Is my rabbit pregnant?????

Question
Hi i bought 3 doe's (or so i thought) just before Easter. A few weeks ago when i was cleaning them out i noticed that they were all trying to mate one another and i panicked. On researching a little i read that they can do this for reasons of dominance but lately only one of them has began scratching the bottom of the hutch vigorously almost non stop and she looks as though she is trying to pile hay up but it is falling through the bars. I have put more straw and hay in on my friends advice but the other two are eating it all. My friend seems to think that she is nesting and if this is the case does her behavior mirror pregnancy? As she is the only one of the three who is doing it i am assuming that she is the only doe. I have tried to sex them myself but find they all look similar!!!!! Can you advise me please.x.

Answer
Dear Lynne,

I hope this site will help you sex the bunnies:

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

but if not, then I would get all three to a good rabbit vet for sexing and scheduling of spay/neuter:

www.rabbit.org/vets

The vet will be able to palpate the one showing suspicious behavior, and tell if she is pregnant.  If she is, then the instructions here will help you prepare for the blessed event.  It does sound as if she may be trying to nest, and that could mean that she is either having a false pregnancy (induced by being mounted) or that she really *is* imminently going to give birth.

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

In any case, all the bunnies should be put in a bigger space where they will not be chasing and mounting one another.  It's a dominance display, but also very stressful for them, and can lead to serious fighting.  All the bunnies should be spayed/neutered so they will get along well (and they should all be done at the same time, to reduce the chance of them becoming "unbonded" and fighting after they come home).

For all the best information on proper rabbit housing, diet and care, please also visit:

www.rabbit.org/

Hope that helps, and that all your bunnies will be fine under your care.  :)

Take care,
Dana