First timer with Nervous Mommy syndrome...

[Frecs]

Both my does (Silver Foxes, first time for each) were breed on Sept 22 (and again 23rd)...soooo...we are at 32 days gestation...no babies yet.

Okay, I put the nesting boxes in two days ago. I was seeing one doe, Country Mile, picking up hay like she was wanting to make a nest. But, now that she has the box, she isn't making a nest in it...she is pooping in it. So is Jumpp. Country Mile still picks up hay like she is going to build a nest but she doesn't actually do so. Neither doe is pulling hair, either.

So, like, is this normal? is there anything I can do besides wring my hands and fret?

 

[tm_bunnyloft]

I wish I had an answer for you. I hope you get nice healthy litters from both your does and they do a good job as mommys.

 

[jessie15273]

same situation here, doe is just moving hay around, no fur pulled yet either

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Some does build their nests in advance, and some procrastinate until the last minute... and they will switch things up on you just to keep you guessing!

Keep plenty of hay in front of them so when the urge strikes they have plenty of it to work with. You might want to move the nests to another location and see if they stop soiling them. A couple of bunny berries is normal, but if they are making piles, you may have inadvertently put the box in one of their favorite potty areas.

Give the girls until at least day 36 before giving up hope. Someone posted recently about a litter arriving on day 38, but that is outside the normal window.

Hopefully they wont make you wait that long, wringing your hands and fretting, before they give you some nice popples! :clover:

 

[3mina]

They can go up to day 36 without doing anything other than stressing you out. I've seen lavender tea suggested on other forums, tums has been suggested here on other threads. I wouldn't start with that until you get closer to day 36. Make sure the ladies have lots of nesting material, have a cup of tea and relax.

 

[Frecs]

Should I put nesting materials in the nest for them or just make it available? :x

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I line the nests with a handful of pine pellets, pine shavings, and shredded brown paper. Sometimes I stuff hay in one end of it just so there isn't as much wasted by falling through the floor of the cage- but my does like to gather hay and I like watching them hop in and out of the box, so I put most of it on the floor of the cage.

Edit: I put about a 1"- 2" layer of the shavings and shredded paper into the box depending on temperature- less when it is hot, more when it is cold.

 

[mystang89]

Dumb question but are you sure they are pregnant? Also, definitely what MSD said, take the box and move it to a different location to try and stop the doe from using that as their "Spot".
Lastly.....I want some SF's!!!!

 

[BlueGiants]

Some of my girls won't actually pull fur and "make a nest" until she actually kindles. One of my Flemish girls has a baby, pulls fur, has a baby, pulls fur... she sort of "layers" the babies and the fur. First time Does sometimes don't know what to do with all the new hormones they are experiencing, and aren't sure what order to do things in... But once they are born, all my Silver Fox girls are excellent mothers. I hope yours are too! If they got bred on Sept 23, today is day 31. (September only has 30 days) Hopefully, you'll have babies by tonight.

 

[Frecs]

Dumb question but are you sure they are pregnant? Also, definitely what MSD said, take the box and move it to a different location to try and stop the doe from using that as their "Spot".
Lastly.....I want some SF's!!!!

Reasonably sure. I'm a total newbie so I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure they are pregnant.

And, Silver Foxes are the BEST! I love them. Not so much for "pet" purposes...they aren't into much cuddling. But, they are docile and like to be stroked.

 

[mystang89]

Any SF has to be better than this satanic Cali I have. If I got myself a hold of a doe SF that Cali would be dinner before she new what happened. If I got myself a hold of a doe and buck SF....well, I would be able to fill in the spot of the NZ buck that just died

 

[Frecs]

Any SF has to be better than this satanic Cali I have. If I got myself a hold of a doe SF that Cali would be dinner before she new what happened. If I got myself a hold of a doe and buck SF....well, I would be able to fill in the spot of the NZ buck that just died

Where do you live? I might be able to help find you some SF's. They are so much better than Cali's! The closest I've come to being bitten by my SF's is when Skipp will nibble on my shirt when I'm holding him. <br /><br />__________ Wed Oct 24, 2012 11:13 am __________<br /><br />Oh, and I did reposition the nestboxes and added pine shavings this morning. I so can not stand this waiting!!! I want popples!

 

[mystang89]

I live in Kentucky. The closest SF breeder that I've been able to find is a bit under or right at 3 hours away in Eastern Kentucky selling does for $50 and bucks for $75. I love the way they look and all but...ouch, that's a bit steep for me.
That darn cali has bitten me more times than I can think of and I'm just trying to be nice and let the dumb thing run around to exercise a bit. Can't wait to bit into her...it'll be the best tasting meat of the year.

 

[BlueGiants]

Wish I was closer... I find the Silver Fox are much nicer than that! (You may have to "slow-cook" that girl if she's that tough!)

 

[mystang89]

lol :lol:
Well, if I can't have any SF right now I definitely want to see some pics of the little guys when they get here Frecs.

 

[Frecs]

I'll definitely post pics when they arrive!

I purchased my "starter set" of 2 bucks/2 does from a breeder in Tallahassee, FL. Fortunately, my mother was heading to Pensacola for a family visit and picked them up on her return trip. After I got them, I discovered a breeder in Myrtle Beach about 30 minutes away. sigh But, the good thing is that breeder's SF's are from different lines than mine so we plan to do some swapping. BTW, I paid $125 total for my four bunnies.

The National Silver Fox Rabbit Club has a facebook page if you want to see if you can locate someone closer to you with more reasonably priced breeders.

 

[mystang89]

I'll probably be heading out towards the one here in Kentucky in a week or so to get a St. Bernard and I'll have to see how finances are but I might make my way over there by accident.

 

[AnnClaire]

Frecs, for first time moms, I stuff the nest box with hay and offer a fruity tums on about day 29. The tums is to give the doe a calcium boost which is depleted during kindling.

Mystang, good luck on finding some SFs ... there is another breeder that I know of in Kentucky but I haven't seen him being active in any of the groups for a while.