The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Other => Topic started by: MAK on March 02, 2013, 08:11:05 am

Title: Rabbits have lost the plot.
Post by: MAK on March 02, 2013, 08:11:05 am
Both our does did not have kittens as expected last month- we suspect that they both reabsorbed ( we have had a lot of snow). Both had made nests and pulled their fur to line the nests but no kittens.
Yesterday we offered one doe to the buck but removed her becuase she was stressed and hid her head under a wooden pallate from the buck. She made whimpering noises so we put her back in her run. Within a few hours she had made another nest with lots of her fur.
The other doe seemed happy to be with the buck and repeatedley tried to mount him.They took it in turns to mount each other!!
So we have one doe who thinks she has been pregnant for 2 months and the other who thinks she is a buck!
Anyone experienced such?
Title: Re: Rabbits have lost the plot.
Post by: Clarebelle on March 02, 2013, 01:42:22 pm
My does is due on tuesday and it will be my first experience breeding so I havent seen that kind of behaviour before but i'll be interested to see if anyone else has.

My doe is very territorial, I wonder if the doe mounting the buck is a dominance thing like with female dogs humping?

With the other doe, is it her first litter? I think first timers are more prone to psudopregnancy (sp?)? Maybe this is an extreme case.
Title: Re: Rabbits have lost the plot.
Post by: colliewoman on March 02, 2013, 05:08:36 pm
Spring fever!


Sounds to me like the first doe is in the middle of a false pregnancy, in which case she will not accept the bucks advances but HE thinks she smells just fab! Try her in a week or so.
The mounting with the other doe is dominance behaviour but if she didn't attack him I reckon she is playing hard to get ;)
Title: Re: Rabbits have lost the plot.
Post by: MAK on March 02, 2013, 07:26:54 pm
Thanks - Both have had litters before.
Sounds a good explanation of the doe showing dominance. We only gave her an hour with the buck and the buck was a bit bloody after. We thought he may have caught a paw on his cage or something but maybe she had a go at him.
We will try the "indifferent" doe again next week.
We have plenty of rabbit in the freezer but they are good curencey in these parts and our neighbours love them. 
Title: Re: Rabbits have lost the plot.
Post by: colliewoman on March 04, 2013, 04:31:12 pm
Don't leave the fiesty one unattended with the buck though, I have seen a clean penile amputation executed in 3 seconds before now :o :o :o
Buck mounted the wrong end, one bite late and it was off to the vet :tired:
Title: Re: Rabbits have lost the plot.
Post by: bloomer on March 04, 2013, 04:38:28 pm
Quote from: colliewoman on March 04, 2013, 04:31:12 pm
Don't leave the fiesty one unattended with the buck though, I have seen a clean penile amputation executed in 3 seconds before now :o :o :o
Buck mounted the wrong end, one bite late and it was off to the vet :tired:




my eyes are watering at the thought!!!
Title: Re: Rabbits have lost the plot.
Post by: MAK on March 04, 2013, 05:12:09 pm
mmm - best we climb in with the doe next time with gauntlets at the ready - just in case they confuse a finger with something else.
Title: Re: Rabbits have lost the plot.
Post by: colliewoman on March 04, 2013, 09:15:53 pm
Quote from: MAK on March 04, 2013, 05:12:09 pm
mmm - best we climb in with the doe next time with gauntlets at the ready - just in case they confuse a finger with something else.


I use a broom. Fighting rabbits can cause serious damage :bunny: ;D