Possible pregnancy 😳 Help and Advice Needed

[sophiemuntondavies]

Hi all,
This is my first post on here but I thought it would be useful if my rabbits ends up having a litter
The doe (Lacey) has been showing a few changes such as not wanting to be touched, she makes a different whining/grumbling noise towards the buck or me when i approach her. Her stomach also looks larger, a few days ago she had taken bunches of hay into the upstairs of her hutch, into a corner, which hasn’t happened before as there’s only hay downstairs. And yesterday morning in the hay downstairs I found she has started to pull her fur from her flanks. The buck (Dash) seems really protective over this “nest” she is creating.

I just need some advice as I don’t know if I need to separate them now, in case she gives birth and the buck impregnates her again.

I have a smaller one story hutch spare with a box to the side, so I didn’t know if I should put mum in here in case she has babies, or leave her where she made her nest? I don’t want to disturb her or stress her by doing this though

Could anyone just run me through everything I should know and what you would do in this situation please

Thanks guys

 

[InspectorMorse]

Separate the Buck now. Remove him to different accommodation, dont relocate the Doe

Get the Buck neutered, assuming you are not intentionally breeding.

Further information about caring for a pregnant Doe and her litter here

Accidental Litters and Taking on Babies

On the following posts there is information that could help you if you have a genuinely accidental litter, and also if you find yourself taking on a baby bunny for whatever reason. PLEASE NOTE: If you are planning to intentionally breed, please read this thread first. 'If you are considering...

forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk

 

[sophiemuntondavies]

Separate the Buck now. Remove him to different accommodation, dont relocate the Doe

Get the Buck neutered, assuming you are not intentionally breeding.

Further information about caring for a pregnant Doe and her litter here

Accidental Litters and Taking on Babies

On the following posts there is information that could help you if you have a genuinely accidental litter, and also if you find yourself taking on a baby bunny for whatever reason. PLEASE NOTE: If you are planning to intentionally breed, please read this thread first. 'If you are considering...

forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk

Okay, thank you!
Do I need to give her a nesting box or will she be okay where she is?

 

[InspectorMorse]

Okay, thank you!
Do I need to give her a nesting box or will she be okay where she is?

Is her nest in a concealed area? If it is just let her get on with it herself. If it’s exposed don’t move it but cover the nest part of the accommodation so the nest isnt exposed.

I am assuming this was an accidental mating and she’s still very young herself, hence she was living with an entire Buck? If she’s still very young herself she might not have built a nest in an appropriate place.

Are the Rabbits siblings ?

 

[sophiemuntondavies]

Is her nest in a concealed area? If it is just let her get on with it herself. If it’s exposed don’t move it but cover the nest part of the accommodation so the nest isnt exposed.

I am assuming this was an accidental mating and she’s still very young herself, hence she was living with an entire Buck? If she’s still very young herself she might not have built a nest in an appropriate place.

Are the Rabbits siblings ?

She’s starting making her nest at the bottom of the ramp, in a two story hutch, so it’s not concealed its just in a corner.

Yes it was accidental. They are 4 and a half months old and are siblings as they came from the same litter.

She is living with the buck who went to be spayed about 4 weeks ago however they couldn’t find all of the “parts” that needed removing as they were too small at the time. So he’s been booked in to be spayed at the end of October.

 

[InspectorMorse]

It’s essential he is moved away from her.
Don’t move her nest, but cover the front of the hutch so the area by the ramp is concealed. Shes still a baby herself, so she is likely to be stressed about her predicament and might kindle (give birth) away from the nest or scatter the kits. So making the nest area as enclosed as possible without moving it will help. You will need to be vigilant as if she scatters the kits as she kindles they are likely to succumb to hypothermia.

 

[sophiemuntondavies]

Okay. I’ve moved him into the spare hutch. I put a box covering her nest but she’s moved it. Ive attached these photos of what I found yesterday morning. This morning it’s just more pushed to the sides. They are both quite territorial of it. But I’m wondering what are the chances of it being a phantom pregnancy?
Is this a normal amount of fur at the beginning? Will she pull more out closer to the time of giving birth?

