[chloe]

My rabbit escaped about a 3-4 weeks ago and went down a rabbit whole.. i found her about 3 hours after that and was so pleased to get her back. But thismorning she was very protective about me going near her hutch. So this evening i went out and she did the same, so i reasured her i wasn't going to hurt her, and i opend her door and there was a nest!!!    So could she be pregnant?! Or is it a false one? There are no babies yet, but could she have been mated within 3 hours? Thanks

[8doubles]

About a dozen times in 3 hours  We used to breed rabbits for the table and they do not hang around.

[chloe]

Wait.. lol, so your saying she is pregnant?

[joyfull]

there is a good chance that she is - it takes around 35 days for them to be born so be prepared 

[8doubles]

A phantom pregnancy is possible, time will tell. What breed is she and is she up to date with her vaccinations?

[chloe]

I think she's a lop ear, and yes she is. I think it's been about 3-4 weeks since the escape. But is it possible for a wild one to mate with a domestic? she is 9 months old.

[evie2]

As it's her first time, leave her to it, they will est the babies if they feel threatened, you'll probably find wriggling fur tomorrow

[chloe]

haha, okay, if she does give birth, then what do i do with the babies?
thanks for the help!

[8doubles]

Tame escapees do breed with wild rabbits but the offspring tend to get taken by predators as their camoflage is not good. One white rabbit i saw regularly for over a year in the wild and we do have a few black rabbits locally which i think is due to a re-occurring wild gene.
Best of luck with any kittens.

[chloe]

Thanks
And if she does have kittens (baby rabbit  ) then they will be in her hutch and run like her, they won't be runnind around in the wild

[evie2]

haha, okay, if she does give birth, then what do i do with the babies?
thanks for the help!

You don't need to do anything except get them tame and sexed from about 6 weeks (depends on their size, sometimes easier said than done) you don't want inter breeding.

Our 2 girls have had litters this summer, 1 had 4 twice (first ones died) and the other had 2, 1 died, so at the moment we have 4 young who are all male

Rabbits also have the ability to suspend their pregnancy and give birth when they feel safe :blink:

[chloe]

Oh okay thank you very much,
She hasn't given birth yet. I don't think she will to be honest.. fingers crossed lol. It looks like she slept on it last night so could it be for warmth? but also do they have flase pregnancies in the winter??

[evie2]

Mine have never done it for warmth, warmer on than off, as for false pregnancies don't know.  Moimoi pulled her fur out but no babies however she could have eaten them, sounds awful but it's nature

Her sister Foifoi should have given birth recently but she's showing no signs at all, canny wee things rabbits

[chloe]

So could it be a false pregnancy? but is it usual for them to have a false pregnancy in winter?

[8doubles]

If the weather is mild rabbits will continue to produce young all winter. As was mentioned earlier a pregnant doe is able to re-absorb unborn young if the weather turns nasty.