Need help with pregnant doe

[Haley Renee]

I just recently purchased a pregnant doe (three to be exact, but two of the still have 2 weeks to go) and am needing some help. I was told she should have her babies yesterday (may 13th) and she hasnt. She's taken to destroying the nesting box i've placed for her, eating all of the newspaper and hay in it, and has stopped showing signs of being close to kindling. Is there anything i can do, or signs to know by? This is my first pregnant doe to have, and am a bit on edge about the whole thing. She's a french angora, if that matters.

 

[promiseacres]

Rabbits will kindle day 28 to 35... many on day 31. So double check dates. Best nest material imo is straw, usually they won't eat it. A wooden or metal nest box, or in some cases plastic is best and generally they won't be able to destroy. Couple things to consider, 1 she didn't get pregnant and 2 she was probably stressed by the move and may of absorbed the kits. But wait until day 35, 36 to remove the nest box.

 

[Haley Renee]

Okay, thanks for the help! Is absorbing the kits something that happens often when they get stressed?

 

[promiseacres]

Okay, thanks for the help! Is absorbing the kits something that happens often when they get stressed?

Yes.

 

[Haley Renee]

Yes.

I see. Thanks for your help!

 

[promiseacres]

Any changes (in this case a new home) can cause an animal to lose a pregnancy. Definitely a risk to buy a bred doe but not always. Hopefully she's just late.

 

[Haley Renee]

Any changes (in this case a new home) can cause an animal to lose a pregnancy. Definitely a risk to buy a bred doe but not always. Hopefully she's just late.

Ahhh, goodness. I did sooo much research before purchasing them and never read a single thing about this! I'm definitely hoping all will be well, but am very much on edge.

 

[Latestarter]

Greetings @Haley Renee from the front range In Colorado Welcome to BYH. Sorry you're having issues with your doe... Hope it all comes out OK. We have some really good, active, Rabbiteers here, so if you have a question, you should get a timely answer (or 2/3/4/...) Glad you joined us! Hope you'll share some pics when you find the time.

 

[Bunnylady]

How far along was she supposed to be when you bought her? You say she has "stopped showing signs of being close to kindling," what "signs" was she showing?

While does can absorb kits, they can only do it in the fairly early stages of pregnancy. I've had a couple of does that aborted litters at about 3 weeks' gestation due to stress, but the fetuses were there to be seen; even if the does had managed to eat all of them, there would most likely have been traces of blood as a sign that something had happened.

However an actual pregnancy ends, a doe would stop acting pregnant at that time. In the case of these two miscarriages or premature deliveries (or whatever you want to call them) that I witnessed, the does had no chance to make nests, and wouldn't have been nest making at that stage anyway.

Something that is very common in rabbits is a false pregnancy. Just being mounted by another rabbit (even another doe) can cause a doe to experience one. I've heard that does with false pregnancies usually end them within about 3 weeks, but I have had many does go all the way to day 31, make a nest, pull fur, the whole nine yards, and produce nothing. This is the reason that so many rabbit breeders feel the need to learn to palpate; it saves them the bother of making preparations for a litter that is only a figment of a doe's imagination.

If a doe seemed to be making preparations, and the stopped without producing kits around day 30-32, my best bet would be a false pregnancy. But I second promiseacres' advice to leave the box until day 35 or 36, just in case.

 

[Haley Renee]

How far along was she supposed to be when you bought her? You say she has "stopped showing signs of being close to kindling," what "signs" was she showing?

While does can absorb kits, they can only do it in the fairly early stages of pregnancy. I've had a couple of does that aborted litters at about 3 weeks' gestation due to stress, but the fetuses were there to be seen; even if the does had managed to eat all of them, there would most likely have been traces of blood as a sign that something had happened.

However an actual pregnancy ends, a doe would stop acting pregnant at that time. In the case of these two miscarriages or premature deliveries (or whatever you want to call them) that I witnessed, the does had no chance to make nests, and wouldn't have been nest making at that stage anyway.

Something that is very common in rabbits is a false pregnancy. Just being mounted by another rabbit (even another doe) can cause a doe to experience one. I've heard that does with false pregnancies usually end them within about 3 weeks, but I have had many does go all the way to day 31, make a nest, pull fur, the whole nine yards, and produce nothing. This is the reason that so many rabbit breeders feel the need to learn to palpate; it saves them the bother of making preparations for a litter that is only a figment of a doe's imagination.

If a doe seemed to be making preparations, and the stopped without producing kits around day 30-32, my best bet would be a false pregnancy. But I second promiseacres' advice to leave the box until day 35 or 36, just in case.

I purchased her when she was about three weeks in, with a week left. I was given the dates, told she should have them by friday (even though it was day 28, she assured me it should happen then) and on Wednesday she began pulling fur/pacing/messing with and/or building her nesting box. late thursday she stopped pulling fur, pacing and now only goes in her nesting box to eat. I know that today is day 31, but because i was told she would have them friday and didn't, i just wanted to take extra pre-cautions. like i said, this is my first pregnant doe ever.