I think my baby mini rex is pregnant

Question
Hi
about two weeks ago I purchased a mini rex doe at 11 weeks old she was in with other baby mini rex's and Netherland dwarfs of both sexes I didn't think anything of it because
all the rabbit books say at 4 months old they can become pregnant, can a baby rabbit become pregnant before 11 weeks old? If she is pregnant,can I tell how far along the pregnancy is, when I hold her I think I feel something moving is that possible my mom felt it to. Also shes not pulling out her fur or making a nest,I put a nest box in with her so, if she is pregnant she could make a nest. Is there anything I should give her (special food).She's really fat in between her front legs and back legs, also I started felling the movement a day after I got her around August 15th or the 16th. If you think shes not pregnant what could it be?. I have one more question I've read books on litter training and it said the rabbits go in one corner, not her she goes in a couple of spots I have a litter box in with her and she goes in that but she also goes out side of it but she hasn't gone in the nest box
is that normal for her to go in diferante spots could it be because she might be pregnent

Answer
Hi Kate

It is highly unlikely for an 11 week old rabbit to be pregnant but I can happen.  The thing is that unless you bought her from someone you know extremely well and trust you can never really know how accurate the pedigree and birth date are.  There are a lot of shady people out there that lie about these thing unfortunately.  

If you think she is pregnant the best thing to do is to give her a nest box and keep it cleaned out daily.  You want to watch her for a full 34 days from the day you got her or the last day she could have possibly been with a buck.  Hopefully she won't have a litter but if she does you will be prepared.

If you are feeling something moving in her stomach it is also unlikely that you are feeling babies move.  Generally with rabbits you can't feel the kits.  Occasionally when they are close to the 30 days you can feel a head or a foot but it is rare.  You could be feeling gas bubbles or just about anything.  I personally would take her to a good rabbit vet to have her examined.  If she does have stomach problems at such a young age it can be disastrous.  

If you need help finding a good vet you can try this site

http://www.rabbit.org/vets/vets.html

If you can't find one there then try your phone book.  Start calling all the vet clinics or veterinarians in your area.  Ask them if they treat exotic pets and if they don't ask them if they know who does.  Sometimes it can be an hour or 2 drive but it is certainly worth it.  Personally although I hate to admit it I like to go to a clinic that is an hour away from me to have my rabbits treated rather than go to the place I work.  Even with my discount it is cheaper for me to go to a private vet than a large veterinary hospital.  If you are lucky enough to find a small town vet that treats exotic pets you will probably find that their prices are a little bit more reasonable than the big city exotic animal hospitals.  Another thing that I have found is that a lot of the younger vets are trained in exotic pets.  I imagine it is because more and more people have them these days where as the older vets were used to people having cats and dogs for pets.

As for your bunnies litter box problem it is probably because she isn't spayed.  It is sometimes difficult to train rabbits that haven't been spayed.  Honestly there are some rabbits that just figure it out immediately and others take a few weeks.  Some never get it at all.  The best thing you can do is keep her litter box in the same corner and try putting her food dish in one corner, her water dish in another and then her nest box or bed (after the babies) in the other.  Rabbits generally won't go potty where they eat drink or sleep so this usually works the best.

I hope for your bunnies sake that she is not pregnant.  Please let me know if she does have babies or you need more help.

Sincerely

Pam