Is it me or the doe?

The_Dutchess · May 18, 2014

I have a blue Silver Fox doe named Lovey. She was supposed to have a litter, but then she reabsorbed her kits. I'd been feeding her pellets, hay, the occasional handful of grass, and a very occasional carrot as a treat. At the end of the pregnancy, I'd been feeding her oats and BOSS to whet her waning appetite and I've heard BOSS helps with milk production. Now she has been pregnant again. Tomorrow is her due date. I've been feeding her the same thing, and have not been holding her since she is for some reason afraid of heights and I did not want to stress her. If she doesn't have the kits again this time, the owner (who has helped us out a TON) says that we should replace her, and that she would be happy to do so. So I just want to make sure, if she fails this last pregnancy, does it sound like I'm the problem, or she is? I'm open to any ideas or suggestions or things you think I'm doing wrong, I'm just trying to get more of an idea of what's going on.

arachyd · May 18, 2014

There are more factors than just feeding and not handling. Is it too warm? Does she have fresh water at all times? Does she have a good spot to nest? How long did you have her before breeding her the first time? Did you give her time to settle in at her new home? Are there loud noises she's not used to? Is there a lot of activity near her? Does she have a roof or other cover above her cage so she doesn't feel exposed? Are there any predators that could have wiped out the litter so you never saw it? Last but not least the most common problem I've seen....are you sure she was actually pregnant?

The_Dutchess · May 18, 2014

Is it too warm? No, it's actually a bit chilly, so I gave her extra hay if she wants to snuggle in it. Does she have fresh water at all times? Yes. Does she have a good spot to nest? I gave her a wooden nestbox. How long did you have her before breeding her the first time? I bred her a month after we got her. Did you give her time to settle in at her new home? Yes, by the time I bred her, she was perfectly used to her cage and surroundings. Are there loud noises she's not used to? No. Is there a lot of activity near her? No, I put a blanket over her cage because she gets scared for some reason when anyone but me is near her hutch, but I keep it off most of the day time and no one is allowed near her. Does she have a roof or other cover above her cage so she doesn't feel exposed? She has a roof. Are there any predators that could have wiped out the litter so you never saw it? No, we only have squirrels, dogs and cats. And a dog or cat couldn't have gotten them because the kits would have been born in the nestbox, which is in a segment of the hutch that has a wooden door, sides, and back. Last but not least the most common problem I've seen....are you sure she was actually pregnant? Yes. Both timesI palpated her and found grape sized balls pass through my fingers. I read thenaturetrail.com's article and the ARBA Raising Better Rabbits and Cavies book's article on palpation.

skysthelimit · May 19, 2014

I would say it's not you. I handle y pregnant does quite a bit, and they do not appreciate being taken out of the cage, but I can't say I've lost a litter over it. I do all kinds of strange things. The only time I had a doe reabsorb after I palpated positive, is when she came down with the cocci that was running rampant last summer/fall.

The_Dutchess · May 19, 2014

Okay. Today's her due date, and I'm a little afraid to check for kits. I had a dream last night that she didn't have kits, I sent her back to her prev. owner, and she popped out 10 kits.

I asked her previous owner about if there's anything I'm doing wrong, and she said "nope, that's just the bunny biz, crap happens."

Do you think I should try one more time and rebreed her if there isn't kits? I just don't want to waste my time with her because if I rebreed her soon, wait until June for kits, and she doesn't have them, then if I get another doe, I'd breed her in like, July and wouldn't get kits till August. And with the probably hot weather in maybe June, definitely July and August, I don't think that would be much success.

skysthelimit · May 19, 2014

Hmm.

Depends. Go with your gut. I would probably not rebreed her, but I'm down to two strikes here.

I also breed during June and July, usually having my last litters in August, then no one seems to want to breed until Feb. again.