 

[InspectorMorse]

She’s a baby, she might not build a very good nest. She will continue to add to the fur. I would assume this is a true pregnancy. She is likely to eat less in the 8-12 hours prior to kindling.
Can you move the Buck to a completely different place. Being able to smell her will drive him nuts. He’s likely to thump A LOT when she kindles, which will stress her out.

 

[sophiemuntondavies]

She’s a baby, she might not build a very good nest. She will continue to add to the fur. I would assume this is a true pregnancy. She is likely to eat less in the 8-12 hours prior to kindling.
Can you move the Buck to a completely different place. Being able to smell her will drive him nuts. He’s likely to thump A LOT when she kindles, which will stress her out.

Okay, she’s digging the bedding up in the corners upstairs, but still eating okay
The buck is in his spare hutch but it’s right next to the doe as we have limited space, unless we bring him inside but we only have a run for him to be in
Do you think the litter could come at some point this week?

And do you have anymore advice

 

[Daryl]

Hi there! Lacey sounds ready to give birth. Those are classic pregnancy signs.

Separate them a few days before she's due. A smaller hutch is ideal.

Reintroduce the buck after a few days, but monitor them closely.

Good luck with Lacey and her babies! Keep us updated!

 

[Shimmer]

Hi there! Lacey sounds ready to give birth. Those are classic pregnancy signs.

Separate them a few days before she's due. A smaller hutch is ideal.

Reintroduce the buck after a few days, but monitor them closely.

Good luck with Lacey and her babies! Keep us updated!

I definitely wouldn't reintroduce the buck until after the babies are weaned and 6 weeks after he is neutered. She will be very stressed anyway as she's very young and inexperienced, and really doesn't need an immediate and second unplanned pregnancy at such a young age as that will put the lives of both litters at risk (and possibly her future health). The babies will also be at risk, both from mum rejecting them, and from dad reappearing.

 

[InspectorMorse]

I definitely wouldn't reintroduce the buck until after the babies are weaned and 6 weeks after he is neutered. She will be very stressed anyway as she's very young and inexperienced, and really doesn't need an immediate and second unplanned pregnancy at such a young age as that will put the lives of both litters at risk (and possibly her future health). The babies will also be at risk, both from mum rejecting them, and from dad reappearing.

Agree, also there is already the in- breeding health risks with one litter. The last thing you want is to repeat the process.

 

[sophiemuntondavies]

Agree, also there is already the in- breeding health risks with one litter. The last thing you want is to repeat the process.

They are both booked in to be spayed at the end of this month. He was meant to be spayed a few weeks back but couldn’t at the time.

Okay I will just keep him where he is then until 6-8 weeks after he’s spayed.

I’ve been giving her dark greens with a larger bowl of pallets if she wants them… is this the right thing to do?

 

[InspectorMorse]

I’ve been giving her dark greens with a larger bowl of pallets if she wants them… is this the right thing to do?

Yes, as long as she’s used to having Veg. If not don’t give her too much as it could upset her stomach.

 

[sophiemuntondavies]

Yes, as long as she’s used to having Veg. If not don’t give her too much as it could upset her stomach.

Yea she is, she’s eaten all of the pallets I put out too and usually there’s some left over with the two of them eating it . There’s some fresh fur on top of the nest this morning. I’ve added some hay around the edges of the hutch to make it a little more conservative. As I opened the side door there were a lot more layers to the fur than I thought

 

[InspectorMorse]

It sounds as though it is a true pregnancy.

I would start a savings fund as the kits will need their vaccination which can be given from the age of 5 weeks. If she has 4-6 kits that could be costly. RHD is rife at the moment so even though the vaccine can’t give 100% protection it is better than no vaccination at all.

 

[bunny momma]

Sending positive vibes all goes well with the birth.

 

[sophiemuntondavies]

It sounds as though it is a true pregnancy.

I would start a savings fund as the kits will need their vaccination which can be given from the age of 5 weeks. If she has 4-6 kits that could be costly. RHD is rife at the moment so even though the vaccine can’t give 100% protection it is better than no vaccination at all.

What vaccines do they need??

 

[InspectorMorse]

What vaccines do they need??

Nobivac Myxo RHD Plus. Your two Rabbits should have had it, have they ?

 

[sophiemuntondavies]

We’re on the third day of nesting, still no sign of any life though . Because she’s so young do you think she may be nesting early due to her instincts?