- Thread starter
- #11
LukeMeister
Loving the herd life
Oh okay, I'll be more careful next time.
Rabbit Pregnancy Problem
- Thread starter LukeMeister
- Start date
Bunnylady
Herd Master
Yikes! 3/4 lb is a lot of weight for something as small as a Dutch to lose!
No idea why your doe would go off her feed at that stage of pregnancy. Many, many years ago, I had a Dutch doe that did that, and it nearly drove me crazy! I was so worried that she was developing GI stasis and was going to die . . . . but she didn't; she raised that litter with no issues (I can't remember if she did it more than once - this was, like, 30 years ago). It's not unusual for fetuses to die; does can even reabsorb them if environmental conditions stress them enough. I have seen does give birth to dead, partially formed fetuses at the same time as fully developed babies; clearly, the dead ones died as much as a week before the delivery. In some animals, a dead baby is a catastrophe that can cost the life of the mother, but in rabbits that isn't the case. A baby that doesn't get born can mummify inside the doe, and she can carry on with life as though nothing is different. Frequently, a doe with a fetal mummy inside her is sterile, at least on the side where the mummy is, but I have had does that gave birth to litters and there was a mummy among the live kits (weird looking things, to be sure!)
Does frequently will not eat for maybe a day or so just prior to kindling, but not all do this.
For me, palpating has been hit-or-miss. I once had a Holland doe that I palpated and would have sworn was open give birth to 8 kits a week later. 8 is a big litter for a Holland; where she could have been hiding them is beyond me. A long time ago, I took a page from another breeder - her advice was not to try to count kits, but just note whether it feels like there seem to be more "insides" than you would find in a non-pregnant doe when the animal is at about 2 weeks post breeding. Also, when the doe is at about 21 days, I give her some hay and watch to see what she does with it, because most does start nest making at about this stage. Rabbits may play with their hay, but the only ones that I have ever seen pick up big mouthfuls and carry them around are pregnant does (or at least, those that think they are pregnant). I don't usually give a doe a box until day 28, and I might palpate her at that time - kits are pretty big at that point, and I can be pretty sure about whether the doe is actually expecting, or just doing a false pregnancy. Either way, she won't breed again until her body no longer believes itself to be pregnant, so there's no point in putting her with the buck until she thinks she's ready again.
Good luck
No idea why your doe would go off her feed at that stage of pregnancy. Many, many years ago, I had a Dutch doe that did that, and it nearly drove me crazy! I was so worried that she was developing GI stasis and was going to die . . . . but she didn't; she raised that litter with no issues (I can't remember if she did it more than once - this was, like, 30 years ago). It's not unusual for fetuses to die; does can even reabsorb them if environmental conditions stress them enough. I have seen does give birth to dead, partially formed fetuses at the same time as fully developed babies; clearly, the dead ones died as much as a week before the delivery. In some animals, a dead baby is a catastrophe that can cost the life of the mother, but in rabbits that isn't the case. A baby that doesn't get born can mummify inside the doe, and she can carry on with life as though nothing is different. Frequently, a doe with a fetal mummy inside her is sterile, at least on the side where the mummy is, but I have had does that gave birth to litters and there was a mummy among the live kits (weird looking things, to be sure!)
Does frequently will not eat for maybe a day or so just prior to kindling, but not all do this.
For me, palpating has been hit-or-miss. I once had a Holland doe that I palpated and would have sworn was open give birth to 8 kits a week later. 8 is a big litter for a Holland; where she could have been hiding them is beyond me. A long time ago, I took a page from another breeder - her advice was not to try to count kits, but just note whether it feels like there seem to be more "insides" than you would find in a non-pregnant doe when the animal is at about 2 weeks post breeding. Also, when the doe is at about 21 days, I give her some hay and watch to see what she does with it, because most does start nest making at about this stage. Rabbits may play with their hay, but the only ones that I have ever seen pick up big mouthfuls and carry them around are pregnant does (or at least, those that think they are pregnant). I don't usually give a doe a box until day 28, and I might palpate her at that time - kits are pretty big at that point, and I can be pretty sure about whether the doe is actually expecting, or just doing a false pregnancy. Either way, she won't breed again until her body no longer believes itself to be pregnant, so there's no point in putting her with the buck until she thinks she's ready again.
Good luck
- Thread starter
- #13
LukeMeister
Loving the herd life
Well 3/4 of a pound is just my estimate.Yikes! 3/4 lb is a lot of weight for something as small as a Dutch to lose!
No idea why your doe would go off her feed at that stage of pregnancy. Many, many years ago, I had a Dutch doe that did that, and it nearly drove me crazy! I was so worried that she was developing GI stasis and was going to die . . . . but she didn't; she raised that litter with no issues (I can't remember if she did it more than once - this was, like, 30 years ago). It's not unusual for fetuses to die; does can even reabsorb them if environmental conditions stress them enough. I have seen does give birth to dead, partially formed fetuses at the same time as fully developed babies; clearly, the dead ones died as much as a week before the delivery. In some animals, a dead baby is a catastrophe that can cost the life of the mother, but in rabbits that isn't the case. A baby that doesn't get born can mummify inside the doe, and she can carry on with life as though nothing is different. Frequently, a doe with a fetal mummy inside her is sterile, at least on the side where the mummy is, but I have had does that gave birth to litters and there was a mummy among the live kits (weird looking things, to be sure!)
Does frequently will not eat for maybe a day or so just prior to kindling, but not all do this.
For me, palpating has been hit-or-miss. I once had a Holland doe that I palpated and would have sworn was open give birth to 8 kits a week later. 8 is a big litter for a Holland; where she could have been hiding them is beyond me. A long time ago, I took a page from another breeder - her advice was not to try to count kits, but just note whether it feels like there seem to be more "insides" than you would find in a non-pregnant doe when the animal is at about 2 weeks post breeding. Also, when the doe is at about 21 days, I give her some hay and watch to see what she does with it, because most does start nest making at about this stage. Rabbits may play with their hay, but the only ones that I have ever seen pick up big mouthfuls and carry them around are pregnant does (or at least, those that think they are pregnant). I don't usually give a doe a box until day 28, and I might palpate her at that time - kits are pretty big at that point, and I can be pretty sure about whether the doe is actually expecting, or just doing a false pregnancy. Either way, she won't breed again until her body no longer believes itself to be pregnant, so there's no point in putting her with the buck until she thinks she's ready again.
Good luck
Thank you, that was very detailed
- Thread starter
- #14
LukeMeister
Loving the herd life
Well, I palpated her this morning and I didn't feel anything . I think (and hope) she terminated her pregnancy (or was never pregnant). We do have another doe that I'm almost certain is pregnant, I can feel two or three kits (or I think anyway). And I also saw her picking up dry grass and putting it in her nest box. I realize it could be a phantom pregnancy, but I think not, as she looks like she has a grapefruit in her belly!
. I think (and hope) she terminated her pregnancy (or was never pregnant). We do have another doe that I'm almost certain is pregnant, I can feel two or three kits (or I think anyway). And I also saw her picking up dry grass and putting it in her nest box. I realize it could be a phantom pregnancy, but I think not, as she looks like she has a grapefruit in her belly!When I was regularly breeding rabbits I always tried to palpate for pregnancy, but found the results were at best a 50/50 shot. After I realized that I quit palpating. I think rabbits are unique with the way they show pregnancy compared to other animals.
