UH...Is my Doe already pregnant????

[akaj9]

We just got our rabbits 2 weeks ago, the does were "6 mos" the Buck just a baby they said at "3 weeks" daddy a giant angora so he was big...... But It was a very difficult conversation as they spoke little english...We have them together.......I went out yesterday and one of the Does had arranged the straw into a nice little cave in the "hutch" around the feed bin. Today the same doe has lined it with fur, though it's not a nice cave anymore, just kinda "an area" lined with fur.... Does this mean she is close to giving birth....? In which case was she pregnant when I got her???? I planned on having more hutches and runs done as well as research before diving in...so I'm a little unsure here.... I have birthed puppies, chicks, cockatiels and 100's of koi....but I ain't birthed no bunnies! Should I remove the other rabbits? the hutch is 4x4 with a 4x8 outside pen. I can get a nesting box in tomorrow...Sorry...Everything I read said my lil guy had what I thought was a few more weeks before the deed could be done......I'm thinking she came all knocked up Would love some advise! janine

 

[SMR]

A 3 week old would be crawling quite a bit yet, barely on food, and probably not survive a sale. I've not seen one yet that had unless the person partially bottled them, its just too stressful w/o milk other wise. He sounds like he's full grown, take him out, flip him over and see if you see testicles. I think sadly, they just wanted to make a sale and lied. However, since they spoke little English maybe they meant 3 months, which is a very possible age for testicles to drop and breeding to take place...but those does would've been bred for a while if they end up having kid so soon. It takes 28-31 days normally, and while I've seen small breeds drop early, I wouldn't expect a giant cross to.

I would separate them all, assume both does are already bred and close to having kids. Give them each a nesting place/box with bedding (hay/shavings) and let nature take its course. Watch and check on them, if they don't pull fur you may need to do that (after kids are born and gathered up/warmed) or pick up kids and put them in one place or warm them up if they're scattered and cold. She should make her own nest and have them there. But things, especially for a first timer can be confusing and she may lose the litter. It happens with first time does so don't blame yourself, usually the next litter is much better. If you do a general search for breeding 101 or breeding basics it should turn up some more information for you to read, there's a lot of posts and no way I could repeat every thing.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Quick! Give that doe a nest box! If you don't have a prefab one, use a cardboard box, dishpan, something! Pick up her "nest" and put it in the container. Personally, I would move the other rabbits if possible, but I raise in cages- not colony style- with the size of your cage the others will probably be fine in there. You might want to block them from the hutch area if that is where she is nesting, at least until she kindles.

The important thing is to give her a nestbox right away. Some does start nesting far in advance, but my rabbits start building at most four days in advance with days off in between, and most of them start nesting the day before. When they start pulling fur, they are hours away.

Good luck! I hope she has a big healthy litter.

 

[SMR]

...some thing I was thinking of might want to consider if you don't remove the buck at least the doe will be re-breed as soon as he can possibly do it and in about another month you'll have another litter due. Since there's no heat cycle, it won't be long before there's another on the way. I don't do colony style either, although others have had great success with.

 

[akaj9]

Thanks so far for the advise...I've been reading and yes I agree, I must have misunderstood what they were saying...maybe 3 mos...cause he's a good size bunny, you can "tell" he's younger, but he is well adapted to life on his own....I will get the nesting box out there straight away....seperating the other two would be fairly easy at this point, both the cages are accesible, but the pen is not out of the elements.....so a makeshift shelter would be needed...we were hoping two does would kindle together in this cage and the buck would have a seperate one...as would the grow outs....Is that a possible situation? Or does each Doe have to have their own area? I spent most of the time in colony set up reading...Our original plan was for a larger pen area...which will still be made eventually....Is there a minimal size of the Rabbit house in order to have two does together with seperate nesting boxes? Remembering they still have the 4x8 outside pen too.... So far they have all gotten along pretty well...(famous last words) Oh And heavy hair plucking started today......Oh yay...she showe us how to sex them, and at that point he had not dropped and she had to press in to have the lil white penis petrude a bit...and said "boy" LOL<br /><br />__________ Tue Apr 03, 2012 10:29 pm __________<br /><br />and also...It's an old chicken coop so it's got enough upspace to make a full 4x4 loft for more square footage if that would help in allowing us to keep them together...

