I have a mini-rex doe that is about 10 months old. We recently moved her and the buck into a new pen with separate compartments. The problem is, the "walls" of the compartments don't reach quite all the way to the top, and he managed to climb over and pay her a "visit". That was 2 weeks ago tomorrow. So I was figuring that she would have the babies about a month from then. Well, this afternoon I came home and she is already pulling hair out trying to make a nest. I figured that one of three things is happening: 1. They already mated before the time that I saw them (although very unlikely, because they hadn't been in the same cage for very long) and she has been pregnant for longer than I thought. 2. She's going to have them early and they're going to die. 3. She doesn't know what she's doing because it's her first time and is making the nest 2 weeks early.

This will be her first babies and obviously I don't know a whole lot about this. What do y'all think? I put a box in there for her tonight just in case......

Thanks! Tracey

-- Tracey Lanier (trjlanier@cs.com), March 16, 2001

Answers

Usually if they pull hair at 2 weeks its a false pregnancy. I would try to rebreed, even if she is pregnant it shoudn't hurt her. Most books say to put them back with the bucks a week or two after breeding them, that way if it didn't take the first time you din't loose a whole month. If you rebreed still provide a nest box and keep an eye on her in two weeks just in case. If you want more information you can email me privately. I've had rabbits for about 6 years now. Dian in TN

-- Dian (rhoffman@nctc.com), March 17, 2001.

I would put a nest box in with her and put the hair in it for her. She might has allready bred, they can breed at 6 months. Better safe with a box than no box and loose the babies.

-- Cindy in Ky (solidrockranch@hotmail.com), March 17, 2001.

You said that they were not together very long to have bred before you separated them? It only takes a few seconds for rabbits to breed, and rabbits don't really come in heat, the act of breeding causes them to ovulate. A safe bet to put a nesting box in with her. Sometimes though they do start nesting early especially a first time mom since she doesn't really know what is going on! Good luck with her!! cara lewis

-- cara lewis (cnllewis@email.com), March 18, 2001.