Could my rabbit be pregnant? Bunny experts feel free to chime in!

[mom2jedi]

Ok, so I'm not looking to get scolded for anything just friendly advice. I have two rescue rabbits of unknown breeds one male and one female. The buck is around a year and a half while the doe is somewhere around 3 or 4, her last owner wasn't sure. DH built a wonderful hutch for the two of them with half inch hardware cloth as a divider. I'd heard that they can still mate through 1/2" x 1" wire but thought by using the smaller gauge it wouldn't be an issue. We also were told they thought she was spayed.

So, is it possible if she isn't spayed that he could have successfully mated through such small holes? The reason I'm wondering is her behavior has changed recently. She started grunting at me when I petted her. She only did this when I first adopted her till she got used to me, then she was the sweetest thing. She was even used to teach children about rabbits last summer. After wondering about her grunting for a few days I decided to give her a more thorough once over. She seems a little thick in the middle but I can't feel anything that makes me think she has kits in there.

I am so out of practice when it comes to breeding rabbits. I need a little refresher in case she is preggo. I know she needs a nest box and I should consider switching her hay to alfalfa. Any way to tell if she really is pregnant? Anything else I haven't thought of? How old is too old for a doe to breed? Oh, on a side note, rabbits don't have heat cycles right? They're able to mate anytime?

 

[taraann81]

I'm by no means an expert so take everything I say with a grain of salt.

Your right rabbits don't have heat cycles, the act of mateing induces ovulation. If she is pregnant I wouldn't put her on alfalfa, even though I've read to do it as well, I find alfalfa causes loose stools. I have had rabbits breed through wire once.

I assume its possible though unlikely they bred through such small holes. For her sake I hope she isn't bred. Many people won't breed a rabbit much past a year if she hasn't been bred before, their pelvis can fuse and she may not be able to pass any kits.

Sad really I think 4 is MUCH too old for having a first litter.

Anyways good luck with her,, maybe she is just going through menopause

 

[mom2jedi]

Crud. I thought she seemed too old. I will keep a very close eye on her for the next couple of weeks. If she gets fatter guess I'll have my answer! Anyone else have any thoughts?

 

[PuppyBantamCochin]

i'm fairly new to rabbits too, but I had a rabbit i took in give birth on 1/25 unfortunately, we lost the litter (she was first time mom, I think), but there were 2 things I noticed that changed in her behavior---1) she growled/tried to bite me (she is a ''angry'' rabbit by nature, but she became more aggressive) 2) she stopped eating 2days prior giving birth...I'd put in a nest box just to be sure--we were unprepared and it cost us.


Hope this helps,


F.V

 

[mom2jedi]

Ok, thought I'd give an update. Finally managed to get a nest box for her. Put it in last night with some nesting material (it's this cool plant material that looks like cotton but isn't, got it at the KW Cages place here in town) and checked on her today. She not only made a "burrow" in the nest, she added hay to it so it now looks like a nest. I will definitely post pictures when she has them!

 

[Sumatra503]

Did you palpate her? You can feel the babies in the abdomen of very pregnant rabbits. Has she pulled any hair?

She should be fine having them even at this age and it is very possible this isn't her first litter.

 

[mom2jedi]

I've been trying to palpate her but can't feel anything besides bigger belly so far. I can't remember how far along they are before they start to show. No fur pulling yet but I'm checking her daily for it. She's eating more and if I remember right, she should stop eating a couple days before she kindles right? That's true, this might not be her first litter.

 

[Akane]

It's hard to feel kits except for right around the 2 week mark. Some of my mini rex really look no different pregnant. Even right up to the day they kindle you don't notice any weight gain on them. I've only had one who gave birth to a litter of 7 look obviously pregnant. Some rabbits get more aggressive when pregnant. Some get more passive. And some just go mental for no obvious reason. I had one just turn in to psycho demon rabbit when she hit 6months old. It could just be that she's finally settled in and claimed that space as hers. Cage aggression is not that uncommon in does.

 

[taraann81]

I wouldn't palpate if you don't know what your doing, Could cause problems and truly what will it tell you? Nothing , that a little more time isn't going to tell you anyvay.

 

[deerman]

how long has it been the two were together.....no they can't mate thru 1/2 x 1 wire. males need to mount to breed.


If they have not been together in over a month...........not preggo. no they don't have heat cycles , but cant breed any day. She will not mate unless she is in ready.