Pet Information > ASK Experts > Exotic Pets > Rabbits > Doe is rejecting nest box

Doe is rejecting nest box

22 10:44:12

Question
We have two Holland Lops that my daughter shows for 4-H. I believe our buck was bred before, but not our doe.  We bred the two a month ago and put the doe's nest box in on day 28.  It is now day 31.  She seems to be behaving differently (put on weight, laying around a lot, less friendly), but we are not sure that she is pregnant.  I tried palpating, but I think I need more practice.  Ever since we put the nest box in with her materials, she has removed every bit of nesting material from her cage.  We've tried straw, timothy hay, wood shavings, but she is obsessive about getting every bit of it out of her cage within hours.  It is now day 31 and we have replenished her nesting materials many times.  Do you think she might not be pregnant?  I raised rabbits growing up, and I don't ever remember a doe being this adament about having no outside materials in her cage.  What are the chances that she is pregnant and just isn't experienced enough to know how to build her nest?

Answer
Hi Suzanne

Holland lops are one of the tougher breeds to raise to begin with.  They generally have poor mothering skills and often times they will lose several litters before they get it right.

The best thing to do is to keep putting the nesting materials in the nesting box and hope she figures it out.  I generally put a layer of newspaper on the bottom of the nest and then I line it with a thick layer of aspen chips.  On top of that I load it up with fresh hay.  They generally eat the hay and then I have to replace it daily but they usually wont touch the wood chips or the newspaper.

If she is pregnant she will be having the babies at anytime.  The only thing you can do is hope that she figures it out.  Sadly first time mothers are often confused and have no clue what to do.  It is unfortunate but these babies usually don't make it.  I had one rabbit that took 5 tries before she figured out what she was supposed to do and then she was a perfect mother.

If you do happen to catch the babies out of the box just gently put all the nesting materials and the babies in the box and move it to where she chose to have them.  You might be surprised and she may be a good mother and just doesn't like the box for some reason.  It has to be very confusing for her being her first time but I wouldn't be to hard on her until she has 3 or 4 unsuccessful litters.  After that I would give up.

Remember that after 35 days you can re-breed her.  If for some reason she does give birth and the kits die you can re-breed her after 48 hours.  I honestly think that if she is laying around a lot and has some aggression problems that she is probably pregnant.  However you just never know until that day comes.

Good luck Suzanne and I really hope your daughter enjoys her 4-H experience.

Sincerely,

Pam