Noob Questions, Nesting Early?

[Kenzierey]

Hi guys,
I'm new to rabbits and this forum! I got my first doe on Friday (Flemish mix) from a woman who breeds her own for meat. I asked her to breed her to her buck before I took her. She said that she would not lift and believed her to be already pregnant. Saying she palpated her and could feel the babies. She told me that the buck got into her colony the week before I got Mama (my doe) and that she should have babies within the next 3-4 weeks. She told me when I was meeting up with her that Mama was a very cranky mama and that she will bite once she has the kits. She also told me that she usually pulls fur the day that she is gonna kindle. (Obviously not)

So Sunday, (after having her for a whopping 42 hours) I went to go hang out with her in her stall and get her used to me before the kits came and to my surprise I see fur everywhere! After even further inspection I found a magnificent nest in the corner that she made with hay and lined with fur. I texted the woman asking if it was possible that she was due much sooner than she had originally anticipated and she told me that she could be! I rushed to make a nestbox to offer just in case she wanted it. But I am guessing she will use her own nest. So far there are still no babies, and I'm going crazy not knowing when her due date is. Could she possibly be nesting WAY early because of the change in homes? She really doesn't seem too stressed and is pretty laid back, munching away. But I also don't know this rabbit at all. I just don't know what to think. I was sure I had 3 weeks til the munchkins came. And I am now nervous that since she changed homes so close to her (possibly?) due date, that she may be stressed and that something may go wrong.

Also I was wondering, I have read multiple places that you aren't supposed to feed carrots and leafy greens and such when she is close to kindling. I can't see why. I have been giving her a few carrots and lettuce as treats when I go in so she gets more comfortable with me. It's been working great and I would hate to stop going into her stall with treats when that's what she is now expecting. What do you guys feed your does right around kindling time?

I'll attach pics of mama and her nest. Let me know what you guys think. Does she looks like she's gonna pop soon? I don't know what she looks like when she isn't pregnant. I know bellies aren't the best indicator, but she does look pretty large and low.

 

[HansenHomestead]

This is just my opinion based on my own personal experiences, but she looks to way further along than you were told. Just by the way her sides are sticking out, and the way she is laying. My does don't start to lounge like what until at least 2 days before kindle. Also all of my does only pull fur the day of kindle, and some even mere minutes before they kindle.

Forgot to add that with my does usually 2 days before kindle I can finally start to see them kicking, and moving around in momma when she is laying like. Nest time your out, and see her laying like that keep an eye on her sides. If there's movement I'd say she may be close to kindle, or at least a few days from kindle.

Here is a video of Cloudy that I took when she was pregnant with her last litter. She was on day 29 in this video.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krFrHr-wYDA[/youtube]

 

[Kenzierey]

This is just my opinion based on my own personal experiences, but she looks to way further along than you were told. Just by the way her sides are sticking out, and the way she is laying. My does don't start to lounge like what until at least 2 days before kindle. Also all of my does only pull fur the day of kindle, and some even mere minutes before they kindle.

Forgot to add that with my does usually 2 days before kindle I can finally start to see them kicking, and moving around in momma when she is laying like. Nest time your out, and see her laying like that keep an eye on her sides. If there's movement I'd say she may be close to kindle, or at least a few days from kindle.

Thanks for your reply! Other people on a different forum said that they couldn't tell with the stomach but when I look at that, it seems she is very obviously pregnant and close to kindling. I can't imagine her sides sticking out that much with 3 weeks left to go. She has also been messing with her nest and fixing it up every night. So i believe that is a good sign?

The unknown is killing me and I wish I just knew the day she was bred. I hate to keep bugging her and checking but she really is a sweet girl and doesn't seem to be too bothered. Hopefully she is comfy enough in her new home for things to go smoothly! I am just so confused by her pulling fur because the woman was pretty adamant that she only pulls fur right before kindling. Maybe its the change in environment that is changing her normal nesting behaviors?

Blah, the anxiety is getting to me. I even put in a camera in her stall pointed into her nest and I hooked it up to my TV so I can watch from my bed! Haha I am crazy! Hopefully I catch her giving birth! That would be so awesome! I guess I will just keep my fingers crossed!

Anyone have any guesses on how long it could be until kindling? Whats the earliest your does have ever started nesting??

 

[HansenHomestead]

If you're within in the US I can give you my number if you want to call, and I will try to help you as much as I can.

 

[Kenzierey]

Thanks! I am in the US, Western MA to be exact!

Good news! The woman that I got Mama from just texted me saying that one of her does just had 6 kits today! She keeps the does colony style, so that means Mama must be due very very soon! Yay!!!

 

[Preitler]

She sure does look very, very pregnant, you'll have kits soon I bet.

About when rabbits pull fur, well, that differs a lot. Better too early than too late. Fixing the nest imho is a good sign, but, uh, you'll never know what goes on in their little heads :lol: . Is she a first timer?

Just keep watching her regularly, there's always the possibility that kits are outside the nest (had that about twice per 100 kits), if that happens just put them in the nest to the other kits when they are fairly warm and moving, if they are cold and not moving warm them up to body temperature. Just that you're prepared, but it doesn't happen too often.

Anyway, it seems she's doing just fine. :good-luck:

 

[Marinea]

She looks very pregnant. And very pretty. Expect kits soon.

As far as food/treats, I don't take anything away from expecting does. I usually add some things- a chewable Tums once before kindling, and some black oil sunflower seeds with her feed after kindling to help her keep condition. I generally free feed while she is nursing, and continue with regular greens/treats.

Good luck! Oh, and welcome to RT, the hopping spot for all things rabbit.

