Does this behaviour mean my doe is in labour???!

[sparklesandmarbles]

Hi,
I have a pregnant doe who got pregnant because my buck escaped his cage (the day before being neutered!) and I wasn’t there to witness his or to separate them! This has happened on two occasions. So I’m not sure of her due date. It’s any time from now until October 31st! I’ve given her a nest because of the fact that I don’t know when her bunnies are coming. I’ve palpated and it’s hard to know how much longer I’ll be able to do so because of not knowing her due date. I can feel a lot of movement and the bunnies are much bigger than grape size. They are more like long cylinder shaped bunnies roughly 4cm long perhaps? She’s a first time Mum so I’m not sure if she’ll pull out fur or nest. She’s digging in the net box and cleaning herself in there. She’s sitting in it a lot but so far has not soiled it. It seems she’s chosen her toilet area in the opposite corner. She’s puffing every now and again like a quick sigh. I’m not sure how big they get before kindling because it does feel like the babies could still grow a bit more as in there’s still space but they do seem quite big. She’s just a little more restless than usual and /slightly/ off of her food. I’m watching her very closely for nesting to try and work out what’s going on. She’s a house rabbit, I forgot to say. They’re both house rabbits but they are separate. The buck isn’t getting as much attention because I’m so caught up stressing about this so I do feel bad but I just don’t know what’s going on or how to ensure I’m around when my doe kindles (I live between my parents’ and a care home).
Thanks.

[Mikey]

A rabbit will typically start to build their nest within the last week before labor. If she hasnt started building a nest, chances are, shes not in labor yet.

If at any point you are worried, head to the vets.

[LBJ10]

As they near the end, they become more and more uncomfortable. Moodiness and shifting around probably aren’t reliable predictors since it can start well before actual labor. As Mikey said, fur pulling and building a nest are the last thing they do before giving birth. If you see that, you know the babies are close. Unfortunately, with first time moms, they don’t always get the nest building thing right. So it’s probably a good idea to start keeping an eye out now, but realize it might be a little bit yet.

[joea64]

In addition to consulting your vet if you have concerns, I’d recommend doing a Google search right away – there are several sites that have very good and extensive information on what to do when a doe is about to kindle, including things you can do to help a first-time doe with things like nest building. You might need to help her with fur-pulling, for instance, by gently pulling some (it gets very loose around the chest/abdomen area in the last week or so of pregnancy, IIRC, so is very easy to pull), or collecting loose fur. You’ll need to designate a nesting box separate from her usual litterbox; when she gets to building her nest, make certain of where she’s doing it and set up the nesting box there.

Once the kits are born, the most important thing to do is to make sure that they’re properly situated in the nest – they should be snuggled up together for warmth, which they need – and that they’re being properly fed by their mother. Rabbits only nurse once or twice a day, usually in the predawn or nighttime hours so you probably won’t often see her in the act of feeding her babies. Well-fed babies should have round, plump-looking tummies that may have a somewhat translucent appearance with their mother’s milk (which is exceptionally nutrient-rich) visible. Speaking of nutrition, you should start giving your doe alfalfa hay if you aren’t already. Adult rabbits usually shouldn’t get much if any alfalfa hay because the protein content is too high for them, but pregnant and nursing mothers are an exception because they do need lots of protein to develop the fetuses and then feed their kits properly.

I gather this is your bunny’s first litter, so there’s a good chance it’s going to be touch-and-go with the newborn kits; it’s unfortunately common for at least one of the litter not to survive, particularly if they’re a dwarf breed (dwarf rabbits produce a certain percentage of excessively small and undeveloped newborns called “peanuts” which never manage to live more than a couple of weeks). The kits that live and thrive will open their eyes and raise their ears at around 10 days or so, and their fur will grow in at around the same time. They’ll start to get really lively and active at around 3 weeks or so. They need to stay with their mother until they’re at least 8 weeks old, to allow them time to be properly weaned and develop healthy GI flora from eating their mother’s cecals. Once they’re old enough, they should be started on alfalfa hay and alfalfa-based pellets, which they should eat until reaching their full adult growth when they should transition to timothy or other grass hays.

[sparklesandmarbles]

I don’t know if she’s going to build a nest or pull hair though since it’s her first time! If the buns feel at least a few cm long inside her, and displaying the given behaviours, should it be much longer until she does give birth? She’s not littertrained (she’s a stubborn one with where she poops!) and she’s just started pooping in the nest box. Should I remove it?

[jerseygirl]

If she goes anywhere else in the room or house, have you checked that she hasn’t built a nest somewhere else?

She’s just a little more restless than usual and /slightly/ off of her food.

This may happen 2-3 days before giving birth. There is a hormone release that allows the fur to become loose and they’ll often pull that in the 24hrs before kindling, from what I understand.
I had a little bunny who had a litter a week after I took her in. She started building a nest on a Friday night and gave birth on the Sunday night. She became very focused on the friday evening. There was quite a noticeable change in her behaviour.

[Wick & Fable]

I would do research on your own and speak with a rabbit savvy vet so you know exactly what to expect and do when she gives birth. Kits are very sensitive and premature separation, inadequate care, etc. can lead to disastrous consequences. Make sure to use this time to prep up.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[Author]

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