how do you know it was because of your intervention and not for another reason?

Because that doe was a really good mother, every time except that time. That day, she stomped them to death.

 

[MaggieJ]

Because that doe was a really good mother, every time except that time. That day, she stomped them to death.

It is possible that you are correct about the reason, but one unfortunate incident out of all the litters raised does not seem to me like a good reason for everyone to avoid handling kits and nesting materials. No one else has been having that problem and you had it only on one occasion with one doe.

That whole "not touching the nest or kits" thing has been with us ever since the "Leave it to Beaver" episode on the subject back in the Fifties, when Gus the Fireman had to come to Beaver's rescue.(Anyone else here old enough to remember that?)

 

[OneAcreFarm]

It could also be that he had some kind of odor on his hands that time. Or not related at all, just coincidence. I usually pet the doe for a bit before I handle the kits, unless it is an emergency. But I ALWAYS handle the kits and the nesting material. Sometimes, they just freak out for no reason. My doe Sassy had 11 on Valentines Day...over the course of the next 4 days, they were all found dead, a few at a time... no injuries, just dead. I have NO clue why this happened. Her first litter was perfect....Oh well.

 

[MaggieJ]

Sorry to hear about that, OneAcre.