False pregnancy

pookshollow · #1 08/23/09, 08:14 AM

This is a first for me. A Lionhead doe, pretty little sable point. Her first breeding didn't take even though the buck completed the deed, twice. Oh well, tried again a while later. Different buck, completed the deed, twice.

Day 28 was last Monday. On Friday, she started showing interest in the nestbox, carrying haybones around. On Saturday, she made a beautiful nest, with lots of fur. This morning - nothing.

Anybody want a pet Lionhead?

MaggieJ · #2 08/23/09, 08:41 AM

So today is Day 34? I'd give her another few days before you give up on her. Going full term and then building a nest does not sound like false pregnancy to me. Usually with a false pregnancy (or so they say) the doe starts nesting around Day 17.

brody · #3 08/23/09, 08:52 AM

My doe(S) who have been playing the false preg game are kind of interesting - one started the day after the rabbit next to ehr kindled - and kept nest building for 3 days then started lactating (something I had never seen before)

The other started after about 15 days of being introduced to a neutered rabbit - they humped each other apparently with no results of course - she built a most beautiful nest then nothing - not intersted in in it - nothing

The doe that had the large dead popple (no more ever did appear) built a beautiful nest about as late as she could possibly have been expecting waited 2 days without touching it - then pop.. I was sure something weird was going on

I think it's also possible that the buck was shooting blanks that day and the does deserves chance 2 and 3

pookshollow · #4 08/23/09, 06:44 PM

Quote:

The doe that had the large dead popple (no more ever did appear) built a beautiful nest about as late as she could possibly have been expecting waited 2 days without touching it - then pop.. I was sure something weird was going on

Bingo! One large dead kit when I got home today. I've left the nestbox in with her in case there's any more in there. I bred her to my smallest buck, too, because she's not very big, even for a Lionhead. I'll give her one more chance, then if she doesn't produce or has problems, I'll try and find her a good pet home. She's a pretty, sweet little thing, although somewhat lacking in "personality".

The other Lionhead doe that I bred the same day as this one had eight - again.

brody · #5 08/23/09, 07:00 PM

awww sorry for your little girl - hopefully she'll do it right next time round

congrats on the other doe tho

(another good reason to breed 2 does at same time - fostering potential and a bit of balancing act hopefully!)

MaggieJ · #6 08/23/09, 07:34 PM

Well, that is too bad.

Yes, I agree with giving her another try... at least she did build the nest and put the popple in it. From what I have heard and seen, those single large kits hardly ever survive.

pookshollow · #7 08/24/09, 07:13 AM

Quote:

(another good reason to breed 2 does at same time - fostering potential and a bit of balancing act hopefully!)

I always breed two does the same day, and I often coordinate with a friend who lives (sorta) nearby. Of course, that's when they'll both have 11 or something silly like that.

Actually, two of mine had 10 and 11 respectively, and my friend had a doe that wasn't doing well at all, so he brought her 4 kits to me to be fostered. My girls raised them up, none of the kits missed a beat!

Ok, I'll give her another chance. I'll wait a few weeks until the days are a bit cooler - it's been hot here.

moonkitten · #8 08/24/09, 07:30 AM

Slight thread highjack here...

Quote:

Originally Posted by pookshollow

I always breed two does the same day, and I often coordinate with a friend who lives (sorta) nearby. Of course, that's when they'll both have 11 or something silly like that.

I usually breed five at a time, but August is normally HOT, so I only had three NZ does due this weekend. The first doe had 13 nice plump kits, all in the nestbox, cleaned and fed. "Oh, this is great," I thought, "I can foster some around and have lots of meat in a couple of months." Nothing for another 30 hours, then doe number two had 12 plump kits, all in the nestbox, cleaned and fed.

It does not look like doe number three took, so now I've got 25 kits between two does.

One is a second time doe that raised 9 her first litter and the other is a first timer -- we'll see how they handle the huge numbers.

MaggieJ · #9 08/24/09, 07:59 AM

Isn't that always the way.... feast or famine. Enough to make you pull your hair out. They sound like great does and they will likely manage to raise most of the kits. "Plump, all in the nestbox, clean and fed"... you can't ask much more of a momma bun than that!

vikav · #10 08/24/09, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moonkitten

I usually breed five at a time, but August is normally HOT, so I only had three NZ does due this weekend. The first doe had 13 nice plump kits, all in the nestbox, cleaned and fed. "Oh, this is great," I thought, "I can foster some around and have lots of meat in a couple of months." Nothing for another 30 hours, then doe number two had 12 plump kits, all in the nestbox, cleaned and fed.

Looks like you've got some superdoes there

brody · #11 08/24/09, 08:12 AM

YIKES!!!!!!!!!

glad it's a bit cooler for them ALL now

pookshollow · #12 08/24/09, 03:59 PM

Quote:

The first doe had 13 nice plump kits, all in the nestbox, cleaned and fed. "Oh, this is great," I thought, "I can foster some around and have lots of meat in a couple of months." Nothing for another 30 hours, then doe number two had 12 plump kits, all in the nestbox, cleaned and fed.

Ain't it always the way?