Pregnant doe?

[Farmin' Girl]

I bought a doe recently that was put in with a buck, but no one was around to see them mate. Can anyone give me some pointers on what to look for to know whether or not she is pregnant? She was supposedly bred on 2\10.

 

[P.O. in MO]

According to my calendar that was 35 days ago. Rabbits almost always kindle on the 31st day. I have had one go 34 days. Usually if a doe is pregnant she will start carrying hay around in her mouth looking for a place to build a nest (providing it is available). Mine sometimes dig at the wire floor of their cage trying to dig a nest. Common practice is to put the nest box in 3 or 4 days before the 31st day. It is said that putting them in earlier risks the chance of them using it for a litter box. I usually put mine in a little early if I see them trying to build a nest. Most rabbits pick one spot in there cage to eliminate waste so do use that spot for where you set the nest box. So far that has worked for me. Hope this helps.

 

[Farmin' Girl]

Oops, so sorry I meant 3\10, my mistake thanks for the info, it helps.

 

[SA Farm]

Some put the doe back in with the buck and if she grunts at him, hides, or tries to beat him up, they call her pregnant. Some palpate the doe, usually at day 12-14 to feel the 'marble' bumps indicating babies developing.
Personally, I make sure my buck falls over several times and often re-breed several hours after the first breeding. If I don't see the buck fall over, I don't consider her bred.
Rabbits hide pregnancy very well and you often won't know until she starts nesting or has had them!
Good luck and I hope she is pregnant for you

 

[VickieB]

I think P.O. meant to say "do NOT use the corner" that the rabbit potties in. If you do, they are very likely to use the nest box as a litter box. (That's a mistake I made once... )

 

[P.O. in MO]

Yes that's what PO meant to say. Long day yesterday, in fact a long week. Got my chicks in the brooder just now. My old hens are just about spent.

 

[VickieB]

What kind of chicks?

 

[Farmin' Girl]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I will let you all know how everything turns out.

 

[P.O. in MO]

Hey VickieB, I am replacing my 2 year old Barred Rocks with 8 black sex links (supposed to be a better layer) and also 3 Buff Orpingtons pullets and a couple of Buff Orpington roosters. They all made it thru the night just fine. The plan is to use the Buff Orpingtons hens as broody hens for a few meat birds. Got an extra rooster in case I should lose one. If they both make it to fryer age I will butcher one along with a couple of the smaller sex links as 8 of these is probably more eggs than I can get rid of. I partitioned off one end of my rabbit shed to use as a broody coop eventually and the rest go out in a big chicken tractor I move around my field. Rabbits are a lot easier to butcher than chickens but I don't mind once in a while, good to have something different. Getting so I look at the price of meat in the store and just walk on by. I am getting in better shape on rabbit meat. Have 20 growing out right now and a doe ready to be bred just need to get out there and do it.