Applecore started nesting yesterday morning. I assumed she was just a bit nutty. They usually don't nest until hours before they deliver. When she started pulling out her own fur to make the nest, I gave her nesting materials.
The kids & I left the house in the early afternoon to run errands and go to gymnastics. When we got home, we noticed that Jake was not acting like his usual, sweet self. Instead of coming to us for pets, he was following Applecore through their cage wall and "getting married" to his stuffed pig repeatedly. I (again, wrongly) assumed he was just excited by the contact they'd had a few days before.
After dinner, I started cleaning the rabbits' cages. That's when I noticed movement. Under the pile of hay, bedding and fur in the corner of Applecore's cage, something I could not see was moving.
I was a tiny bit afraid a mouse had gotten into the house, but the truth seemed pretty obvious. Applecore had had babies!
I called my friendly, local, rabbit expert, Loana to find out what to do. She told me to check on the babies and that Applecore wouldn't care if I touched them. When I felt around in the nest, I found four plump, wriggly little babies!
Since a rabbit's gestation period is around 30 days, Rowan could not be to blame for this litter. Unfortunately, though, she's not completely off the hook. My veterinarian friend, Arlene, tells me that a rabbit can become pregnant while pregnant (poor thing)! That means we may see another litter in about 3 weeks.
If so, it will be the last! Jake has an appointment with Dr. Arlene on the 14th to make sure he won't be instigating any more offspring.
Anyone want a bunny?
3 comments:
I heard about this earlier today. Wow! I'll bet in a few weeks those babies will be adorable and you win't want to give them up.
Oh my goodness, this is the funniest post!!!! I like how you feared it was a mouse at first.
I can't believe Applecore had babies!!! I wonder if the freecycle people knew she was pregnant?
I can't wait to see them when they get a little bit bigger. Hopefully she is not pregnant right now!!
I think Melissa needs one! :p
Applecore was the first bunny that was 'found in the yard" first!!! Jake is the one that Jen "took in" from free cycle...willingly!!!
It is like the stuffed bunnies we had when you guys were little!!! They seemed to propogate in the plastic bags they were stored in between easter's !!!
Are you sure they don't have multiple uterus'...maybe they get pregnant before they are born and just have to get to a certain size to give birth...I can see it now...thousands of bunnies all over the house! Could be a great children's book!!!
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