confused:hello everyone!
this is my first post and i need some help please!!
25 days ago i mated my rabbit (a sweet angora x lion head called cuddles she is 2 years old) about 10 days after the deed was done she started to make a nest but yesterday she spread the nest all over her cage. She has a big tummy but i was scared to press to hard in case i harmed the babies, she has swollen nipples. i am concerned what will happen next?? is she pregnant or is she having a phamtom pregnancy?? she has no nest - im panicking HELP Please. this is her first litter. thank you any help is appreciated.

why have you bred a cross bred rabbit? there are over 30,000 rabbits out there in rescue people really should only breed if they are aiming to better the breed, improve health & longlivity, and they should breed to breed standards.

having said that, whats done is done.

as this is her first litter, if she is pregnant, she may scatter them, most first time mums will scatter their first litter, theres not much you can do if that is the case, the chances of handraising newborn rabbit kits are very very slim

10 days is a bit soon to start making a nest though, normally they start making their real nests just a few days before birth, you may find she builds and destroys it a fair few times before she actually gives birth

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if she is pregnant she wont give birth for 28 to 31 days with it being her first litter shes probly practising dont be alarmed if the first litter dosnt servive thats quite common and nothing you could have done about it it just happens thats the sad bit of breeding anyway good luck with her

Thank you for your reply - we breed the rabbits because both are beautiful, lovely natured, and as the father is five years old i wanted his line to carry on i some way. Neither have had any health problems and are3 fit and well. The decision was not taken lightly and i can assure you i have already found good homes for 4 if all goes well with the pregnancy.

i can see you are a rabbit lover too! how any one could put them in rescue centres

her tummy feels very round and soft and her nipples are large - what do you think is it a phantom ??

Only time can answer your questions, there is NOTHING you can do at all.
There is no way to tell if she is preg and there is no way to help them if she doesnt look after them.
Usually if a doe builds a nest before day 19 its a phantom but some are just smart lol

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Also dont touch her next nest when she makes 1 or she may scatter them and dont let the male in same cage or he will upset her trying to mate her again and she will also scatter them,if you must take a peek when they are a little older rub your hands through her straw/bedding 1st this will hide your scent if you need to handle the babys.One of my rabbits always used to make a nest early on the another nearer the time.I used to breed continentals they were great,i only have my boy now tho as my female passed away last year she was a darl. x

So you know four generations both sides thats theres no health problems? Lots of bunnies sat in rescues have lovely natures, you just need to look at freeads and preloved to see how many people are breeding buns. Its not just about the thousands in rescues its the thousands on the waiting list to go into the over stretched rescues, many dying waiting or living in awful conditions. Just makes no sense breeding more to take up homes desperately needed.

I think really its a case of keeping an eye on her but leaving her to it, the more you fiddle and stress her out the more shes likely to reject the babies. Hopefully she will relax and get on with it. Let us know what happens

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its extremely important to have female rabbits spayed as 90% of them will develop uterine (womb) cancer over time. Many spayed rabbits can live til there 10+

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Don't worry if the nest is destroyed for now. She may well built another one shortly before birth.
It is true that sometimes first time mothers don't do well with their first litter but that is not always the case. If you know the exact day they were mated than you should keep a close eye on her from about 28 days onwards. She will more than likely give birth around day 31.
I hope all goes well with the birth.