How Do I Know If My Rabbit Is Pregnant?

Is the doe at least 3 months old? Has she been with a buck in the last month? With rabbits, the mating act is what induces ovulation in the female, so any mating opportunity means likely ovulation and possible pregnancy.

Symptoms of pregnancy include:

Changes in behaviour and personality (for better or worse).

Pulling at the hair on the belly to make a nest. Not all pregnant does do this, though, and many do it even when they aren't pregnant. It's most diagnostic if a doe is pulling hair about 30 days after she's been with a male, and she's not otherwise previously been known to pull the hair out.

Nest building (this starts to happen about 29-32 days after mating, and 1-3 days before the birth). Again, not all does make a nest. If they don't, it tends to suggest they are stressed and unprepared. If too stressed, the doe may turn into a rotten mother -- cannibalising or ignoring her young. Have you read the guidelines on how to hand-rear the baby newborn bunnies? Read all about it.

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