Will a preggy doe lift?

[Zab]

So I expect both my does to kindle sometime between 8 and 13th of february. They were both covered 4-5 times, buck grunting and falling over.

When I clean out the pen, I open Koris (buck) cage and place the wheelbarrow there. He get to hang around in their pen too at that time - me figuring that 1. They're already preggers and both are very mellow, nice does so what could happen? 2. I'm in there, I'll notice if there'd be a problem.

Kori followed Kummin around and tried to mount. So far everything normal - she'd just hop away and he'd stop and eat a piece of straw or something and that'd be it, untill he would try a bit again.I kept an eye on them while I worked. But then I noticed she didn't hop away and he was at her pretty much.. I watched and waited for him to get bored by not finding the mark, but ... he did find the mark. She ad lifted to him.

So.. Does this mean anything? Didn't she take the last time or is it normal that they lift even if they're already expecting kits? It's her first time as a mom.<br /><br />__________ Sun Jan 27, 2013 8:57 am __________<br /><br />Found this on a site:

On the 14th day of the pregnancy, some breeders test breed to ensure that the
doe is pregnant. They put the doe back in with the buck. The theory is, if the doe
refuses to be bred that means she’s pregnant. If she accepts the mating, that
means she was not pregnant. The problem with this though, even when pregnant,
does can still accept the mating and when not pregnant might refuse to be bred.
Rabbits have two uterine horns, meaning the doe could already be pregnant in
the first one from the first mating, and become pregnant in the second one with
the test breeding resulting in the doe carrying two litters at the same time. This
can be very dangerous for the doe and the litters. This could cause mummified
fetuses and could kill the doe.

Have I killed her now?

 

[Dood]

If a doe has a second litter started in the other horn it is usually aborted during labour.

I have never seem a mummified kit inside a butchered or necropsied rabbit but I have had does produce alot of blood and clots a day or two before giving birth which is the other uterine horn with the younger litter being emptied.

Don't worry.

 

[Zab]

I wish I knew Everything before I had to make learning experiences...'

Thanks. I won't freak out when I see the blood at feb 10 either then.. :3

 

[AmysMacdog]

Hi Zab I wish I could find the article quick, I'll have to look for it but I read about a rabbit that was bred, then when palpated they couldn't feel anything so she was rebred. When they noticed her trying to nest for the first due date they gave her a nestbox and she delivered healthy kits then they noticed later at the second due date she had a second new litter in the box! The first litter had their eyes open and a bunch brand new babies! If I remember correctly the doe raised both litters.
I believe it was an old issue of Countryside magazine the article was in. <br /><br />__________ Sun Jan 27, 2013 10:08 am __________<br /><br />Wow I found it! The article is in Countryside magazine May/June 2002 Vol 86. The doe had a total of 14 bunnies two weeks apart, 7 in each litter! Raised them all.

I know this kind of thing doesn't always have this kind of ending but its good to know it can happen.
Best wishes that all goes well.

 

[Zab]

Thanks!

I'll prepare for the worst and hope for the best