false pregnancy?

[SterlingSatin]

bred a doe 9 days ago. didn't think she took, my buck only got to cover her once before she turned on him and i had to seperate them. anyway, today i walked in and she was sporting quite the hay mustache. i can't imagine she's legitimately nesting already, is she faking? maybe the act of putting her in with a buck triggered a false pregnancy? this'll only be her second litter if she took. maybe now that she knows what it feels like to be pregnant, she really is nesting? i didn't think i should encourage her behavior incase its a false pregnancy so i didn't give her a nest box. should i? again, she's only 9 days pregnant if she took, so the kits won't be coming anytime soon. there's no chance she was bred earlier.

 

[MaggieJ]

Hard to say for sure.... It's early for a false pregnancy and very early for nesting, although I have heard of does that begin nesting about that early. False pregnancies typically show up around Day 17.

If you know how to palpate, you may be able to determine if she is pregnant. I forget the day you are supposed to try... sometime between Day 10 and Day 14, I think. Otherwise, you'll have to wait it out and hope she is pregnant.

 

[seagullplayer]

I toss my doe back in with the buck a week after the first breeding. Normally I can tell by her reaction if she is breed or not.
If she really builds a nest I would put the box in, otherwise wait till closer to due date.

 

[MaggieJ]

Repeat breeding that far apart can be problematic, Seagullplayer. Does have two horns in their uterus and can conceive at different times in each horn. Since they are induced ovulators, if the doe accepts the buck she may have two batches of buns in the oven at different stages of development. Sometimes this means that she will kindle at intervals, but other times one kindling will trigger the second litter to be born as well... too early.

Someone is sure to say: But what about in a colony? Isn't this a problem there? When the buck and doe cohabit for extended periods, the buck learns to back off when the doe refuses him... and after a couple of days of copulation, she makes it clear that she's had enough.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Sometimes this means that she will kindle at intervals

Have you ever heard of that being successful, Maggie? I would think with one litter more mature than the other, the youngest would not be strong enough to compete for milk. Just curious- not something I want to try personally!

Edit: starting new thread on this topic.

 

[seagullplayer]

Repeat breeding that far apart can be problematic, Seagullplayer. Does have two horns in their uterus and can conceive at different times in each horn. Since they are induced ovulators, if the doe accepts the buck she may have two batches of buns in the oven at different stages of development. Sometimes this means that she will kindle at intervals, but other times one kindling will trigger the second litter to be born as well... too early.

Someone is sure to say: But what about in a colony? Isn't this a problem there? When the buck and doe cohabit for extended periods, the buck learns to back off when the doe refuses him... and after a couple of days of copulation, she makes it clear that she's had enough.

I didn't know that was possible! I have always done it that way but I stay right there, the entire process only takes 30 seconds. If she had been a cooperative doe at the first setting, and she has a fit when I put her in the cage, she come right back out and I figure she is breed. I don't know that it is 100%, but it worked often enough that I took it for "fool proof". But you know how that can be...

 

[MaggieJ]

A lot of people use that method. I think as long as you do not allow breeding to occur, even if the doe is willing, there can be no real risk. Of course, if you intend to not rebreed the doe even if she is willing, there is not much point doing it, is there?

I really wish we have some definite scientific information on this subject rather than a lot of "they says".