I can't stand the suspense!!

[WildWolf]

So, I bred my first SF a month ago... last Saturday (the 6th) was her 28th day. I gave her two nestboxes that I put hay in. She checked out both nests, and dragged some of the hay from the back to the front of one of the nestboxes (but I haven't seen a haystache...). So, I thought that she would start building her nest soon...

Well, she still hasn't pulled fur. Maybe she's one of those does who pulls fur only a couple hours before she kindles?? Maybe she is just going to kindle late? She was covered 5 times, so she should be pregnant! Also, her belly looks a little bigger too. And she's been getting away with bad behavior- she won't let me pick her up, and she acts like she wants a head rub, then runs away kicking my dust off her feet.

I really hope that everything will be OK- this is my first time breeding and her first time being pregnant. The suspense is driving me crazy!!!

Also I was wondering- is it OK to move the grasshay in the nestboxes? She hasn't pulled fur... and I haven't seen her with a haystache. I was thinking that if I put the hay in a smaller box inside the nestbox, that would make a better nest. The nestboxes right now are just long retangular boxes with removeable lids.

 

[AmysMacdog]

Wouldn't want the box to be too small. What size are the boxes?
Bunny watch!..... opcorn:

 

[WildWolf]

The boxes are huge. Each one is a modified cabinet... And I've seen her go into both.
So, in the nest box in the run (it's a modified cabinet that is now floor-less and the hinged doors are now the top of the nest box- there's a hole cut for a rabbit entrance) I thought that I had put in 2ish handfulls of grasshay. But there was only about 1 handful of grasshay in there... The nest box in the hutch (its an upside down modified cabinet that is now floor-less and has a removable top- there's a hole cut for the rabbit entrance) had a little bit more hay... maybe she moved the hay? or maybe she just ate some??

Ok, I was too impatient to wait for someone to tell me if it was OK to move the hay around in the nest boxes...
I put a carborad box in the back of the nest box in the run, and put the hay (plus some more hay) in the box. I also piled the hay in the hutch nest box to make it more neat and I put in a piece of wood to hopefully prevent the hay from spreading out.

__________ Tue Jul 09, 2013 11:11 am __________

just another update: Inside the run nest box, she moved the carboard box from the back to the front.... which blocks off the entire back half of the nest box... and she also pushed the hay to block the entrance. I think I should put more grasshay beside the run nest box

__________ Wed Jul 10, 2013 9:32 am __________

I'm starting to get worried. She goes into the run nest box, and rummages around, but she's only blocking the entrance and chewing up the cardborad box. She isn't carrying hay, as far as I can see... She hasn't pulled fur. Today is Day 31 Is there anything I can do to help her? I don't know... maybe there's something I could feed her that would help stimulate her?

 

[AmysMacdog]

I wouldn't do anything yet because she may not be ready to deliver. It is day 31 but its not unual for one to go a few more days before they deliver! I'm sure others will chime in and tell you how long their does made them wait.
Hang in there, I know the waiting is hard and I would just wait and watch.

 

[WildWolf]

Thanks, AmysMacDog, that's reassuring. I just hope she hurries up...

 

[Mountain Spice]

Bunny watch!..... opcorn:

Yes indeed!!! opcorn: :lilbunny: opcorn: inkbunny: opcorn: :lilbunny: opcorn: inkbunny: opcorn: :lilbunny:

 

[AmysMacdog]

LOL WildWolf You know the saying "You can't rush mother nature, she gets everything done in her own time." I think you could ask alot of people on here that when it comes to waiting for babies is a nail biting experience but we all love it!
Its just so rewarding when all goes well!
opcorn:

 

[OwnedByTheBuns]

Well, I had a doe do that same exact thing. She ended up not being pregnant. I have had a doe wait until day 33 and 34 though, put they had always nested by day 31.

 

[WildWolf]

I know- I see all those posts about nervous people while they wait for their litters... but never understood it until MY rabbit is having my FIRST litter, and she's TAKING FOREVER!!! I keep going back and forth; I know she's pregnant because she's kinda moody and was covered 5 times, but she isn't nesting...<br /><br />__________ Wed Jul 10, 2013 5:16 pm __________<br /><br />Uh... she chewed a hole in the cardboard box so she made a way for her to get to the back of the nest box... which is kinda weird since she dragged the cardboard box to the front of the nest box, which blocked off the back of the nest box in the first place... :? I hope she stops moving everything and starts pulling fur and building a nest!!!

 

[fuzzy9]

Hope she kindles soon for you!!!

 

[AmysMacdog]

I know- I see all those posts about nervous people while they wait for their litters... but never understood it until MY rabbit is having my FIRST litter, and she's TAKING FOREVER!!!

They know we're waiting..... opcorn: Its a conspiracy!

 

[WildWolf]

hahaha, yes it is!! She is moving the cardboard back further, and the hay was moved half way out the box and onto the ground... I can't tell if that was just because she was chewing the cardboard box and ignoring the hay, or because she's building a nest... no hay carrying that I can see!

And it's raining again... we had sunshine and humidity for the last 3ish day, now back to rain. I hope that doesn't mean she'll abandon the nest box in the run!

Thanks everyone for your support!

 

[Northwinds Rabbitry]

I do help my does along (i just can't wait lol) so I do shred paper and hay and put it in and give them extra to do it them self just so I know it will be a good nest.
I have my does sometimes make a nest and then a few days later they rebuild and then pull fluff and mine always pull fluff a few hrs before.
And sometimes first timers......Well......they are not real professional lol
Good luck!

 

[Flemishstar]

opcorn: ..I know exactly how you feel, I would have dreams and nightmares about my rabbits kindling lol....
opcorn:

 

[WildWolf]

I did put hay in there... maybe I'll put more hay in. In the run nestbox, she keeps pushing the cardboard box back, and chewing it up, and kicking the hay to the front of the nestbox. I'm going to put a cardboard bottom underneath everything, so the hay outside the cardboard box doesn't touch the ground.
This is Day 33!!!

 

[Northwinds Rabbitry]

Well if there is nothing by day 32 then I usually wait a week (just for extreme incase lol) and then rebreed them cause mine never go past day 32

 

[Flemishstar]

Good advise NorthWinds

 

[WildWolf]

She built a nest today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Haystache's are cute- but furstaches are cuter!! She stuffed a ton of fur in her mouth... it looked like she had a beard over her dewlap!

I'm so glad I won't have to rebreed her.

__________ Fri Jul 12, 2013 5:48 pm __________

neat haystache:

bit off more than she can chew!

Huge 'stache:

 

[AmysMacdog]

YYYYAAAAAYYYYY! Nice haystache pics.
Now for the popple watch! opcorn:
Got my fingers crossed all goes smoothly!

 

[WildWolf]

Thanks!!
She kept posing for the pictures- she'd stuff her face then pause, and look at me for 2 seconds, then go back to work. I guess she was just being super-alert, but it seemed like she was posing for pics!