About A.E.J Expertise I can usually answer questions about basic feeding, housing, grooming, sanitation techniques, as well as breeding. Also, I have some knowledge of common diseases, preventions, and treatments.
Experience I have had rabbits for the past eleven years. The breeds I am most familiar with are Holland Lops, Netherland Dwarfs, Dutch, Himalayans, Tans, Mini-Lop, and mixed breeds. Some of my experiences with rabbits include various diseases, injuries, breeding, orphaned kits, and various housing situations. I was in 4-H for several years. I do not know about litter box training--that's a tough one!
Question Hi.. I would appreciate some help and advice about one of my rabbits..We have had 3 female (or so we have always thought) rabbits for 1 1/2 years now and they have lived together very peacefully.They live in an aviary we have (there are a few zebra finches in there too). They have plenty of space to run around in there freely and a large hutch which is always open on one side so they can come and go as they like..
I noticed over the last few weeks that there has been some mating actions going on between them but I just assumed that like some animals they can get a little frisky and confused.
Then today one of the rabbits has been gathering every last bit of hay i have put in the aviary and jumping on top of the hutch and taking the hay behind it and building a nest..my sister who keeps rabbits says that she is nesting and we should take her out.So i have just borrowed one of my sisters hutches and taken the rabbit out and put in the hutch all the hay and fur that she had been collecting.I feel bad though because she is used to such alot of space.
Myself ,my son and my husband have all been sat outside with a torch just now watching the other 2 and one of them is showing similiar signs and it was in fact this one (still in the aviary) whos fur we found in the nest?
Would female rabbits help eachother nest build if only one was pregnant or am i going loopy?Im wondering if a)the rabbit we have taken out is pregnant.b)if both rabbits are pregnant or c)do rabbits have phantom pregnancies?
Also how early or late in pregnancy do rabbits build nests like this?
Sorry for all the questions but i would hate to go out and find half eaten babies one morning especially as it is one of my sons who heads out first in the morning as he keeps chickens and goes out to collect the eggs.
Thankyou for your time reading this rather rambling query.
Answer Dear Shirley,
First of all, I am sorry it has taken so long to answer you note. I did not realize it had been so long since I checked my email. By now, you probably know if your rabbit was pregnant or not, as pregnant does usually build their nests any time from a few days before giving birth, to during labor! If one of your rabbits is a buck, and has been living with two does that whole 1 1/2 years, it seems like you would have had at least one litter before now. But I guess you never can tell with rabbits!
Sometimes rabbits do build nests with hay even if they are not pregnant (sometimes bucks build little beds with hay to sleep in), and I suppose does could have false pregnancies, too, so the rabbit may not be pregnant at all.
I think you are right to move the rabbit you suspect of being pregnant to a separate hutch, though. Even if it is a false alarm, it is good to be prepared! If it is not too late, try to get a nest box (you might be able to buy one at a farm supply store) if you don't already have something for her to build her nest in.
I hope this answers your questions, and I hope all goes well!
God Bless
AEJ
