Rabbit Care Awarness Group

This chapter is NOT to encourage breeding your rabbits. It is for those who have discoved that their rabbit is pregnant or has had kits.  Rabbit breeding should be left to those who have enough experience and know exactly what they are doing. 

If you are thinking of breeding as a hobbist and to produce rabbits to the breed standard then you should speak to a breeder that will be able to talk to you about the inns and outs of breeding. It not all plain sailing you know!!

I've been contacted several times by new owners who have bought a new rabbit from a pet shop and discovered that the rabbit is pegnant. Or have bought a  'girl' for comapany to their other girl and discovered thay had a boy.

Unfortunatly some cases do not result in a litter of babies and can even cause death.

If you think your rabbit is pregnant the first thing you should do is find out who the dad is. This is more important than you think.

If you have a small breed doe and large breed dad, the chances of the doe kindling (giving birth) safely are very much reduced. The kits (babies) will simply be too big for mum to push out and more than likely will kill her. If your rabbit is from a petshop and they can tell you size the of dad is  much bigger than your doe or cannot tell you at all  it is worth while seeking  a vets opinion.

If you know who dad is and his size is smaller or around the same as your doe here's some tips on what to do now.

Your rabbit will kindle 31 days after mating, try and give yourself a rough idea when you think she might be due if you do not have a definate date. There is not much to do after that! Keep her fed and watered with ample amounts of hay untill close to her kindling date. Then two or three days before she is due completly disinfect the hutch and provide lots and lots of hay. You may be lucky enough to see her build her nest, however many rabbits wait untill they are in labour before they start to build and some may build it days before!

You might also notice clumps of fur around the nest, this is mum preparing to line the nest so that her babies are warm.

The day your rabbit gives birth you will probably notice her being 'off' she'll probably not eat her food, perhaps she will be just laying down panting or busy building a nest and pulling fur. Either way if she's off her food its a sure sign the babies will be coming soon!

It only takes a rabbit 10 to 15 minutes to give birth so dont worry if you dont see her in the act. Try and leave her alone so she is not at all stressed, you might find that she will have them at night.

You do not need to do anything if she is kindling properly, she will clean the babies and eat the afterbirth, she will then cover the nest with pulled fur and more than likely go on the hunt for some food.

If you know your rabbit has had her babies do take a moment to check on her, sometimes rabbits scatter the litter on the hutch floor instead of the nest. If this is the case and the babies are alive rub your hands in soiled bedding and move them into the nest. A rabbit will never move her own babies so you must do this or they will die. 

As much as you want to get a look at the new arrivals try and avoid disturbing the nest as much as possible. Make a very quick check the day after they are born to make sure that there are no dead kits in the nest and  remove any soiled or bloody bedding. Avoid handling kits as mum will not like your scent on them. If all is well leave them well alone.

From about 6 days onwards you will notice the babies becoming a little more mobile. This can get them into danger as they are still blind and might crawl away from the nest and chill. Keep and eye on them and if you notice a baby that has crawled out or who might have been pulled out the nest while suckling then rub your hands in bedding and replace the kit.

At about 10 days you will notice the babies eyes opening after this there is no peace for mum as the babies quickly learn to get around and will begin to venture out the nest area. Make sure you let mum out into a run lots as she will get fed up with them. Imagine 6 babies following you around all day wanting fed!

Handle often now that they are out and about, this will get them used to being handled for their future new homes.