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Rabbit Chat Forum - Telling if my rabbits pregnant

Fielding - Wed Jun 13, 2007 8:20 pm
Post subject: Telling if my rabbits pregnant

Ive accustomed 2 lionhead rabbits, I've been told that the female is pregnant 3 week but cannot be sure . I know that to paulping the rabbit is dangerous if she is 3 week, is their any other way to tell if she is pregnant other than waiting till she nests. And i dont wanna handle her too much.

Shaun

Beckyess - Thu Jun 14, 2007 8:45 am
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I wouldn't worry, you never have long to wait so just separate her from the other one and wait and see what happens.
Becky

Fielding - Thu Jun 14, 2007 11:54 am
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I was just wondering because if she is not ive got a nice lionhead rabbit to breed her with for more lionheads. So please give suggestions thanks.

honeydlc - Thu Jun 14, 2007 12:12 pm
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As Becky said, unless you take your rabbit to the vets for abdominal palpation, (which will likely cause moe stress than it's worth!) you may just have to wait and be patient. A rabbits gestation period is only 28-35 days anyway, so you'll know for sure in a week or two Very Happy

I would definately remove the male for now, as he can impregnate the mother immediately after she gives birth, which puts an unfair strain on her.
Some bunnies start making a nest up to a week before giving birth, though some wait until later. This can also be a sign of false pregnancy of course.

Beckyess - Thu Jun 14, 2007 4:26 pm
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Well if you have a male then the simple way is to put her in with him, if he mates her she isn't pregnant! However, that could cause her to miscarry so I'd wait, you've only just got her so let her settle in first before mating her.
Becky

GerbilPunk - Thu Jun 14, 2007 5:27 pm
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awwwww if she is pregnat what will you do with the litter? show us some piccys if they're ever born! Very Happy

Fielding - Thu Jun 14, 2007 6:04 pm
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ill get pictures for you, i have put male and female together (took the risk) and she went ballistic at him charging biting, i know this could be a sign and to answer what will i do i know this petshop up in peterlee that will buy them off me, the plus side to this petshop is that if a person comes into the store without knowlege of rabbits or animals the owner will not part with them and as she says the "animals will only go to good homes with up" i tested her as well on this and she proved trustworthy so i know the bunnies will be happy.

GerbilPunk - Thu Jun 14, 2007 6:22 pm
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arent you at least going to keep one...? Sad

Fielding - Thu Jun 14, 2007 8:34 pm
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Ive got 7 i cnt keep another one as long as they go to a good home ill be ok Smile

Twig - Fri Jun 15, 2007 3:29 pm
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Fielding wrote:

Ive got 7 i cnt keep another one as long as they go to a good home ill be ok Smile

Do you have any idea how HARD it is to find homes? There are TOO MANY rabbits already, and therefore any not sold will be handed straight back to you, and this is very likely if theres a biggish litter. Also, to assume the local shop will take them, is a VERY big mistake, as they already have their own trusted suppliers, so what makes you think they would they take yours?

Please, please reconsider what you are doing, you clearly have very limited knowledge in what you are doing.

Offloading them to a petshop is totally irresponsible as they could end up in a very neglectful home, as many rabbits, particularly fluffy lionheads who are bought on impulse. 1 in 3 rabbits live in inhumane conditions because many people assume they are very cuddley, short lived and cheap, non of which they are!

There is no 'nice way' to put it, other than you are a classic example of a backyard breeder.

Also, what if they don't all sell, the petshop will hand them back to you, so what will you, dump them or break their necks?

I can see why you want to breed for the sake of fluffy little babies, but if we all let in to our selfishness, we'd have an even worse overpopulation of rabbits.

Please, please just don't bother breeding, you are 17 and don't have the independance that allows you to breed more responsibly. You said yourself you have no room, yet you are prepare to breed without any thought of what will be done with those who don't sell or are bred with a deformity. The last thing rabbits as a whole need are more backyard breeders. Prehaps you should voleenter at your local rabbit rescue and see what I mean. I am sick and tired this exact situation happening all at the expense of the poor bunnies. Too many have to be killed in rescues to make room for more. If you consider yourself a true rabbit lover, you will understand, if not, I guess you will continue to breed, so if the latter, do some proper research.

