False Pregnancy & Not Eating

[mindy10]

So I posted yesterday that my bunny is having a false pregnancy. The last few weeks she has only picked on her pellets. She was eating lots of hay and treats but not much pellets. But now that she is so busy making her nest I have not seen her eat at all. I give her fresh hay everyday and she keeps grabbing it and making her nest with it. I’m hoping maybe she is eating the hay while she lays there. When should I start to worry. She started the nest yesterday. Thanks Mindy

[Roberta]

Oh I have been through a few false kindlings and know exactly what you are talking about…. Make sure you have plenty of greens that’s one thing she will look for also extra pellets. This should blow over in about 3 days… Mean while look to getting her spayed. I have 4 girls all about to go in 3 of them decided nest building was good recreation last week. They actually tag team on the nest, Blossom starts it, Pepper finishes it and Pipi replaces it when I clean it out. Hopefully they are done for now and they will all be spayed before they are taken by the nesting bug again. I do have some suspicions that part of the process has nothing to do with babies that will never come.Blossom has a habit of laying in the nest with her feet sticking in the air once it is done and Pipi and Pepper invite Piglet in as they know he loves a good nest. Where as when Pepper was pregnant with Pipi and Blossom, Piglet was not welcome in the nest until the babies arrived.

[jerseygirl]

If my gosh Roberta!
Your bun girls are funny! And what is Blossom doing? Reliving her infancy? Lol !

Mindy10’s bunny is also Blossom btw.

It’s interesting you’ve both seen their appetites wane during these false pregnancies. I would have thought they’d want to eat more like a actual pregnant Doe would. Do they have bigger appetites leading up to the nest phase? Looking back, Maple went into “industrious mode” when the nest was being built. To busy to focus in eating.

Mindy, what are Blossoms poos looking like? That should probably tell you if she’s still eating lots of hay at least. Hopefully this episode will resolve quickly.
I like Roberta’s suggestion of offering greens. There are some that are good protein sources (like kale) that
might be more appealing to her currently.

[Sarita]

Is she not spayed yet?

[mindy10]

She is not spayed yet. My vet quoted me $800 so I am looking around to find a good vet that’s experienced with rabbits and is cheaper. I have called local humane societys because sometimes they get grants and it’s a discounted price. But no luck so far.

[Sarita]

Wow, that is pricey. Do you have a rabbit rescue close to you that you can contact to get some recommendations?

[jerseygirl]

Wow. That is steep!
Sometimes it’s a higher price because they prefer not to do them! So it discourages people.

There are some links for lower cost spay/neuter places in this thread.
https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aft/116849/Default.aspx

[MoveDiagonally]

I’m not sure where you live but this might help you find another bunny savvy vet:
http://www.rabbit.org/vets/vets.html

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