Noises

Question
Hi. Thank-you for answering my question quickly. I was wondering, how many percentage do you think that she's pregnant? Like 50%? and is the male going to be lonely outside by himself? I'm kind of worried about him being alone. What can I do to make him not lonely and depressed?
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-----Question-----
My female rabbit has been whimpering 24/7 since yesterday. I don't know what the heck is up with her and it's been getting annoying. Whenever my male rabbit or I get near her, she'll whimper and run. Or when she's rearranging her blankets, she'll whimper. Sometimes she'll even lunge at the male rabbit. We don't know if she's pregnant because we thought that she was 2monthes ago! But she has been getting larger. My sister said we should separate them but I'm sure where to put each one. We have a shed for them outside and one cage inside. I was thinking about putting the female inside so if shes pregnant her babies won't be cold, but she doesn't like being inside. And I don't know what to do! As I'm typing she's lunging at the male and then licking him and then whimpering! OMG i don't know what to do! I just separated them right now because there is too much lunging and I do not want anyone to get hurt. So should I separate them permanently or just for today? And why is she making noises? I'm not even sure if she's pregnant!
-----Answer-----
Hi Vanessa,

if she is not been spayed and the male hasn't been neutered, she's pregnant.  She is displaying all the characteristics of a female rabbit who is pregnant.

Separate them from now on unless you want more rabbits.  It will also stop the fighting.

Keep the female inside in a large space that has room for a box at least 14 inches by 14 inches (with an open top).  Cut out an opening in one of the sides that she can hop into the box through.  Start the opening about 3 inches from the bottom of the box (so babies can't fall/wander out).  Put some hay on the floor of the box.  Later she'll arrange things how she wants them.

Do not pick her up a lot during this time, that's why she's whimpering.  She doesn't want the male around her, and she doesn't want people picking her up.  Don't pick her up unless you absolutely have to move her.  Just corral off a space in a quiet room or area in your house, get a pet gate and give her part of a room, with the nesting box in it.   And try not to disturb her much.

Also visit the House Rabbit Society web site for these articles on rabbit behavior and newborn rabbits:

http://www.rabbit.org/chapters/san-diego/behavior/altering.html

http://www.rabbit.org/care/babies.html

http://www.rabbit.org/care/newborn.html

http://www.rabbit.org/journal/3-8/words.html

Please read these articles, print them out and save them for future reference, it will answer a lot of questions you will have in the near future.

I strongly suggest in the future that you take your rabbits to the vet to get them altered, as from your message it sounds like this was an accident and you are not interested in breeding rabbits.  The kindest thing to do is to get them both fixed.  Rabbits are the 3rd most abandoned animals at American animal shelters today, the supply exceeding the demand greatly.

Lee

Answer
Hi,

I'm not really sure what you mean 'what percentage she's pregnant.'  She's either 0% or 100% pregnant.  I have no idea from what you've described as to when she will give birth.  When she starts pulling out some of her own fur to line the nest box you need to make, it will be soon.

If there is any way to move the outside cage inside, but in a different space inside the house, that will lessen him feeling lonely as he'll still be able to interact with all of you in the house.  You could give him part of a room and gate it off, so that he can also get exercise daily (he will need daily exercise).

Please note I am assuming there are no other predator animals (dogs, cats) in the house and that you've got some room you could dedicate to them.  Probably good to consider anyways as it is moving into colder, winter weather.

Lee