Question on "Noises"

[CocoNUT]

Hi everyone! I'm new here. I've been lurking for a while and I'm finally getting around to posting! I'm attempting to breed my broken rex doe for the first time. Well...she makes these kinda squeaky/grunting noises when my buck comes around her. She doesn't go after him or even try to mount him...but I haven't seen him "fall off" so I'm not sure if she's cooperating either.

My question is - are the noises "normal" or is something wrong? Her ears are still up and she hops around the play area, checking everything out. I just want to make sure I'm not causing her undue stress. (My buck is very sweet with her - laying with her and cuddling her.)

Any insight you all could provide would be helpful!

Umm....could she already be pregnant?

 

[Ms. Research]

New to rabbits too. Finding out rabbits make all kinds of different noises. As long as it's not a scream, I won't be too concerned. That's the worst sound you can hear from a rabbit.

Regarding pregnant? Here's some information that may help you regarding the breeding process.

When to Breed Rabbits

The age at which a rabbit can be bred depends on the size of the breed and the sex of the rabbit. In small breed rabbits the doe is normally ready to mate when she is 5 months old, and a buck is ready at 6 months. In medium breed rabbits the doe is ready to breed when she is 6 months old and the buck at 7 months. In large breed rabbits the doe is ready at 8 months and the buck is ready at 9 months.

Rabbits do not ovulate on a regular cycle, as a result they do not actually go into heat. The mating of the rabbit will cause the doe to produce the eggs necessary for fertilization, usually 10-13 hours after breeding has occurred. Although the does has no actual heat cycle, she will only accept the buck in about 12 out of every 14 days . When she is ready to breed her vent area will be a dark pink, red or purple.
The Act of Breeding Rabbits

Now that you've decided which rabbits to breed, and you have determined them both to be healthy, its time to actually breed them. There are several ways to do this, but we prefer the method we're about to describe for several reasons.

When breeding, always take the doe to the males cage. Males placed in the females cage tend to be to inquisitive about their surroundings to notice the female. Once in the cage observe the rabbits until mating has occurred. It is not unusual for the excited buck (male) to mount the doe (female) at the wrong end, or even for the doe to mount the buck. When the doe is willing to accept the buck she will lift her hind end. The buck may have to mount the doe several times before she accepts. They may even spend some time chasing each other around the cage.

When a successful connection happens, the buck will literally fall to its side, and will usually let out a grunt. At this point the doe can be returned to its cage. Since ovulation wont actualy occur for several more hours, we rebreed the doe to the same buck about eight hours later to insure that a successful breeding has occurred and to maximize the litter size.

Is My Doe Pregnant?

The best way to determine if the doe is pregnent is to palpatate the doe. Some breeders will try to rebreed the doe at 14 days. This practice is dangerous. Generally a pregnent doe will refuse a buck, but this is not always the case. A doe has two uterine horns, and can become pregnent in each horn from seperate breedings. This can cause several problems during the pregnancy and during the delivery. Kits from the second breeding can be born premature, and kits from both pregnancies could be still born.

Palpating the doe correctly to determine pregnancy takes practice. Its best to have an experienced breeder show you how to properly complete this task. Place the doe on a solid surface facing you. Hold her near the base of the ears with your left hand. Gently place your right hand under the rabbit, palm up near the back of the cervical area. Gently push up with your right thumb and index finger and slowly rub the doe from back to front. If the doe is pregnant you will feel the grape sized kits between the thumb and finger. Palpitating should be done on the 12th day. Doing so later than the 12th day can cause damage to the kits.

http://www.threelittleladiesrabbitry.com/breeding.php

 

[hoodat]

Grunting is usually a sign of annoyance but not necessarily anger. One comment. Keeping a buck and doe together all the time can result in a double pregnancy and that's real trouble. I keep my buck and doe in seperate cages but only 6 inches or so apart. When the doe starts scratching at the cage to get to him I know she's ready to go.

 

[CocoNUT]

Ok - my doe and buck do not reside together - all of my buns are housed individually, w/i sight of each other. (boys next to boys...girls in another area.)
Now this morning, as I was feeding/watering them before I left for work, I noticed the doe had pulled a whole bunch of fur and was making a little 'nest area' in her two level condo. (Fortunately, the 'nest' is on the first level!) If my calculations are accurate, She should be only 14 days along. Is this a 'false' pregnancy then? I mean isn't this a little early to be pulling fur? (She's a first time 'mom to be')

 

[Ms. Research]

Ok - my doe and buck do not reside together - all of my buns are housed individually, w/i sight of each other. (boys next to boys...girls in another area.)
Now this morning, as I was feeding/watering them before I left for work, I noticed the doe had pulled a whole bunch of fur and was making a little 'nest area' in her two level condo. (Fortunately, the 'nest' is on the first level!) If my calculations are accurate, She should be only 14 days along. Is this a 'false' pregnancy then? I mean isn't this a little early to be pulling fur? (She's a first time 'mom to be')

FWIW first time moms will do about anything because they are" first time" moms. Even to a point of ignoring or even killing their kits. And yes it could even be a false pregnancy.

I can only advise you to observe.

 

[CocoNUT]

Thanks! I gave her a box for her "nest" and she apparently didn't want the box there! She promptly removed the fur and bedding from it, placed it back where it was and put the box over in her 'litter box area' and started pooping in it! NO poop/pee in her 'nest' area! She's my daughter's bunny and interestingly, she's been MUCH friendlier the last week or so! No thumping or growling! Ears always forward, letting us pet her and rub on her! She does seem to be gaining a little bit of weight so we'll see...got at least one more week to go!

 

[Ms. Research]

Thanks! I gave her a box for her "nest" and she apparently didn't want the box there! She promptly removed the fur and bedding from it, placed it back where it was and put the box over in her 'litter box area' and started pooping in it! NO poop/pee in her 'nest' area! She's my daughter's bunny and interestingly, she's been MUCH friendlier the last week or so! No thumping or growling! Ears always forward, letting us pet her and rub on her! She does seem to be gaining a little bit of weight so we'll see...got at least one more week to go!

Isn't it amazing how they know what they want. Looks like she still could be pregnant due to though not wanting the nest box, has her own nesting area ready. Glad to hear she is being more friendly as well. Nicer to be greeted with ears forward than thumping and growling. Can't wait myself to see what will happen in a week. Please keep us posted.