Twig - Fri Jun 15, 2007 3:30 pm
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I'd like to add also how annoyed I am at how people in general on here support any person who wants to breed, am I the only one stuck at the rescue end in absolute dispair at how many rabbits are KILLED to make room for new ones? How many rabbits that are sitting in rescues WITHOUT a home? How many rabbits who have life long illnesses caused by breeding ANY two rabbits together for 'cute little babies'? Crying or Very sad

Fielding - Fri Jun 15, 2007 5:41 pm
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Twig i dont see what your problem is with people attempting to breed rabbits, you seem to me to be a animal lover but you dont approve of animals being bred. Some breeders are,to put it, bastards but because of my age i am not incapable of being a good breeder, people work from the bottem trying thinks, taking risks and dealing with the consicuenses, if i dont get rid of the litter i will keep them in order to try get them a new home i would never kill them.
I have the room my dad has 32% shares in microsoft, this means we are "well off" so therefore i can care for my rabbits alot better than most, they have the best food and a great amount of space, judging me with my age is like judging a book by the cover. I am capable of having extra rabbits and this "phase" of breeding is to see if i can do it correctly.

Thankyou

GerbilPunk - Sat Jun 16, 2007 7:47 am
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oooooooo olook who's being big-headed! Laughing

sorry, sorry, i know this isnt something to joke about. looking at someones age isnt like looking at the cover of a book. we all have parents and they can be very...... annoying. tell us honestly, what do your parents think of this? and when you said, taking risks, what if you harm them. what if YOU were the rabbit?!

Beckyess - Sat Jun 16, 2007 7:55 am
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The only problem I have with this scenario, i.e. the original poster, is that it appears to be breeding for breedings sake. When you breed animals, any animal, then the sole aim should be for the betterment of that particular breed/species and not simply for sale.
I used to breed rabbits for sale to the public, I sold direct never to pet shops, but once I realised that people simply couldn't look after their rabbits properly I stopped breeding them. It only took me a couple of years to work that one out and I simply wouldn't do it again.
I breed Miniature Poodles but I do so only when I want a puppy, I also donate puppies to Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.
I would say if you don't have room for any more rabbits then don't breed.
Becky

GerbilPunk - Sat Jun 16, 2007 7:58 am
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awwww thats a really sweet thing to do, donating them to Hearing dogs.

Beckyess - Sat Jun 16, 2007 10:08 am
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Well I don't have lots of money or time to be able to fund raise for them so I think that donating a pup is what I can do so I do it. Besides, to think that a pup I bred has helped someone makes me feel really good (selfish I know but hey!)
Becky

GerbilPunk - Sat Jun 16, 2007 10:35 am
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its ok, i go to grammar school so it makes me feel good when i say other people are of average intellegence! Laughing

oh, and fielding, that is what a proper breeder does. thinks of the future, not the present.

Twig - Sat Jun 16, 2007 12:43 pm
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'don't get rid' well sorry them seem like such a hassle, theres something very cold about wanting to get rid of an animal.
As for not killing them, well thats good, I hate breeders who cull stock, but technically you are still killing them, as by producing more, it means your rabbits take the place of other rabbits, hence some poor bunnies are killed at over run rescues.
I'm 17 as well, and with the amount of studying I do, and also having a social life means I don't understand why kids get into breeding. You are still relying on others to pay for your animals.
'Phase'....that scares me, what is the next phase? A rabbit mill?

