I have two rabbits. One male and one female. I thought they were both females because the one didn't look like a male, but he definately is. I had them in the same cage for over a year before I found this out. Would the male have eaten the babies or maybe they just didn't have any? I naver saw any signs that she had had babies. Anyway, she's pregnant now I think because I bred them today. But I'm thinking maybe she's been pregnant for a week or two because she's kindof fat. She makes a clucking noise like a chicken when I pick her up. Does this mean she's pregnant and am I hurting her? I'm not very prepared after just finding out that Bonnie is a boy.

-- Jessica (jaywig86@psknet.com), April 21, 2002

Answers

Jessica, you might want to check out some Rabbit Forums and get some basic info, start here if you like: http://www.beaglesunlimited.com/rabbitraising_conceptiontoweaning.htm They are such fun and so cute they are fun to read about. LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), April 21, 2002.

Yes the male would eat babies so would she if she was stressed. You need to get a nest box for her and some straw, she will do the rest. She'll putt out her fur and make a nest for the babies. You may not know when she has them so as she gets closer to her due date check the nest box, carefulnot to disturb things too much, to see if you feel any little babies. Carefully check each one to make sure it is alive and looks healthy. Try not to disturb the nest too much. You do not want to move her or disturb her anymore. Rabbits can and will reabsorb (sp) babies too if the are stressed. Go to your library and get a book, they will have a pattern for a nest box and explain things for you.

Susan

-- Susan in MN (nanaboo@paulbunyan.net), April 21, 2002.

Sorry to say this but are you SURE Bonnie is a male? Sometimes a female will mount another female....actually they will do that alot. If you lay Bonnie on her back in your lap, can you see testicles on the inside of the leg, on both sides of the penis, at the hip joint? I'm questioning this because a year is really a long time for nothing to have happened before. Usually, there is some sign there were babies, even if they were eaten. Did you ever find large piles of fur in the cage?

Most of my rabbits are very vocal, having different sounds for different feelings. You are not hurting her picking her up, that is unless you are picking her up by her ears, which I hope you are not doing.

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), April 21, 2002.

I agree with DEE. Females will exibit that behavior when they reach sexual maturity. If indeed you have a male and female did you witness the actual breeding? A male will fall over sideways and squeal when the act is comlete. What breed of rabbits are they? Most females will carry hay around in their mouth and will try to make a nest. They will also do this with a false pregnancy.

-- tracy (murfette@stargate.net), April 22, 2002.

We just had our first experience with rabbits and pregnancy. Our first rabbit gave birth in the pen with the rest of the bunnies ( our fault for not getting her into the nesting box fast enough). She started to eat the babies, to the horror of my eldest daughter and to me. Yuck. We had another female bunny that we immediately put into a nesting box and she gave birth the next day! Whew. She is a good mommy, pulled her fur, made a nest, had four babies. Two died, but now at two weeks old, the other two look great. Mom lets us touch them, and she herself has become much calmer.

-- janice (jtopping67@aol.com), April 22, 2002.

Well, I'm pretty sure Bonnie is a male because I turned them both over on their backs and looked at them. Bunny looked like books say a girl should look like and Bonnie looked like a male. I did see them breeding. I thought maybe it was just one of those things animals do sometimes, like dogs or something. Then Bonnie tried again and Bunny fought him off. Bunny is really fat and I don't know how to tell if she is pregnant or just fat. And I NEVER pick them up by their ears.

-- Jessica (jaywig86@psknet.com), April 22, 2002.

If you haven't yet, remove Bonnie from the cage. You don't want Bunny to be repregnated right away. Leave a wooden nesting box with Bunny and if you see her pull fur, she will usually have the babies within a day. Check to make sure all babies are alive and healthy (if you don't remove a dead baby, it rots and kills all others) I know not everyone agrees with me but I found by giving my doe a few kibbles of dry, hairball cat food, they will not eat their babies. Good luck!

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), April 22, 2002.