[font=Arial][size=2]This summer I took on three rabbits that my kids wanted and I was told by the breeder they were all females, supposedly sisters. They have been raised together and seem to be bonded. They groom each other and snuggle all the time. Now the largest of the three rabbits has been trying to mate with the other two. I suspect he is a male. All three rabbits are in the same enclosure. They are kept outside. I have a nesting box that I made out of a low plastic tub. I filled it with alfalfa hay and pine shavings but the rabbits have pooped and peeed inside of it. Should I seperate all three of them and put nesting boxes in both female cages? Please I need advice. I want to make sure that all my rabbits will be taken care of. PLEASE HELP!!!!!P.S. I plan on having them all spayed/neutered but do not want to abort any possible pregnancy. ANY ADVICE?
the does need seperate nestboxes 4 sure does could get in a fight and kill each other if they have to share a box and the kits would be killed if the does had to share and all 3 need to be seperated until fixed because does have been known to nueter males if they get to close to there nest i would suggest trying to find a breeder near you or a vet that knows something about rabbits and get them to palpate the doe
All 3 rabbits need separate cages. The gestational period for a rabbit is 31 days so you need to put the nest box in at about day 28. If you do it sooner, the doe will soil the nest box. If you don\'t know the exact day that conception happened, then find a breeder in your area that can palpate the doe for you. Good luck. Hope everything turns out well.
To be safe, separate the rabbits. Have you actually LOOKED at the genitals to determine the sex? I would recommend this. How old are the rabbits? While the \"frisky\" individual may indeed be a buck, does also will ride one another, partly as a display of dominance.
If you don\'t know of anyone who can palpate the does to determine pregnancy, you should supply a nest box for each doe. Since you really don\'t know when breeding might actually have occurred, you\'ll have to leave the boxes with the does for at least a month past the time all 3 rabbits were together.
Charlcie Gill
Zodiac Rabbitry
Astoria, OR
http://www.zodiacsatins.com
Thank you for the responses. I have since seperated the rabbits and no babies as of yet. I have tried to sex the rabbits however they do not like to cooperate and since I am just a beginner I really am not to sure. I did find one vet in my area that sees rabbits so I plan on taking them in to be palpated. Thanks again for everyones help!!!