 

[SMR]

I think the does would be OK together...probably best not to separate them as might cause fight later from what I understand from other posts on here and reading.

There's a possibility he wasn't showing his stuff either...they can hide that and some times if you're really not looking for the spots you wouldn't know lol. Been there done that. Now on an excited buck there all out and easy to see. It can be a week or a few days and they can drop...but if he wasn't at that point then they are probably some one else's kids. Did they keep them in a group setting or ?

 

[akaj9]

She had them separate males and females...but was double checking...so not sure "how good" or long they were separated for :/ Nesing box is in with the nest move within it. She nosed around....hopefully that will be good....not really the way I wanted to start my adventure, I like to be well aware and prepared with knowledge...but it is what it is and we will figure it out as we go......with your help...thanks so much

 

[MaggieJ]

You'll be okay, Akaj9. Rabbits rarely require help to birth their kits. (It's KITS, not KIDS, SMR.) If you want to keep the does together full time, the space is large enough. Just provide two or more nest boxes because while this doe gave you warning, the other one may not. You need to assume that they are both pregnant.

If you can, cage the buck within the colony. Then he stays part of the community but cannot breed the females until you are ready. Fencing off one corner for him works well, but do make sure the barrier is high and secure... Bucks can jump great heights when they are motivated by a female on the other side.

In a colony setting, nest tunnels seem to work better than nest boxes. It's too late for that this time, but a wooden box 2-3 feet long with a hinged or removable lid to provide access and a doorway at one end will give the does more privacy. (Although they may decide to use the same tunnel and raise their kits together. They will work it out for themselves.)

 

[akaj9]

Thank you MaggieJ...that was exactly what I needed to know......I have palpitated the bellies of both Does and feel nothing...but....????? It's my first ride She doesn't seem interested in her nest at all today? I had planned on nesting boxes/tunnels that will actually come out the backside of the house with high hole access and a removable front for transision time with the kits. But with a hinged roof over the "boxes" themselves for good weather protection and access to care for the kits and cleaning...How wide would you suggest these be??? 12"

 

[akane]

A 3 week old would be crawling quite a bit yet, barely on food, and probably not survive a sale. I've not seen one yet that had unless the person partially bottled them, its just too stressful w/o milk other wise.

My 10 day olds are crawling (I kept having to throw 11 day old kits back in the box today while cleaning the colony), my 2 week olds are eating more solid food than milk and I have weaned at 2 weeks with no milk when forced, my 3 week olds are pretty much weaned, and my 3.5-4week olds are on their own. However no a 3 week old can't breed and it would be quite small. Not even a pound and smaller than a guinea pig. A 3 month old would be grown for a small breed and getting there for a large breed.

 

[SMR]

Hmm maybe its just my rabs then. I never see a 2 week old more then nibble, 3 weeks they're eating some hay and some pellets but not enough to survive on. I've got moms that would milk and feed them until they were way too old to do so though, maybe that's part of it too. Would that be an issue or not? Other factors that might be as far as not seeing a lot of eating @ 3 weeks? I've weaned at 4 weeks (or later just depends on kids), usually when I do so I can keep keepers individually and work with to see how they look for show w/o risk of tattered fur/ears.

 

[MaggieJ]

Yes, 12"-13" inches wide and high and 2'-3' long for the tunnels. You are trying to offer something more like a rabbit burrow.

I should mention that it is possible that your doe is experiencing a false pregnancy. This usually manifests about 17 days after sexual stimulation but does not necessarily result from a buck impregnating the doe. It could be due to an unsuccessful breeding or even to a doe being mounted by another doe. This stimulates ovulation and pregancy hormomes, but without the sperm to fertilize the eggs, nothing can result. At least, that is my understanding of it. In any case, leave the nest box in there because there is no way to be sure what is happening.