A rabbit's gestation period is 31. And Lila is pregnant. Day 33. This is Lila's third pregnancy. I give 3 shots, you're out. Normally. I love Lila. She is probably the sweetest female rabbit I've ever had. She definitely takes after her dad. Her first two pregnancies she had no birthing issues, but built very poor nests on the wire. She won't use the nesting box. So I lost both litters.
Six days ago I gave her a nest box. Put shavings in the bottom and hay on top. As I expected, she pulled all the hay out of th nest. Dug all the shavings out. Shredded the hay and threw it all over the place. I keep putting more hay in the nest box and she kept pulling it out and shredding it. I'm trying to keep on top of it so she'll have her babies in the nest.

But, like I said, she's two days late. And hasn't even pulled fur. This morning I palpated her and can still feel the babies moving. I refilled the nest box again, and she's in it digging around. I'll take out a tums for added calcium later, though I doubt she'll eat it. Will update later.

2 hours later: I went out to check on her and she's made a lovely nest in the nest box and had 4 beautiful babies!

It's almost Spring.  I'm really getting the itch. I've got a litter of rabbits, and more on the way.  And it seems everyone is hatching chicks. And everyone wants chicks. And I want to hatch. Now. Ugh.  So we've had 2 big snowstorms in one week, and the snow is starting to disappear. I moved the chicks from out back in the little coop to the big coop with the rest of the flock, so I wouldn't have to deal with 2 separate coops in the winter.  But, a few of the birds were sneezing, so I put them out in the little coop to treat them so I wouldn't have to treat the whole flock. As time goes on, the itch gets stronger. Tonight I put the cockerels back in with the rest of the flock and grabbed my two remaining Barred Rocks and put them in the little coop. They'll be in there for a few weeks. Firstly, to see if they're laying. Secondly, to make sure they're not fertilized by the Black Copper Marans rooster. After I know they're both laying, and that eggs are unfertile, I will take my Barred Rock rooster out to add to the small coop.  I'm hoping this won't take more than 3 weeks.  Maybe by then one of the hens will go broody? That would be nice.  If not, there's always the incubator. 

On another note, I've ordered a heat plate for brooding. So excited! Way safer than a heat lamp, and uses much less power.  Here's the one I ordered.

March 27: Yesterday we set almost 2 dozen eggs in the incubator. About 6 Barred Rock, probably 4 Barred Rock/Chantecler mix, and the rest Black Copper Marans. My hope is that my Buff Orpington rooster hadn't gotten the skills to breed my Marans. Fingers crossed.