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pregnant rabbit over due

22 9:57:33

Question
i breed my lionhead at the end of april and she hasnt had any babies yet. Is it possible that she could carry for this long_ When you look at her when she is laying down you can still see movement. This is the first time for me. Not sure what i should do.

Answer
Dear Lisa,

I apologize for the delay.  Unexpectedly, a middle school ecology outreach program I was running went crazy at the end, and I'm just now getting my life back.  So sorry!  But I'm back now.

Normal rabbit gestation lasts 28-31 days, so if she has not had babies in this long, then she is not pregnant.  The movement you are seeing is very likely the normal movements of her intestines just under her skin.  These will be "wavy" movements, looking a bit like a snake under her fur.  :)

If she actually were pregnant, she would be fatally large by now, and unable to give birth to kits that have been developing for eight weeks longer than normal.  I doubt she would have survived this long.  If you have any doubts (and I can't see her in person, so a vet visit is always the best idea), then get her to a good rabbit vet for evaluation:

www.rabbit.org/vets

Before you breed your bunny again, please read this important, helpful article:

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

I hope it helps.

Dana