rabbit nest

Question
QUESTION: my rex doe has built her nest but not lined it with fur yet. this is very unusual for her she has had many litters and has always built the nest and the next morning its lined with fur and full of babies. its been three days and still empty nest. what do i do??

ANSWER: Dear Leslie,

She may be having a false pregnancy.  But keep an eye on her for signs of distress, and find a good rabbit vet here:

http://www.rabbit.org/vets

More importantly, please read:

http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/breeding.html

I hope this helps.

Dana

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thanks so much for taking you time to answer my questions!! i think maybe she wasn't bred on the date i thought she was and maybe will have her litter later. hopefully. i haven't seen any kind of distress i don't think so anyway what sings are you talking about? how can i tell if she is having a false pregnancy and if she is what do i do about it. i have felt for the baby bumps in her belly but cant feel anything (but i have never been able to detect the babies in this rabbit) i have another doe that i can palpitate very easily. but the doe in question i cant tell. i breed and raise rabbits to sell as pets for a hobby, and my daughter and i are starting to do shows in the spring. thanks so much for everything!

Answer
Dear Leslie,

Signs of distress and difficulting giving birth would include (but are not limited to):  hunching uncomfortably, lethargy, straining, as if to urinate, inappetence.  If this were a false pregnancy, she should not be producing blood.  Please see:

http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/sickbun.html

If she expressed blood from her vulva, then consider the possibility that she might have uterine cancer, which is very common in unspayed females.  Please see:

http://www.rabbit.org/health/spay.html

and I do urge you to read:  

http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/breeding.html

There are so many homeless bunnies out there because of hobby breeding that rabbits are the third most relinquished animals at shelters in the U.S.  And those are the ones who aren't dumped in parks to fend for themselves.

I hope this helps.