hi, i have two rabbits, lately i have notice that when i let them lose in the backyard they are making holes in the grass like caves. \'m prety sure she is pregnant. my question is how do i know when she is going to have the babies. for the past 4 days i haven\'t let her out of the cage cause i\'m afraid she has the babies in the hole and it been raining alot. i put i box nest with hay but she is normal i haven;t seen her pulling out hair or seen any on the cage. is she absorbing the babies or what. any help really thank full. erenia
I\'m assuming you have a buck and a doe. Did you witness a breeding? The gestation period for rabbits is 31 days. The nest box should be provided on day 28.
Rabbits are burrowers so this behavior is normal - pregnant or not. If you don\'t know when and if your rabbit is bred then this complicates matters. You will need to provide the nest box (as you have done), but you will have to leave it with the doe for at least 5 days past the one month period that you started allowing these two to comingle. In the meantime, DO NOT let the rabbits out together. Keep them separated. Otherwise, the threat of an impending unknown kindling date will continue to loom.
Many does do not begin making a nest in earnest until a couple of days before the due date. Many don\'t even pull fur until labor is iminent, so you will have to keep the box in with the doe until: a) she has the kits b) you are sure she is NOT pregnant.
Breeding rabbits should be a
planned affair. If it was not your intention to have a litter of bunnies (and the responsibility that goes with it), you should consider neutering your pets. I think you and they will both be happier.
Charlcie Gill
Zodiac Rabbitry
Astoria, OR
http://www.zodiacsatins.com
yes i do want them to bred. the thing is that i let them lose every day and didn\'t see than mating but they have been together for more than a month. also her bally is big and i can feel her milk glad (didn\'t know what else to call them in rabbit talk).
My advise would still be to keep them separated until you know. When you want to breed them, it should be very deliberate. That way, there are no surprises or accidents and you will be able to provide the proper environment for the doe and litter at the proper time.
Charlcie Gill
Zodiac Rabbitry
Astoria, OR
http://www.zodiacsatins.com
Just a little note about burrows. If I move objects around in my rabbit\'s play yard, it will prevent them from burrowing for a few days. They seem to have to memorize the ground pattern before they decide where to dig. If they dig a burrow and it only has one entrance, they will run from the burrow when anyone comes around, but I have never let my rabbits dig more than six feet. When I seal up a burrow, I like to fill it with hay or grass clippings before covering it with dirt. If they dig in the same spot, they stop digging once they reach the hay. I can\'t say this will work for every rabbit because I have know idea if it will, but it sure works for mine.