Re: I need help?

Question
Dear Dana;
Darlene Freeman here from Wesley Chapel, Florida.
I hope that you are right but when I first brought my female bunny home she laid down normally now she flopps down now. And when I look at her stomach she has this little things moving in her stomach and one ball looked like it was gonna come out of her stomach it was that clear. Is that a sign that she is gonna have babies? I put a box in the cage with a bedding from the pet store and she fixed it like a hole in the middle of the box plus she lays in the box and goes to sleep. She looks so cute I am gonna get a camera and take her picture. Dana you have been very helpful to me. I did not want this to happen but I think that this lady I bought the rabbits from lied to me. I wish you could have seen her rabbits the smell was unbearable. My rabbits smelled when I got them home but now they are clean. I have the cage allways cleaned fresh food and I keep cold fresh water in the refrigator for them they love the cold water. I named them Sable & Sible they are my babies. I wake up and go over to them and call them my babies. But I would sure like if you could email me back. Rabbits stomach's don't move like that do they?

         Sincerely;
         Darlene Freeman
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Followup To

Question -
my question is this. I bought 2 female rabbits from this farmer breeder and she doesn't know the breed of the rabbit. But that is not my question. How old do rabbits mat? Because I saw my small bunny biting, and mating with what was surpose to be his/her sister. The lady said they do that at an early age. She said they were born April 9, 2006. I think the lady is lieing plus the rabbits she had were dirthy. I have separated my rabbits because every 10 minutes this small rabbit was mating with this rabbit. Now when I look at the bigger rabbit her belly looks big. See where I got these rabbits my two were the cleanest rabbits but they were in a cage with 10 other rabbits she has 65 rabbits but some had white pus in their eyes, piss was all over the white rabbits they just looked so abused can you help me. I love my bunnies and take very well good care of them. Do female rabbits do that with other female rabbits?

please help me email me at darlinrose8132003@yahoo.com

Answer -
Dear Darlene,

I'm glad your two bunnies ended up safe with you.  Yes, two female rabbits may engage in mounting behavior, which is not only for mating, but to establish dominance.  This can elicit fights, too, though.  So don't let them engage in excessive mounting, lest they become enemies.

However, if one is getting a big belly, your breeder person might not have sexed them correctly.  Please see:

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

and this, in case you have a surprise litter on the way (I hope not):

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

There is some very important information in that article, and I think it will help.  You will find that the bunnies get along better if both are spayed/neutered, and they will be happier and healthier.  Please read:

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

and find a good rabbit vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

If you think the rabbits at that breeder's nightmarish-sounding farm are being neglected/abused, you might want to contact your local ASPCA and/or your local law enforcement's Animal Abuse Department.  They might not be able to do anything, but it might at least scare her into keeping them in better conditions.

Hope this helps.  Please write back if you have any other questions.

Dana

Answer
Dear Darlene,

Sable and Sible are lucky bunnies!  But if one is pregnant, then you should *definitely* have the other one neutered before the birth comes, since the pregnant rabbit can become pregnant again within *minutes* of giving birth.  Please read those articles for complete information.

When a rabbit is very relaxed and lying on her side with the belly splooshed out to the sides, you sometimes can see the serpentine movements of the intestinal peristalsis underneath--almost like snakes under the skin!  Usually the movement of baby rabbits looks different.  They tend to twitch and kick, but the movement isn't the same as the undulation of the intestines.  Have a look and see if you can tell the difference.  (I wish I could see, but I can't from here!)

Also, a baby rabbit will be a very firm mass, whereas the instestine will be soft, and give under pressure from your finger.

In any case, I hope the information in those web sites I sent you will be helpful!

Dana