Hello new here

[GiantBunnies91]

Hello I am new here and also new to the bunny world. I kinda jumped into it not knowing what I was getting into. Having owned and raised lots of different animals I thought a bunny would be easy and I have always wanted one so I started looking for one for my daughter. Before I knew it I was agreeing to take in 2 giant Angoras 1 female who was 9 months old and a male who is 8 months old. As well as a lion head mix that is over a year. I'm sure a lot are asking what was I thinking and some days I wonder that too lol but we quickly fell in love. All three are just the sweetest. Now I was told that they had kept the male separate from the females and so I continued to do so. We have had them since August and we recently put a fenced area up outside for them to play in. Mostly the females because the male is usually out with me anyway. A few weeks ago my older daughter was here for the weekend and I forgot to tell her to keep them separated. It wasn't until the sounds of laughter and yelling from the girls that I realized and as you can guess my male was already done. Now as I said I know nothing about bunnies til now and it's all what I've read online but I do think my giant angora might be pregnant. She's done all the normal signs I've read about except the actual nest building. She did pull her fur out like a week ago but I haven't noticed her actually building a nest other then maybe digging a hole when she's outside. But today when I went to get her out and let her play in the big cage she was very aggressive and growling at me. She even lunged at my hand a few times. She does look much bigger as well. Could she be getting close? She had already been acting differently but today it was just so much more noticeable. Id just like to be prepared if she is gonna have babies soon. Should I keep her alone in her smaller cage or is she ok to be out still with the other female? Any advice will be appreciated thanks!

 

[Mini Horses]

Sorry to laugh at post but, the "didn't tell do keep separate" part was where I knew -- YES!! bred!!

There ya go....more buns on the way. She'll need a nest box, privacy and hay to bed them....

I don't raise .... But some who do will reply soon with help, hugs and smiles.

 

[GiantBunnies91]

Sorry to laugh at post but, the "didn't tell do keep separate" part was where I knew -- YES!! bred!!

There ya go....more buns on the way. She'll need a nest box, privacy and hay to bed them....

I don't raise .... But some who do will reply soon with help, hugs and smiles.

Haha no need to apologize soon as I heard my daughter I knew immediately I was probably gonna have more. That's been almost 4 weeks now so I'm guessing it could happen soon. She's in a cage by herself but I don't have a nest box? Is that something I absolutely need for her if so I'll have to get on it now

 

[Mini Horses]

@Baymule @Ridgetop @secuono

I've some fast info

 

[Baymule]

Yes you need a nest box NOW. Gestation is 31-33 days. If no nest box is provided, she will have them on the wire and they will die. Nest box should go in 4 or 5 days before due date. Put hay in it, she will pull fur to line the nest.

This has a lot of information that may be useful to you.

How & When To Put A Nest Box In With A Pregnant Meat Rabbit - Meat Rabbits

Learn all you need to know about nest boxes for pregnant meat rabbits--including how and when to install them.

meatrabbits.org

Videos that show step by step

14 DIY Rabbit Nest Box Ideas - Try Out This Weekend

Getting ready for your rabbit’s labor requires preparing for their nest. While your rabbit might have already set up a nest using materials available in ... Read more

bunnystyleguide.com

Or you can buy one, Tractor Supply, Atwoods and other farm stores have them.

Some how to directions said to use plastic or even cardboard boxes. Please don’t do that. Rabbits will chew them to bits.

 

[secuono]

Needs a hay filled nest.

I don't understand what they live in full time. Angora should be off the ground for permanent housing, the fur can get nasty fast. If in a cage, there's no worry of MIA babies rotting in ground tunnels.

Give two hay filled nests if keeping the girls together. Heck, three might be a good idea if the buck bred both. The not preg one will nest sit or use it as a toilet, on the kits, killing them.

GA need big nests, probably best to make one out of wood or a basic cat litter pan. Don't use shavings, no good in general and it'll be entrapped in their fur and be a disaster to remove.

Mom only feeds 2× a day, 5min at a time. She is not a dog/cat and will not, should not, sit with them.

Last week of pregnancy, all of mine eat far less & lounge around more. Some can get more friendly or more protective, or no change at all. If she's grumpy now, be careful once kits show up, she might nail you. Distract with some fresh grass away from the nest before checking kits.

 

[Mini Horses]

there ya go, a nutshell lesson. From breeders, too.

 

[GiantBunnies91]

Thank you all! I am half way through getting a nest box built for her.

During the daytime I let them roam in a huge dog kennel we have but 2 weeks ago I had to keep a eye on them because they started digging huge tunnels/burrows. I've had to fill in 2 -3 a day so far since lol

But when it's starting to get dark I move them to cages that are up off the ground but they are separated. So they have their own area for their selves especially if they are pregnant.

Today I went out to move the lionhead out to the kennel and while I do have wire bottom on the cage I have a lot of hay laid down on both sides to kinda help keep them lil warmer and I noticed it was preventing the droppings from well dropping lol so I put all 3 in the kennel while I went about the task of cleaning the other cages but where I was also able to keep a stern eye on them to be safe.

So first thing was Jane my Giant Angora female was again very grumpy doing a sorta growl and lunging at my hands when I would slowly reach in. She definitely makes it difficult to do anything with her the last two to three days now.

Once I finally got them in the kennel I noticed that if Waylon my male giant Angora would get within a few feet of either one of the females they both would start to kinda cry/vocal to him and run from him.

So I got him out immediately and moved him into a spare cage. But then immediately had to go separate the females as well because Jane had started to chase Roxy(lionhead). It wasnt the usual playful chasing I've seen them do before but almost seemed like she was trying to hurt her.

Any thoughts and all advice is very much appreciated!

 

[Baymule]

They can all live happily together is pretty much a Disney fallacy. Some people manage to pull it off, but for the most part, adult females will fight, adult males will fight, and if not in heat, adult females can bite the nuts off a buck. Domestic rabbits have been raised and developed to live in cages. Even your play area on the ground is a cage. Rabbits can pick up worms and parasites on the ground, just so you know. And that presents a whole ‘nother set of problems.

So in answer to your problem of them suddenly getting aggressive, that’s a normal thing, keep them separated in their own cages. Have cages ready to wean the kits into when the time comes. Pure Angora rabbits should be able to be sold. The lionhead X angora is a mutt, fit only for meat.

You can brush the Angoras and save the wool. Then I guess you realize that you’ll be making a drop spindle to spin it into yarn, learning to knit or crochet, if you don’t already know how…….

I had an angora sweater once, soft, warm, best sweater I ever had.