Here we can see, “Pregnancy in Rabbits”
If you just purchased a pet rabbit from an environment where it was housed with a male rabbit, or if you have both an intact male and an intact female rabbit who spend time together, you may have a pregnant rabbit. Either condition could result in the birth of baby rabbits, and you’ll need to know what to do next.
Table of Contents
Pregnancy Signs in Rabbits
Intact rabbits are those who have not been spayed or neutered and can produce progeny once sexually mature. Sexual maturity can occur as early as 3.5 months to 4 months in smaller breeds. If your intact female rabbit has been with an intact male rabbit beyond the age of 3.5 months, you should keep an eye on her for symptoms of pregnancy.
The most visible indicator of a pregnant rabbit is a female rabbit’s belly, which grows larger as her kids grow inside her throughout the pregnancy, just like most mammals. Apart from the weight gain, pregnant rabbits will begin to eat more and become irritable or temperamental. If your rabbit is usually very mean, a change in mood might not be enough to tell if she is pregnant.
You’ll be able to feel many marble-sized bumps inside the rabbit’s belly after around 10–12 days after breeding. These tiny bumps are the baby bunnies, and they’ll be just big enough to feel at this point. They’ll keep growing within the rabbit for a few weeks longer, until the rabbit gives birth about a month after breeding.
If a pregnant rabbit has been pregnant for 30 days and has not given birth, your rabbit will need to be examined by a veterinarian. This will determine whether the pregnant woman is healthy or requires an induction of labour or a C-section to remove the infants. The longer a pregnancy lasts, especially after 32 days, the greater the chance that the infants may die.
A pregnant rabbit will start nesting about a week before giving birth. If a rabbit is building up bedding or digging into a corner of the enclosure, this is the most clear indicator that she is starting to nest. A rabbit will usually take hay or other items it can carry in its mouth, or push blankets or loose bedding together to create a pleasant birthing area.
A nesting rabbit may also tear its fur out to line the nest, which might be startling to owners who aren’t aware of the situation. If your rabbit is nesting, expect it to give birth within a week, and if it starts pulling its fur out, expect the babies to arrive within the next day or two. Prepare to wake up to a litter of bunnies because most rabbits give birth at night.
Taking Care of a Pregnant Rabbit
A pregnant rabbit will need space for its nest and enough area to accommodate all the offspring it gives birth to, in addition to the typical food and water bowls. Rabbits can have up to 15 pups in a litter, so be prepared to house a large number of rabbits, especially if you don’t have places for them to go once they’re weaned.
A cat litter pan loaded with hay or bedding makes an easy-to-clean nest box. If your rabbit uses it as a bathroom before the kids are born and after the babies leave the nest, clean it as needed. Some people use various plastic containers with a cutout on one side to allow the rabbit to easily enter and exit. Others manufacture wooden boxes, but these are more difficult to clean.
Within the rabbit’s enclosure, the nest box should be placed. Housing a pregnant rabbit in a spacious cage or exercise pen is an excellent idea. These will ensure that the pregnant rabbit uses the nesting box you’ve provided, and it’ll be easier for you to keep track of the kids if they’re all in one place.
Feeding a Pregnant Rabbit
Because they are feeding both themselves and their expanding young, pregnant and nursing rabbits will consume more food. As a result, the number of fresh vegetables available should be increased, and alfalfa hay should always be available. To avoid mushy stools, gradually transition from the grass hay that an adult rabbit normally consumes to alfalfa. This can be accomplished by progressively blending the two hays until they are totally switched over. As usual, fresh water, preferably in a bowl, should be provided.
Care of Baby Rabbits
The majority of baby bunnies will not require human aid. Until they are weaned, baby rabbits will suckle from their mothers once or twice a day for four to five weeks. If you’re worried about how well newborn baby bunnies are being cared for, you can handle them. If properly fed, baby bunnies should gain about 1/4 ounce each day, and a round tummy is an indication of a meal if you check on them early in the morning.
On the uncommon occasion that you need to help a domestic baby rabbit, a special formula for bottle feeding should be acquired. Because some new moms do not have adequate milk supply until a few days after giving birth, you should try to reintroduce the infant to the mother after a few days of bottle feeding.
Because some new moms don’t make enough milk until a few days after giving birth, you should try to reintroduce the baby to the mother after a few days of bottle feeding (but be careful, she might not want them back).
False Rabbit Pregnancy
Some rabbits have a false pregnancy, in which their bodies believe they are pregnant when they are not. A rabbit with a false pregnancy will exhibit nesting behaviour and become moody. False pregnancy symptoms typically last two to three weeks.
Rabbit Pregnancy Prevention
Apart from keeping an intact female rabbit isolated from an intact male rabbit at all times, spaying a rabbit is the best technique to prevent it from becoming pregnant. Spaying a rabbit removes the uterus and ovaries that it needs to reproduce, as well as eliminates or reduces the possibility of it developing cancer later in life. Spaying a rabbit carries some hazards, which you should discuss with your veterinarian.
User Questions
How many months is a rabbit pregnant?
Doe matures at 5 to 6 months of age and can have young for up to 4 years.The rabbit’s pregnancy lasts 31 days, and the doe might have anything from 1 to 12 babies each time she gives birth. She can conceive again just a few days after giving birth.
Can rabbits get pregnant while pregnant?
Superfoetation can occur, but it is more common in mice and rabbits. “Superfoetation is the process of becoming pregnant when already pregnant. It’s been seen in mammals like mice and rabbits, and there have been a few reports of suspected human cases.
Will a mother rabbit reject her babies if you touch them?
If you touch a baby rabbit, it is unlikely that its mother will abandon it. Rabbits make wonderful mothers. They want their baby back. If you believe the nest is in a location where you won’t be able to leave the chicks until they are old enough to leave on their own, get help from a wildlife rehabilitator.
Can a rabbit get pregnant at 3 months old?
Rabbits are unique among mammals in that they can become pregnant and give birth to their young at any time of year as long as they are at least three months old.
Do mother rabbits sleep with their babies?
Instead of lying down in the nest like a cat, a mother rabbit stands over her offspring to breastfeed them. In the same way a cat does, she cleans them and licks their bellies and buttocks to induce elimination.
Conclusion
I hope you found this helpful guide. If you have any questions or comments, don’t hesitate to use the form below.