 

[Kenzierey]

Thanks guys! And a special thanks for actually acknowledging the fact that she looks very pregnant! LOL I posted her pics in another forum (same pics) a couple of days ago and everyone was like "idk you can't really tell from their stomach blah blah blah she may just be having a pseudo-pregnancy blah blah."

They made me feel like I was going crazy cuz I look at those pics and I am blown away by the size of her tummy lol.

Is she a first timer?

Nope, she's a proven breeder. The woman I got her from said she has had a couple of good litters from her. She has had litters of no less than 6 with her largest being 12 I believe. She said she is a very good mother. So I am not too worried. Well...obviously a little worried with this being my first time and all!

She looks very pregnant. And very pretty. Expect kits soon.

As far as food/treats, I don't take anything away from expecting does. I usually add some things- a chewable Tums once before kindling, and some black oil sunflower seeds with her feed after kindling to help her keep condition. I generally free feed while she is nursing, and continue with regular greens/treats.

Good luck! Oh, and welcome to RT, the hopping spot for all things rabbit.

Thank you, thank you!! I do enjoy this forum so far way more than the others! And TUMS?! I would have never thought! What does this do for the does? and when do you give it to them? Morning of the due date? and do the flavors matter? lol

 

[EnglishSpot]

! And TUMS?! I would have never thought! What does this do for the does? and when do you give it to them? Morning of the due date? and do the flavors matter? lol

Tums are for the calcium, which does use during labor. Low calcium levels can stall a labor. Fruit flavored tums, not uber minty. I usually give one either day 30 or as the doe is in labor. I've had does eat it right away, some eat it afterward, and others just ignore it. I figure they know what they need when they need it, so I'll just let it be accessible.

 

[Kenzierey]

Tums are for the calcium, which does use during labor. Low calcium levels can stall a labor. Fruit flavored tums, not uber minty. I usually give one either day 30 or as the doe is in labor. I've had does eat it right away, some eat it afterward, and others just ignore it. I figure they know what they need when they need it, so I'll just let it be accessible.

Awesome. Thanks!

Still no babies

She did not even touch her nest last night. Didn't go anywhere near it. Hoping that today is the day! Her tummy does looks a little smaller or something, but I am wondering if it just dropped because she is going to go into labor soon. Her sides aren't sticking out like they were in the first picture I posted. <br /><br /> -- Sat Feb 06, 2016 9:48 am -- <br /><br /> Finally some babies!!!



Mama had 6 big, healthy babes last night around 11. I was completely shocked at the size. I was expecting them to be MUCH smaller and nearly screamed when I saw what came out of her! Lol I guess I'm just used to tiny little rat babies? Anyway, none dead yet and all tummies are looking very full!

 

[Marinea]

Congrats!

 

[Rainey]

hurrah for full tummies!
enjoy watching them grow

 

[HansenHomestead]

YEEEEEEEEEY! CONGRATS!!!

 

[alforddm]

Congratulations!

 

[Kenzierey]

Thanks guys! I am so happy with my first experience so far! I can't wait to get some more breeding stock and to have a nice little operation going!

 

[karenl]

They are big babies ours are usually little wigglers she's a good mum no wonder her sides were so big.

 

[Kenzierey]

They are big babies ours are usually little wigglers she's a good mum no wonder her sides were so big.

Haha I am seriously shocked! I watched a lot of videos preparing and I swear people's babies did not look nearly that large the first day! She is a big mama though.


Question: How often do you guys check on the nests? And how often do you do a full check on the babies? Once a day? I am paranoid that they are gonna be uncovered and cold or unfed one of the times I go out there. Of course Mama had to have them on the coldest night/day in the last two weeks, just to help with my newbie paranoia.

 

[Preitler]

I don't check too often, just a look at the nest twice a day when feeding, and checking that no kit has been dragged out hanging on the teat. When everything is ok and the nest looks fine I check the wigglers about twice a week. That is, if I can resist


If you want them getting used to you and to being handled it's not bad to spend more time with them after a week or so, sticking your hand between them and holding them, but I don't do that with my meat rabbits :?

 

[Rainey]

Question: How often do you guys check on the nests? And how often do you do a full check on the babies? Once a day? I am paranoid that they are gonna be uncovered and cold or unfed one of the times I go out there. Of course Mama had to have them on the coldest night/day in the last two weeks, just to help with my newbie paranoia.

We check every day for the first week if we are in any doubt about everyone being fed. And when it's cold we've kept the nestbox inside and just taken it out early morning and evening for feeding. (The first week is when we've lost kits from big litters.) But in this case the litter doesn't seem too big and all the kits were clearly well fed so I wouldn't feel that need to check. Near the end of the first week, you might want to check the nest and remove anything that's damp. On the other hand it doesn't do any harm to check more often if you want to, as long as the doe isn't acting upset by your doing it.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Hi Kenzirey!

Congratulations on the litter!

I'm a little late to the party, but have some insights for you for "next time".

I am just so confused by her pulling fur because the woman was pretty adamant that she only pulls fur right before kindling. Maybe its the change in environment that is changing her normal nesting behaviors?

When I first started raising rabbits, I decided that I would note down the doe's nesting behavior so I would know when I should expect a litter from each. It was an excellent plan, I thought... this doe pulls fur two days prior, this one pulls hours before... but what I found out is that rabbits are fickle creatures and delight in keeping us guessing, so they will change up their nesting behavior at random. *Sigh*

The unknown is killing me and I wish I just knew the day she was bred.

When you have your own buck you may want to keep him caged separately so that you will know the exact date that your does are bred. If he is running freely with the does you will never know when to expect kits, and he will also likely breed the does the day they kindle. Some bucks are impatient and may try to breed the does while they are still kindling and in doing so may inadvertently injure or kill the kits that are already born.

Welcome to RabbitTalk!

:welcomewagon: