is it normal for a 4 month old to have a false pregnancy?

[LindseysWoolies]

My friends 4 month old angora is pulling hair and building a nest. The only buck near her is her neighbor. How common is it for a 4 month old to have a false pregnancy? I have only heard of it with older rabbits. she is very upset because this is a show rabbit and she is ripping her hair out.

 

[OneAcreFarm]

I routinely breed mine at 16wks and there are commercial and lab raisers that breed earlier than that. It is entirely possible...does she have another doe in with her? If the other doe was "riding" her, it can cause a false pregnancy too.

 

[LindseysWoolies]

No she has been grooming her for show. She has had her own cage for two months (English angora)

 

[OneAcreFarm]

No she has been grooming her for show. She has had her own cage for two months (English angora)

How close is the buck's cage?

 

[LindseysWoolies]

He is next door separated by wire. Lol i had a chuckle at the pic she sent me.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

What a beauty! No wonder she is upset.

It looks like someone will be a good mommy, anyway!

 

[OneAcreFarm]

I would give her a nest box....it is rare, but thru the wire breedings *have* been known to happen...Has she tried palpating to see if she is actually pregnant?

 

[tnelsonfla]

Normal? no, can it happen...yes? maybe? cross cage insemination is rare but does happen. If I house a buck next to a doe I place a "screen" between cages. But over all I put them on two different levels. Before I had them housed on different rows.

 

[curlysue]

I wouldnt say it was normal that young.possible though and maybe shes really pregnant and thats why i have the same amount or more bucks for showing.they dont get pregnant.

 

[skysthelimit]

I wouldnt say it was normal that young.possible though and maybe shes really pregnant and thats why i have the same amount or more bucks for showing.they dont get pregnant.

lol