A Guide to Rabbit Pregnancy

Female rabbits can reach sexual maturity very quickly. You may be alarmed to hear that they can be bred from just five or six months of age. Female rabbits (also called does) can have up to 12 babies each pregnancy. The doe can become pregnant again within a few days of giving birth if she is mated again by a male rabbit. If left to their own devices, that is the potential for a lot of rabbit babies!

Rabbits that have not been spayed or castrated are called entire or unneutered rabbits. This means that the female rabbits have their uterus in place still and the male rabbits have their testicles intact. Entire rabbits are fully capable of making rabbit babies. If two unneutered rabbits have been housed together there is a high chance the female rabbit will be pregnant.

Signs that your rabbit might be pregnant include:

●      Large swollen belly

●      Larger nipples

●      Increase in appetite

●      Behavioural changes - more aggressive or withdrawn, refusing to be held

●      Pulling hair out

●      Nesting behavior such as digging or gathering up bedding

●      Able to feel babies in their tummy

Be aware that with some rabbits, there may be no obvious signs they’re expecting. Some pet parents only know their rabbit has been pregnant when they see babies in their hutch! The signs can be quite subtle so it is always important to separate entire females and males unless you want them to start breeding, of course. 

 

Rabbits have evolved to be very efficient at breeding. They have pregnancies that last approximately a month. Some rabbits even have pregnancies that last less than a month, it’s usually smaller breeds that have shorter pregnancies. Larger breeds can be pregnant for up to 37 days. Rabbits produce large numbers of babies, usually at least six and sometimes up to twelve. Baby rabbits are called kits. Rabbits can become pregnant again very soon after giving birth. This means they can make a lot of babies if they’re left to continue breeding. This isn’t very healthy for the female rabbit but it does often happen in the wild.

You must ensure that the mother rabbit and the babies have a quiet, safe place where they won’t be disturbed. The mother usually makes a nest herself by pulling out some of her fur and gathering other materials from around her hutch. Do not disturb the nest in any way as the mother may be put off if there are new scents around it.

Separate the male rabbit from the mother and babies. Although it’s rare for the male rabbit to harm the babies, he is capable of impregnating the mother again very soon after birth so they must be kept apart. If possible, keep the male close so that he can still interact with the mother. Rabbits form strong bonds and it may cause the mother distress to be separated from her mate.

Rabbits are very different from other mammals when it comes to looking after their babies. The mother may not spend much time with her babies when they have just been born. She will need a safe place to retreat to as this is part of the normal behavior between newborn kits and their mother. They do this as an evolutionary tactic to keep predators away from their vulnerable babies. The mother will only feed her babies once or twice a day, usually at dawn and dusk, so don't be alarmed if you see this and wonder why she isn’t lying with them. The mother can get stressed very easily and can turn on her babies and kill them so it’s important not to cause her any upset in this period if possible. As the mother doesn't spend much time feeding her babies, they’re very efficient at feeding. Rabbit milk is very high in fat and the babies take a large amount in a feed.

When the kits are in the nest on their own during the day, you must check on them regularly. Don't try to handle them unless necessary. For example, if one of them has fallen out of the nest and is getting cold or if one of them appears injured or sick. If you do need to handle them for any reason, try to gently stroke the mother first to transfer her scent onto the kit so that the kit still smells familiar. Try to check if the kits have fed from the mother. Signs of this will include the kits having swollen tummies from the milk, and being calm, settled, and content instead of making little cries to indicate they are hungry.

Make sure the mother has a varied selection of lots of different foods. She should have unlimited pellets, hay, and leafy green vegetables. Ensure she has access to clean drinking water 24/7. The babies may start to eat small bits of food and gradually they will wean themselves. They are usually fully weaned around about eight weeks of age. At this age, baby bunnies can be rehomed.

If you don't want your rabbit to have any more babies, you must neuter her before she returns with the male rabbit. You can read about rabbit neutering here. For more information on your floppy-eared friends, check out our advice section or speak to your local vet today.