She seems a little frantic and I cannot for the life of me figure this out.  She hops up to me and I pet her and she seems to want to be groomed.  She just sits there with the hay in her mouth and lets me pet her.  I have no idea what the heck is going on.  

ETA:  Okay…when I noticed this behavior, I had just put Bindi to bed with her little scoop of pellets.  Then I noticed she kept looking at her hidey box outside of her kennel.  So I let her back out and she took a mouthful of hay to her hidey box.  Now, she is in there scratching around like she is building a nest or something.  I guess she is just playing house in her hidey box and bringing stuff from the big house to make it more comfortable.  

Barbie, she has not been spayed yet (waiting for tax refund money).  Do they often have false pregnancies?  I had a cocker spaniel that had false pregnancies – lactating and everything! – and after she was spayed returned to a normal happy dog.  I’m keeping a close eye on her.  Thanks for the post!

Thanks Andi and Lucy!  She also is “plucking” at her fleece bankies – this is done with a mouth full of hay and it is so bizarre!  I ended up putting her hidey box in her kennel with her and she has been working most diligently on her nest.  But shhhh!  I think she has calmed down for the night.  She is lying up in her loft in the “lamb chop” position, so hopefully she’s done for the night!  The bunch of hay in the mouth is really cute – when I first saw her doing it, I pulled it all out of her mouth because I thought she somehow had it stuck there.  Stupid human – then she had to go bather it up again .  Thanks guys – going to bed!  Night-night

This morning she is pulling her fur out.  Do they do this when they are shedding?  She really is all splotchy looking and could use some pulling and shedding, but I have brushed her and kind of plucked at the hair and it doesn’t come out.  I’m confused .  If it is a false pregnancy, do I need to do anything or just let it run its course?  

Thanks, Karla.  I thought about giving her “babies”, but I worried she would rip them to shreds and put them in the nest .  I got her from the shelter and when she was brought in last Nov. she delivered 4 still-born kits so she has had at least one litter that we know of.  She was a year old in Feb.  Poor Bindi!  She does seem stressed, but she is letting me pet her more and I was pulling the hay out of her mouth last night and she just sat there.  Bindi has lunged and growled at me for looking at her wrong so maybe pregnancy mellow her out or scares her to death.   Thanks for the advice and I will see if she wants a “baby” to take care of.  

JG, actually Bindi and I have been getting along famously since I gave her the kitchen .  She seems to have calmed down a little, not so frantic, but she looks like the Velveteen rabbit at this point (well loved).  She has little bald patches where she pulled her fur out for her nest.  They are pale pink, but not inflamed and on top of that, I think she is having a spring shed.  Should I be concerned about her bald spots?  Hopefully, she is through yanking it out now. 

Here is a picture of Bindi’s nest.  I feel really sorry for her and her invisible babies – kind of sad

Baleful, thank you so much!  I’m sorry Coco went through this, but I’m glad someone can tell me it’s okay – she will be fine after her spay and her beautiful fur will grow back.  Thank you for the words of encouragement and even my hubby who was a little iffy about the whole spaying thing is on board now after seeing her in all her fur pulling, hay carrying action.  I just want to scoop her up and hug her and tell her to slow down, it will be okay.  We’ll get through somehow.  Thanks again!

Thank you, Barbie!  She has been pretty calm for the past couple of days – I guess the “nest” is complete and we are waiting for the “babies” now.  Poor little girl!  I can’t wait to get her spayed – although that’s a terrifying thought, too, but I know it is the right thing to do.  I had a little cocker spaniel/chihuaha(sp)  – talk about a hyper dog and she stopped breathing under anesthesia during her spay, so I have a difficult time with this, although I have had 3 dogs spayed since then.  I know you guys will be a great support system for Bindi and I when it’s her time for surgery.  Thanks again!