False Rabbit Pregnancy? Or Real?

[BunnyMommy3]

So i have a virgin holland lop doe we tried to breed, the male nver grunted an flopped off and our doe couldn't get her butt up high enough and didn't want help... we walked away for five minutes to see the other breeders kits.. came back an the buck was still trying. We assumed it didnt take.. day 13 palpitated, no grapes.... day 16 pulls fur and builds nest on litter box so we gave her a nest box, worked on her nest for a long time... at day 20 takes nest and rebuilds it in corner of cage... day 22 i move it back to nest box and she fixes it up..... now here we are day 23... shes gained 1pound... shes lost her waistline... laying on her side alot.. protective of her nest and wont let you touch her belly..... pregnant or false??

 

[Bunnylady]

Welcome to BYC!

If I were a betting person, my money would go on "false." Nest building doesn't usually start until a few days before the kits (real or not) are due - some does don't do anything until just hours before they kindle. Most does don't even pull fur until just before they kindle, or just after. Fur pulling is often the sign of the end of a false pregnancy, particularly when it occurs only a couple of weeks after a known encounter with another rabbit (it doesn't even have to be a buck).

Of course, rabbits don't read the books, they just chew on them; not all does follow the typical pattern. I had one Jersey Wooly doe that started fur pulling at day 21, and continued to pull for days after the kits arrived. She wound up completely bald, except for her head and feet, and a little "Mohawk" of hair right along her spine. She was an extreme case. When she first started pulling fur so early, I thought it was false pregnancy, but the fact that she continued to do it inspired me to keep the nest box with her, which turned out to be a good thing.

With this doe, my inclination would be to keep the box with her, just in case, but not to expect anything. Every doe is different; making mental notes about this doe's behavior can help you to know what to expect from her in the future. ("normal" for some does can be pretty far out - I had one that always fought with the buck before she'd breed, and completely ignored her nest box until just before the kits were born. She was a great mother, though . . .) Often, fur pulling on a doe that you know isn't bred can be a signal that she's at a hormonal peak, and it's a really good time to breed her.

 

[BunnyMommy3]

Yea i was betting on false too, but its day 26 or 27 now. (Sorry didnt check the calender today) and she gained 2 pounds, doesnt want to be touch and looks very pregnant. She lays on her side alot but isnt eating much.... so only time will tell but im slightly leaning towards real now.