Feeling for kits

[2 bun-owner]

When u feel for kits do u push hard? I tried a few times
And didn't feel anything. she's due in a couple
Of weeks. I know cause I can't feel them doesn't mean
She doesn't have kits but was just wondering.

 

[OwnedByTheBuns]

Well, I have NEVER palpated succesfully at 9-15 days. I only palpate now at about 26 days - that's when you can really feel them.

But, when you do palpate, you stick your hands in between her two hind legs and feel up. You don't push up to where you lift her legs off of the ground, but you do it to where her legs extend.

 

[2 bun-owner]

If I can. She won't even let me touch her now.
She grunts and jumps at my hands. If I can cath
Her I will try and see.

 

[skysthelimit]

Yes, but hard is a relative term. Gently but probing, like a massage. Most people don't have success because they are afraid to feel around. If you do it right the bun usually relaxes into your hand. Start as close to the ribs as you can,up high enough to the backbone as possible and side downward. If you can count poop pellets in the intestine, you know you are doing it right, then you feel grape or slightly larger, sized balls, they are firm and slide away when you try to grab. Takes a bit of practice. Compare it to an open doe, if you have one.

 

[2 bun-owner]

I prob won't be successful. Like I have said
She won't even let us touch her. She grunts and
Runs away. Or grunts the hole time I'm in the
Cage feeding, cleaning ect.

I'm going to move my buck here in
A few weeks so she can relax without
Knowing there's a buck on the other side
Of her when she has her kits.

 

[squidpop]

Have you tried putting her in your lap? I put the doe in my lap and face her head toward me- first I give her a nice long head massage around the ears and cheeks until she seems relaxed- then I put my right hand under her tummy- my thumb on one side up under the leg and my other fingers on the opposite side and I gently feel around- working up and down the sides. The insides of the rabbit feel pretty squashy- so you kind of massage your fingers around in the squashyness untill you feel something firm like a grape.

 

[2 bun-owner]

Right now my doe is pretty grunty. She doesn't
Like us around or being petted right now. I don't
Want to stress her out which I'm sure we have done
Plenty of that already. Time will tell if she gives us
Kits or not and how she does this time. Previous owners
Bred her and said she didn't make a nest or pull fur
So hopefully this time she will do that since this will
Be her second litter.<br /><br />__________ Sun Sep 08, 2013 6:07 pm __________<br /><br />I'm going to try this again. She seems
More herself and not grunting and freaking
Out like she has been. I felt today and didn't feel
Anything but I think I was doing it wrong. I'm going
Out to feed here I a little bit so I hope I can be successful
And see if I kind feel some "grapes". Haha

 

[squidpop]

When you do it- your thumb and fingers should be on the sides of the tummy- and you do kind of bring your thumb in toward your fingers- I start up high and kind of work my fingers across and down. Its like trying to feel grapes in a sack of jello.

 

[2 bun-owner]

Either she not pregnant or I'm just not doing it right.
I'm going to error on the side of caution and still put
The nest box in the cage for her and make it less
Stressful for her in case there is kits. Would hate to
Not be ready and then have kits laying there helpless.

 

[OwnedByTheBuns]

Well, my first doe was pregnant with six, and I felt ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Not one thing. I was sure she wasn't pregnant. Then she popped six buns out. Always put the nest box in.

 

[2 bun-owner]

Yep, I'm going to. I felt again and nothing. I did
Feel the poop intestine and felt poop turds. They
Didn't squirm away from me so this is why I think
It was the poop intestine. she's acting
More normal now an not grunting or jumping
At me so don't think she is but will soon find out
If she is or not.