One of the most exciting times on our hobby farm is when our pregnant farm animals are about to have their babies!
Whether it’s goats, pigs or rabbits, there is a lot to understand and ask around how your animals give birth. That is why in this post we will go over key information you need to know regarding how rabbits give birth.
We will also touch on some related questions, including: how to tell your rabbit is going to give birth, and afterbirth care for both the newborn rabbits and the new momma; so keep reading!
First Things First: Do Bunnies Give Birth On Their Own?
When it comes to your domestic rabbits, it is essential to know that rabbits do and will give birth on their own.
Very rarely does a female rabbit need or seek assistance during the parturition (birthing) process. In fact, disturbing your rabbit right before and throughout birthing can result in poor nest building and higher kit (baby rabbit) mortality rates.
Remember, baby rabbits are born helpless: without fur and with both their eyes and ears closed, so it is essential that mom feels unstressed and capable of tending to her new litter!
How Do You Know When Your Rabbit Is Going To Give Birth
As stated, we never suggest assisting or bothering your pregnant rabbit around the time of parturition. But how do you know when your bunny is about to give birth?
There are some key signs that will clue you in and help you create a stress free environment for her and the kittens.
H3 Three Key Signs Before A Rabbit Gives Birth
- A rabbit is pregnant for 29 to 35 days, with the great majority of mother rabbits giving birth on the 31st or 32nd day. Tracking your rabbit’s pregnancy by the day can be very helpful in making sure you aren’t surprised by a litter! My daughter would keep a log of all of our rabbits’ pregnancies, a practice we found very helpful.
- Expectant does will start to carry around hay or fur in their mouths a few days before they litter. This is a signal that they want to build a nest! We usually placed the nesting box in our pregnant does’ hutches around the 28th day anyway, but if we saw them carrying around hay or fur before then we knew the babies were coming soo!
- Pregnant doe rabbits may exhibit more aggressive behavior, and prefer to be alone, close to parturition. When preparing themselves for birth, rabbits prefer to feel safe, secure, and secluded. This is partially due to their already timid nature and due to the natural vulnerability they experience during birth, a time when they cannot defend themselves.
How Long Do Rabbits Take To Give Birth
We have only come across our does actively giving birth once or twice over the years. When this happens, we immediately remove ourselves from her proximity, keeping quiet, and do not return for another three or four hours.
We made this a practice on our hobby farm because rabbits do not need assistance during birth and, as stated, will simply become stressed and potentially develop birthing complications from that stress if bothered or threatened.
That said, the exact time it takes your doe to birth her kittens, clean them, feed them, and wrap them in the nest of her fur and hay is completely rabbit and litter size dependent. This is why we give our does at least three hours to finish the birthing process and secure her babies before checking on them again.
Do Rabbits Give Birth To All Babies At Once
Yes, rabbits will give birth to an entire litter (multiple babies) in one birthing event. Each kit is born in its own placenta, which the mother removes and then ingests. This boosts her own post-birth health and assists with milk production!
When all the kits are born, the mother will ensure they are all fed and safe, wrapped up in her warm nest of hay and fur.
Our does have litters with anywhere from 4 to 8 kittens, with one doe giving birth to eighteen baby rabbits at once! (unfortunately, all of the kits were very small and more than half of them died).
Fast fact: very quickly after giving birth the female rabbit can become pregnant again, which is why these animals are known for high reproduction rates!
Frequently Asked Questions Related To How Do Rabbits Have Babies
Can You Pick Up Newborn Rabbits?
No, do not try to touch or handle any newborn rabbit until it is at least 10 days old. Newborn rabbit kits are especially sensitive and weak, it is best to wait until they have fur and open eyes before interacting with them. You don’t want to stress mom out either! A stressed mother rabbit can end up
Do Rabbits Eat Their Babies?
Rabbits only eat their babies if the kit is born dead or is too small to survive. Although some of our does have simply removed still-born kits from her nest and we have had to remove them from her living area.
Very stressed mothers can also ingest newborn babies out of extreme panic of predators or imminent danger.
Learn how to make a nesting box for your bunny in this great video tutorial. We have always put a bottom on ours, but this rendition is one without!
Final Thoughts On How Does A Rabbit Give Birth
Rabbits are incredibly sensitive creatures and this naturally characterizes their preferences for a private, calm birth.
Always remember that your pregnant doe is guided by her instincts when it comes to giving birth, and that the most you can do for her is provide her with a safe, calm place and a place to nest!