Nesting like mad!

[SirThumpsey]

Halo is showing all of the classic signs of false pregnancy. About every two months she’s been gathering tons of hay in her mouth (very cute to watch her work) and making a nest. Well when I got up this morning she had pulled most of the loose fur out of her dewlap (as I understand that is what it’s there for) and added that to her nest.  She has never done this before. There’s no possible way she could be pregnant unless a rabbit flew in through the window, opened her cage, crawled in with her and managed to leave without any of us knowing a thing.

I’m nearing my third trimester and it seems this has been occuring more often now that I’M pregnant. Has anyone read or heard anything about pregnant womans bun preparing a nest for the incoming human? I’m sure all animals (not just rabbits) start to act a little funky when their owners are pregnant… but the only thing I can think of is that she is trying to help me. Honestly, the more she does nest the more nervous I get. I’m a little afraid she may end up predicting when I go into labor…(Silly I know, but I’m sure it’s happened)

If I understand correctly, there is no way to make her cease and desist but my hubby wanted me to post something to ask about this because we’ve never seen her go so far with it.

[Deleted User]

this is kind of nice of her to make a nest for your baby (j/k)
I think it is safe to say that rabbits do not fly in through windows and that hormones are ever so noticeable to our fine-tuned furry friends. You must be exuding hormones right now so it’s not too far-fetched she is making a nest on your behalf. This is so cute. I would have her spayed though, she will be better-behaved around your child.

[GrumpyBun]

Women who spend a lot of time together often synchronise cycles through detecting and responding to each other’s pheromones. Perhaps your bun is picking up on your pregnancy in the same way and it is triggering a nesting response? I don’t know, it’s just a theory.

[Monkeybun]

The only way to get her to stop that would be to spay her, which honestly, you should do anyway A spayed girl will be less as likely to be cage aggressive to little baby fingers that get curious.

[SirThumpsey]

The only reason we haven’t gotten her spayed is because I have yet to find a vet I’m comfortable with doing the surgery. But once I find one she’ll be going under.

So you think that it’s possible she is doing it for me? Aww.

I have no worries about her being cage aggressive. She is the most sweet and docile rabbit I’ve ever met. She is a very calm rabbit and as long as you don’t pick her up she’s perfectly happy. And our daughter won’t be big enough to pick her up for a few years and by then I would have taught her that bunnies are not for picking up.

[Deleted User]

Posted By Crymson on 10/22/2010 12:54 PM

So you think that it’s possible she is doing it for me? Aww.

 

not exactly, LOL, I think she thinks your baby is really going to be hers.

[jerseygirl]

Posted By Crymson on 10/22/2010 09:20 AM

If I understand correctly, there is no way to make her cease and desist but my hubby wanted me to post something to ask about this because we’ve never seen her go so far with it.

Do you mean while she’s having the phantom pregnancy? I think it’s true, you just have to let it run it’s course.  Her hormones must be all out of whack if this is happening every 2 months.  Having her spayed will help her from having these in the future. Have you had any more luck locating a rabbit savvy vet?

 

[LoveChaCha]

one of the questions i would ask when finding a vet is, how many spays/neuters are done, and if any rabbits have passed during the process.

i hope you’ll find a vet soon. i would be freaking out if i say a phantom pregnanccy o.O

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Ditto the spaying…Honestly phantom pregnancies, from what I’ve read-occur after they’ve mated but didn’t take. Since she’s not mating-I would there could be something wrong horomonally. And given how prone they are to cancers, cancers cause all kind of horomone interuptions. I would spay asap. As much as I’d love to believe she’s making a nest for the one you’ve got coming-I really think there is something up. I’ve never heard of repeat false pregnancies.

Ok just googled it-and even if there isn’t a problem causing it-it sounds like repeated fake pregnancies can cause problems.
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Rabbits-703/phantom-pregnancy.htm

For her health and safety, it’s time to have her spayed. Repeated false pregnancies can lead to health problems such as mastitis (infected mammary glands) and other disorders. Also, unspayed, unbred female rabbits have a very high risk of uterine cancer. It’s best in every way for her to be spayed by a good rabbit vet soon. You can read more about this here:
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/spay.html

http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/opcare.html

and find a good rabbit vet near you here:

http://www.rabbit.org/vets

Hope that helps. Please write back if you have any other questions.

Dana

[Author]

Messages