Rabbit Web Discussion Board

I just bought three female rabbits and I have no known history on any of them. I bought them at an auction. I checked them for pregnancy and one of them is definately pregnant. How big are the \"marbles\" at each point of the way? Hers are between a marble and a bouncy ball.
The other two do not \"feel\" like they are pregnant but then this morning one of them had tore a lot of fur off themselves but I dont see any babies laying around nor does she feel pregnant. Her abdomin is very tight and hard to really feel. I do not know their breeds.

Is there a way to know if a rabbit is bred if you cannot palpate? Or is it just a matter of one day waking up to finding she gave birth? I just dont want her to give birth without me expecting it and then she kills them.

There really is no way to KNOW that a doe is pregnant without palpating other than the arrival of newborn kits.

At about 10 days gestation the embryos are the size of ripe blueberries. At about 14 days gestation they are about the size of grapes. The consistency of the embyos and the surrounding ammnion is also similar to these fruits - not hard like you you would feel if you encounter a fecal pellet.

The feti tend to do a \"disappearing act\" between the 21st and 26th day where they become harder to distinguish between the abdominal organs. After that time, you should be able to detect unborn kits as the skeletal structure is forming and you can feel heads and bodies.

Now, does that experience pseudopregnancy will pull fur on day 17 or 18 following a sterile mating or being ridden by another doe, so pulling fur doesn\'t necessarily mean that a litter is on the way. I believe if you are unsure, that it is best to err on the side of caution and separate each doe and provide all three with their own next box just in case.

Good luck.

Charlcie Gill
Zodiac Rabbitry
Astoria, OR
http://www.zodiasatins.com