Yes I AM an animal lover, which is why I find it so hard to understand how you can breed more rabbits when there are already too many breeders and not enough rescues. And I'd even go so far as to say I wouldn't care if people stopped breeding animals as pets, as its purely for our own selfishness we have them, and so many suffer because of it.
I wouldn't have so much of a problem if you were breeding correctly, any responsible breeder does so to 'improve the species' but you seem quite happy to experiment. Rolling Eyes

GerbilPunk - Sun Jun 17, 2007 9:38 am
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come on fielding you're 17, like twig said you should be studying for all your exams, and hanging around with your friends, not overpopulating the world with bunnies! if you want to carry on breeding when you're older then fine, at least you'll have a little more sense then... hopefully. go and visit a rabbit rescue home. go and see how many unwanted rabbits are dumped there, then think to yourself about what you're doing! (and this is coming from a 13-year-old!)

Spud - Sun Jun 17, 2007 12:26 pm
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Thank you Twig. As a rescuer myself I am constantly frustrated by the throwaway attitude of most breeders. Responsible breeders are few and far between - to the point that I have never met a breeder that I would class as responsible. In fact, the one guy that I did feel was responsible ended up dumping his 'stock' on me when he decided that he didn't want to do it anymore.

Fielding, you say that the pet store will give them the best homes. But you also say that this is solely on the basis of 'knowledge'. Does the pet store carry out home checks? Do they have adoption contracts? Someone could easily recite a children's pet care book to get a cheap pet, and you have no idea of the kind of home that your rabbits are going to. Are you aware of the genetic history of the parents, and have researched the problems that could occur during birthing? You could lose the mother and that's not a risk that I'd want to take.

I understand wanting cute babies; when I was 13 and 14 I used to want to breed myself. But then I discovered what happened to the thousands of homeless rabbits dumped carelessly on shelters and rescues throughout the country. And now I'm one of those rescues. Breeding isn't a profitable business, and it isn't just a case of putting a male and female together and reaping the rewards. Complications can occur regardless of how experienced the breeder is, and the risk of these complications is amplified by an unknown genetic background of the parents or a lack of breeding knowledge or experience. The fact that you don't know how to recognise whether a doe is pregnant or not concerns me. I don't believe that you are ready for such a huge responsibility; one that many people twice your age would be foolish to take up.

Please think seriously about what you are doing. What has been said here, from everybody, is not a personal attack on you, but breeding contributes towards the awful over-population problem in this country which causes thousands of healthy animals to be destroyed every year, and holds serious risks that many completely overlook. You clearly care about rabbits, but perhaps you simply aren't aware of the harm that you may be causing to them by continuing with your breeding ideas.

GerbilPunk - Sun Jun 17, 2007 12:30 pm
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i agree with spud. other than "knowledge" what are you breeding them for? just out of boredom? did you suddenly think, im bored, oh i know, i'll become a rabbit breeder!

oh, and by the way spud, how do you and twig write so much? Laughing

dont your hands hurt? Confused

Fielding - Tue Jun 19, 2007 10:29 am
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Well ive got enough room i just dont want more, if i cnt get rid of them then i will keep them but so far petshops or friends of mine have taken them and i still c most of the rabbits now and i feel from what ive seen they are gone to good homes, i also state when selling if you cnt be bothered with them bring them back!

ma parents like the fact that my minds on something else other than drug (what most teenagers do) so they support me and help me.

GerbilPunk - Tue Jun 19, 2007 8:02 pm
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Quote:

Well ive got enough room i just dont want more

WHAT?!?!?! IF YOU DONT WANT THEM WHY BREED THEM!!!!! YOU'RE CRAZY!!!! thats so mean! why put the mothers through all the strain for something you dont even want?!

Quote:

ma parents like the fact that my minds on something else other than drug (what most teenagers do) so they support me and help me.

thats not true. only people brought up in chavvy areas do drugs (well, them and goths!) i should know... i live near london in chavford! (dartford)

shadylady - Fri Jun 22, 2007 2:08 pm
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i have bred rabbits in the past, and i no all to well the difficulties in rehoming, and most people breed to keep a baby of one of there beloved pets for their kind nature and outgoing personalties because these r past through genarations all u have to do is look at the parents to see most animals personalities, they also breed to get better qualities of that type of breed for shows etc...
and i reassure you my rabbits all have great homes because i know my bunnies owners and its great to catch up with them and see how they r getting on and i give advice if they need it too,

also if your rabbit is pregnant to help her with producing milk i give my rabbits a mixture of bread and milk warmed up. your rabbits nipples should also be somewhat bigger now she is three weeks pregnant...

