REALLY early nest building

[ollitos]

Matilda was bred on 3/21. Last night, she built a HUGE nest and pulled fur.

Uh.

Huh?????

this is her first litter with us, second litter in her life.

She's been using her hutch area as a toilet so I had to completely remove the nest she built and clean the area as much as I could. I put her nesting box in with some pine shavings and some of the fur I saved from her nest. I added some hay to the hutch area for her to use as she wants.

She spent some time checking it all out, sniffing, investigating. Then she peed in the nesting box. Is she marking it as hers or should I replace all the pine shavings? It's not a huge area.

Should I expect a premature litter tonight?? This is very early to be nesting and pulling hair. She isn't due for a week and a half!

 

[boundarybunnyco]

I'm having the same issue with one doe. She has built a nest and pulled fur for over a week. Today would be day 33 so I'm going to assume it's a false pregnancy.

 

[ollitos]

Well, she's using the nesting box as a litter box so I took it out. This is just so crazy.

I was very thorough in checking the nest she built for any premature babies but saw nothing. She spent the entire night that night pulling up grass to make this nest and pulled fur for it. I'm really perplexed.

 

[ladysown]

some rabbits make a nest early.

If they use it as a litter box I give them a different box and I put it in a different place in their cage. The "used as a litter box" nestbox I put out on the sun for a good week after giving it a thorough clean.

the day 33 doe, if she's made a good nest I'd leave it in for at least a couple more days. Some does kindle late and it's easier to leave it in than it is to kick yourself for taking it out too early.

 

[wild1slilfarm]

I have a doe thats doing the same thins I went out yeasterday morning and she was pulling hair, i moved her into her nest box cage and shure enough shes still pulling hair the poor things almost bald, this is her first litter thou so i'm asuming shes just over ready

 

[ollitos]

I took the box out and now she's using the hay I gave her to make another nest on the floor. So later I'll give her a different nesting box and will put her nest in it and see how that works.

 

[Diamond]

....can't wait to hear how it turns out!

 

[fuzzy9]

I have a first time mom who is due the 12th, who has been nesting since her second week. She hasn't pulled fur yet, but she was nesting with her hay, and making herself crazy obsessive so I gave her a box. :lol: Her mom is like that too. Thankfully she hasn't used it as a litterbox, so I left her have it. Hoping she'll be a good mom since she's been so eager so early.

Hoping all goes well with your doe!! Happy Healthy Popples!