Kindling

Question
QUESTION: My 10-month-old English doe is having her - and my - first litter (she is
show standard and has such lovely markings and the most wonderful
temperament of any rabbit I've ever met, which is why I wanted to breed from
her). I first noticed a little blood about 6 hours ago. Since then there has been
a little more blood and a lot of nest-building activity, but I haven't noticed
any straining and she seems happy. Earlier today I could definitely feel the
babies wriggling, I think I still can but I'm not certain. Is it normal to have
such a big time lag between first blood and contractions?

ANSWER: Most rabbits will kindle during the night or early morning (although it can be at anytime, had a mother who the whole family especially my husband was excited about seeing the babies and she waited till about 10 minutes after he left for work before having them lol) And rabbit labor can last anywhere from about 15 minutes to 2 days. However if you feel that at some point she is having problems check her vent area to see if she possibly has a kit stuck in the birth canal.  The things to watch for are distress, an excessive amount of blood, a kit stuck in the birth canal.  It may be that as a first time mother things are just going a bit slower for her than they would for a seasoned doe.  This is normal and generally isn't to big of a deal.

However, if at anytime you feel she is in distress, or in a large amount of pain (any sort of child birth causes some pain, but in rabbits they don't seem to be much affected by it) you will need to get a hold of a vet that can help you through this process.

If she seems happy, and doesn't seem to be much affected I probably wouldn't be to worried about it as of right now.  Sometimes rabbits can surprise you.  I have heard of first time mothers having a kit on the 28th and then two kits on the 30th and the litter and the mother are perfectly fine.

Just keep an eye on her and Good Luck!

and send me a follow up and tell me how things went

Amy

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

QUESTION: Thanks for your response Amy, it turned out I was worrying unnessecarily;
having spent all afternoon and night convincing me she was going to give
birth at any minute, my doe waited until I was downstairs on my computer
researching to produce 8 lovely kittens (4 English marked, 4 self; the dad is
self) which were all waiting for me when I went back to check on her. They all
seem healthy and mum is getting lots of strawberries and nose-rubs

Answer
That is great news!!  I understand your worry, for three days before my first doe kindled I was constantly at her cage staring at her, petting her, etc.  Finally the morning she gave birth she waited until I was in the kitchen making breakfast and well away from her, before she had her buns.  

Sometimes I think they just need privacy.  I am glad to hear that she did well, and that all the babies are doing well.

Congratulations
amy