Twig - Fri Jun 22, 2007 2:59 pm
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I never understand why breeders give rabbits cows milk! Rolling Eyes

They don't need it, and you certainly don't see wild rabbits chasing cows udders in the field. And for good reasons, rabbits are herbivores!

As for bread, high in carbs, the opposite of what any bun needs. Confused

GerbilPunk - Fri Jun 22, 2007 5:53 pm
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Twitchy loves bread! i didnt mean him to taste it, he was sitting next to me as i ate my lunch, i turned to get a drink, and the next thing i know, a pair of paws land on my lap and nab my sandwhich! he was quick too! i got most of it away from him, but he seemed pretty determined to keep it! Laughing

shadylady - Tue Jun 26, 2007 2:48 pm
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they give rabbits the milk and bread mainly for energy to cope better with the pregnancyand birth and as i wrote before to produce much more mik, than wat u would get if u never gave them it, i never understood it myself but i believe it helps as my rabbits produced wonderful offspring and all healthy too, breeders have also done this well before i was born..

GerbilPunk - Tue Jun 26, 2007 6:11 pm
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so a cheese sandwhich wouldn't hurt my little bunny? Confused

Twig - Wed Jun 27, 2007 2:21 pm
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Cows milk is hard to digest, very high in lactose, even human babies can't have cows milk and hence so many dogs and people are lactose intolerant. How can you justify feeding a herbivore animal products? Thats exactly how mad cow disease started. Rolling Eyes

Its not natural, and its not neccessary, plenty of people who have accidental litters and are unaware their bun is pregnant get by WITHOUT cows milk and bread.

As for energy, well ALL food has some level of energy, and as you feed sugary russell rabbit mix, they have plenty of energy. Wink

Fielding - Thu Jun 28, 2007 12:27 am
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See thats what I don't get about people on this site, all I came on this site to do is to learn other techniques and try some out, all the people on here do is contradict each other and try tell them they are wrong, the only way that people will find out what is wrong or right is try the thing themselves rather than hear people contradict example in this forum is Twig came in with the very true facts about the cow milk however if Twig tried it out it may work how shadylady said.

If people discussed rather than told alot more tips would be on here and people would find out the best tips.

GerbilPunk - Thu Jun 28, 2007 3:50 pm
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i dont find that a problem... its either because im too young to realize im being condtradicted (dont even know what that means) or its because i ask lots of questions rather than say what i do! Laughing

Twig - Thu Jun 28, 2007 4:30 pm
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Unfortunately a lot of practises breeders do, contradicts what pet owners and rescuers say. If you look on a reliable pet rabbit site it won't ever recommend milk and bread. But breeders often will, I have heard this many times, along with feeding other animal products which is to me, so wrong.

The fact is rabbits are hrbivores, or vegans if you like, which is why I don't like the idea of feedin cows milk.Also rabbits can't handle high carb diets very well, and bread is very high carb.

I don't mean to sound argumentative, honestly I don't. I just get frustrated with what a lot of breeders do, from feeding cows milk to culling 'imperfect' babies etc, the latter not all do, thankfully.

Breeders can learn a lot from rescuers, and rescuers can learn a lot from breeders, but there are always things neither will agree on. Wink

GerbilPunk - Thu Jun 28, 2007 4:35 pm
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Quote:

Breeders can learn a lot from rescuers, and rescuers can learn a lot from breeders, but there are always things neither will agree on. :Wink:

sound like friends! Laughing

(sorry that was random)

ineedhelpplease - Thu Jun 28, 2007 7:36 pm
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hi..i no ur talkin bout ur pets and showing pics....but i need your help please.im doin a project at skool for design technology about rabbits...does anyone have any ideas wot i could make??so if anyone reading this has a rabbit or would just like to tell me ur ideas then please do...any input would be much apreciated.thanks u x

Fielding - Thu Jun 28, 2007 7:59 pm
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A rabbit mansion, a big beautiful rabbit hutch. Or smaller a nesting box for rabbits to have their babies in.

