Rabbit keeps nesting.

Question
QUESTION: Hi,

I have two Dwarf-lop BEW's. I bought them both around the same time and bonded them really successfully. They lived together for quite a while but iv just recently had to split them up because of a suspected pregnancy. Obviously Blossom my female became sexually mature alot quicker then Charlie but even when he finally did he didn't hump her so i left them in together. I took him out one day and left her in and when i put him back he was humping her, so it was obviously time to buy another hutch. I still let them both out together and he managed to get her and hump her on a couple of occasions. For the last two weeks she has nested every night. She didn't always pull lots of fur. I'm a little confused with all the dates of him humping her to now. Last night she pulled out enough fur to cover all of her hutch which is 4ft in length. She also didn't touch her food, iv bred rabbits successfully before to know what should be happening. Although all rabbits are different. Could this be a very prolonged false pregnancy? or is she just getting alot of practice in? Shes pulling alot of fur now, don't want her to get sore. Shes showing all the signs and seems to be getting bigger.

Thanks in advance, Sarah

ANSWER: Dear Sarah,

Normal rabbit gestation is 28-31 days, so you might be able to judge from that.  But please read the following important information:

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

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

and

www.rabbit.org/health/spay.html

If you suspect she is pregnant and it's been more than 31 days, then I would get her to a good rabbit vet:

www.rabbit.org/vets

to be sure she is not having complications.

I hope this helps.

Dana

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

QUESTION: She gave birth the day i asked the question Thanks :) But i have another question, She had 4 fat and healthy babies, she seems to be looking after them and feeding them but she also keeps destroying the nest and standing on them, Although she is licking them. I went out this morning to find she had destroyed the nest and all the babies were scattered around her hutch..she was still licking them but they were all cold and the runt was dead, I think that was because it was laid under her water bottle in the wet and just couldn't get warm again. There isn't any signs of them not being fed, but they are quite cold and one of them keeps squeaking and when ever mum goes near the nest the baby leaves the nest and i know that is a sign of it not being fed as if it was it wouldn't be restless. I just don't know what to do to be honest. I'm really keen on leaving them in with her because as i said there isn't really a sign that shes not feeding them. Iv managed to re build the nest and move it to another place. Iv mated rabbits before and successfully raised them. Only the mums have been alot better in my experience. Any advice would be great thanks :)

ANSWER: Dear Sarah,

I was away over the weekend, so sorry for the delay.  Please read:

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

for emergency instructions.  It sounds as if she is too stressed to care for the babies properly.  I already sent instructions for caring for her and the babies if she did give birth, but I strongly recommend you read this again:

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

which will help prevent further problems, if her milk has not already dried up.

I hope the babies will be okay.

Dana

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

QUESTION: Sadly they all died. Now im worried about my bun Blossom, Iv been told by a few private breeders that i should mate her again as she might pine for her babies, My question is do you think i should and if so how long do you think i should wait to do so? I want to give her a rest of course. Also do you think she neglected them or it was just the weather? she did place the nest in a very silly place which is why i think they kept getting nocked about and destroyed. All four babies are burried at the top of my garden.....As i said i have done mating before but only because people have asked me to do so for babies. I dont do it for fun and without thinking of consiquences. Thanks for all your help by the way :)

Answer
Dear Sarah,

I am sorry for the loss of the babies.  

But don't listen to those breeders.  If Blossom was that poor of a mother, she's not grieving for them.  She is probably relieved to be rid of the burden, if she's feeling anything.  

As for the people who ask you to breed her for her babies, please STOP breeding Blossom (it's hard on her health, and she has a very high risk of uterine cancer if she's not spayed; please read:  www.rabbit.org/health/spay.html ) and refer them to:

www.rabbit.org/chapters

to find a local rabbit rescuer who can help them choose an adoptable bunny from among the many rescues that are dumped after people buy them or get them from a friend on a whim and then get tired of them.  I hope Blossom's babies have never ended up that way, but don't be surprised.  Lots of people think it would be cool to have a rabbit, but then abandon them when they discover that rabbits require a lot of care and attention!

Once again, I urge you to read:

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

This will help you make the right decision that's in the best interest of Blossom and the rabbit world at large.

Hope this helps.

Dana