paternal insticts

Question
Hello. We breed our mini lop rabbits twice a year and this week we have had 1 successful and 1 that failed. The doe that has just lost her litter has been very hit and miss with looking after her litters. My question is - is it known to a male rabbit to have paternal instincts?

I'm asking this as we obviously separated the buck from the doe as usual but today ive looked in the bucks hutch and found only what can be described as a small nest of fur that he has pulled out. Could he have been trying to make a nest for the litter means as the doe didn't? Means as their hutches and runs are next to each other I'm sure he would know that the litter didn't survive as I know that rabbits are clever animals

Could you please e-mail me your response too.  
Thank you Darren

Answer
Hi,

I have never seen a male rabbit make a nest.  I would be prone to think he is either molting or his skin is irritated.  Sometimes rabbits will chew on themselves if they have a skin condition, mites or fleas.  

If none of these are the case then this is the first I have heard of a male making a nest.  I don't imagine it will hurt him but it is certainly weird.

Good luck

Pam