Pulling fur?

[SEP board]

Will a doe pull fur for any reason other than preparing a nest? My second doe was breed the day after the doe that had a kindle about two weeks ago. She never delivered so I figured it didn't take. I breed her again, about a week and a half ago but the she didn't seem to lift nor did the buck fall over. So I didn't press the matter further. Today she has a small pile of fur next to her in her cage. Wasn't there last night so some time today she pulled it. Just to be cautious we put in a nesting box. She dove in and started scratching around.

She's had one kindle a few months ago that only yielded two kits that were still born.

Could she be pregnant and nesting early? Is there another reason for pulling fur?

Thanks

 

[Preitler]

In my experience it would be a false pregnancy if it's within less than 3 weeks she was with a buck. Some of these are mild with just some haystashing, others leave the rabbit seriously plucked. I saved quite a stash of fur ( may come in handy later) from most of my does due to false pregnancys.

But you'll never know for sure until her due time is over, put a nestbox in then anyway.

What I do if I'm not sure if a doe is bred is that I just put her to the buck, just for a few minutes - when she refuses, and is quite vocal, chances are good that she's already bred and I take her out right away.

 

[macksmom98]

Agreed. This is most likely a false pregnancy, but you should prepare anyway just in case

 

[SEP board]

Thank you, nesting box is in so we'll see what happens over the next few day.

 

[Sea2Sky Rabbitry]

Most likely a pseudo-pregnancy like others have mentioned but here's more information: http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Uro_gen_diseases/Pseu_preg/pseudo_en.htm

Agreed that there's no harm in putting in a nest box just in case.

Good luck!