doe rabbit

Question
I have a buck and doe rabbit. The buck has had the snip. This is the first spring Ive had them both. The doe is nesting, moving hay around and plucking her fur (and his sometimes!) She has been a little bit aggressive towards him and doesnt seem as relaxed and happy as she usually is. They have a large hut and run and have a run in the garden a few times a week. Is being unable to breed causing her stress? Should I get her snipped to keep her content? Or is this just a natural part of her behaviour which will not be causing her any distress?
Thankyou  

Answer
Hi Donna

It is spring.  Rabbits around the world are acting bizarre.  Your bunny is having a false pregnancy.  She is trying to tell you that yes she wants to have babies and she is ready to be a good mom.  It happens even with fixed doe's.  However I do believe that you should get her fixed because it will decrease her aggression towards her mate and make a much more pleasant living situation for both of them.

Don't be surprised even after she is fixed if she has that maternal instinct.  I don't know why they do it, I guess it is just one of those mysteries.  I have several doe's in my garage and I only use 2 of them for breeding.  They are all several feet apart and one is even all the way across the garage.  I only breed twice a year but it never fails that every time I breed my two brood doe's every other doe in the rabbitry will start plucking their hair and making nests.  Even the spayed ones.

I haven't studied it much but it makes me wonder if they communicate with each other in some way other than body language.  I am so baffled how my doe that is on the other side of a 3 car garage has any idea that the other 2 are pregnant.  However she makes a nest every single time that they are ready to give birth.  It is a strange phenomenon.

Like I said it is probably best to get her spayed.  It will not only help them to be happy together but it will keep her from getting ovarian or uterine cancer which is a big killer in doe's who aren't bred regularly.

Thank you so much for asking and I wish you good luck with your precious friends.  If you need anything else please let me know.

Pam