By the way my rabbits are edging out of their nest and they are only a week and half i feel these are going to be the strongest litter i have had the rest have come out just before 3 week.

Cute, pictures will come soon!

poppydog83 - Fri Jun 29, 2007 8:41 pm
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yes pics are a must

GerbilPunk - Sat Jun 30, 2007 7:29 am
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are all animals born bald? Confused

Hcollie85 - Sat Jun 30, 2007 2:36 pm
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No rodants are born bald

Heather

GerbilPunk - Sat Jun 30, 2007 4:18 pm
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so puppies are born wih fur? (or just a tiny bit, like babies except they have hair, not fur!) i thought rabbits were born bald too, but they're not rodents are they? Confused

im starting to confuse even myself here...

Hcollie85 - Sat Jun 30, 2007 4:59 pm
Post subject: rabbits

Dogs, Cats rabbits, all have fur/hair when born

Heather

GerbilPunk - Sat Jun 30, 2007 7:19 pm
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ok i think i read somewhere that rabbits were born bald, but it must've been wrong. i know gerbils are bald though, because i saw some pics once (i cant say they were very cute, they were a bunch of pink blobs...)

Fielding - Sat Jun 30, 2007 11:33 pm
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Rabbits are born bald you can only see their pink skin but they develop fur quickly, mine were dragged from their nest the dy they were born thats how i know they were born bald, they are fully "furred" and they are 1 week and half but they are born bald.

GerbilPunk - Sun Jul 01, 2007 7:42 am
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ah i see now. Wink

shadylady - Tue Jul 03, 2007 6:38 pm
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ineedhelpplease wrote:

i think u should make a play ground for rabbits to show people how fun rabbits can be, u could make boxes for them to hide in, tunnels, things to jump over, a mud box cuz they love to dig, n things for them to gnaw.. it would be great to see the finished project too.. cuz most peeps just dnt no how fun bunny rabbits can be....

shadylady - Tue Jul 03, 2007 6:45 pm
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rabbits r born wid no fur but there skin is in markings of wat they will look like wen they get fur....

nahatalie - Wed Jul 04, 2007 12:37 am
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Small animals like rodents are born with no fur as they have a short gestation period and leave the mothers body less developed than say a dog or cat. (not directly comparing gestation periods of course, but comparitively speaking) I think, this is because in the wild, small rodents are prey animals and they need to reproduce more for the species to survive (ie, a wild cat might eat thousands of mice in its life time) Therefore, to keep the number up they need to reproduce quickly, and by young leaving the womb early it means the mother can be mated again and produce another litter quicker. Baby rodents tend to grow VERY quickly as you all know, and they develop incredibly fast so they can leave mother to look after the next litter! Higher animals such as dogs can afford to invest more time in thier young as there is less chance of them dying (ie, a mouse has to ensure it can pass on its genes to the next generation but a high percentage of its babies will fall prey to predators, so it produces many many offspring to ensure at least some make it to sexual maturity and pass o thier genes, etc etc) But a dog or cat can invest more time in rearing thier offspring as they have a lower mortality rate. So that's my theory on why some animals are born bald!

It's all about survival strategy! Every species has the instinct to pass on its genes, and there are many different tactics that different species will employ to ensure they live on through thier offspring, and some do this by producing as many offspring as possible (mice churning out young quickly and doing a lot of development outside the womb) and some do this by investing a lot of time and effort into rearing thier young, protecting them and caring for them for year (ie, humans!)

Of course, I am speaking about this in terms of wild mice...of course pet mice who are bred from have the luxury of a recovery period between litters and any good breeder will of course only breed a limited amount of times from one mother in an ideal world.

Sorry, that was a complete and utter tangent...!