Whether you are a new rabbit breeder or a rabbit owner whose rabbits has recently gone out for an un-chaperoned stroll, you may be wondering whether or not your rabbit is pregnant. Rabbits do carry quite the reputation for being professional maters, but there may be no need to worry, so why do it. Look for a few easy sign and the worrying will be left to the birds. For most professional breeders or people knowledgeable about the reproductive cycle of rabbits, then these sign may seem quite obvious. But for regular folks, here is what you absolutely need to know.
One of the most basic signs that your doe is pregnant is that she is going to start building the nest where she will have her kits. This can be a little bit alarming, as she will pull the fur out of her own body to line the nest. If your rabbit has never displayed behavior like this before, you can tell that there is something that is going on. Also be aware, though, that this is not a surefire method of telling if she is pregnant. There are does that regularly undergo this behavior, and in their case, it is known as false pregnancy.
Also take some time to count the days. From mating to birth, baby rabbits take around thirty five days to gestate. If it has been around forty days since she had the opportunity to mate and if she is not showing any signs of nesting at all, this means that she is not pregnant. If you are trying to breed her, this would be the time to try again.
Look at and take notice at the mood of your rabbit. If you notice varied temperaments in your rabbit that differ from the norm, then you may have cause to worry. For example, if you rabbit is usually happy and friendly, but has suddenly turned angry when you touch her or is bothered when you are near her, she may be pregnant. You may also notice her chewing on things and tearing at stuff. Rabbits will often gather all kinds of strange materials to use for their nests.
If you have ever had any sort of experience with pregnant rabbits before, then you might gently touch her stomach. Usually pregnant rabbits will have tiny lumps the size of jelly beans in their stomachs, which is the absolute best sign that she is pregnant. However, a big risk factor in doing this is that if you touch her stomach too hard, you could injure or even kill the babies in her womb; so be careful.
Finally, proof positive about whether your rabbit is pregnant or not can come in the form of an x-ray from the vet. An x-ray will tell you for sure if your doe is going to have kits. Take some time and make sure that you recognize the signs of pregnancy in your rabbit. This can make all the difference when you want to look after your rabbit's health.
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