Our hobby farm rabbits have large litters and high bunny survival rates and we all want the best for our animals. So, it’s completely understandable and natural for us to ask how can we help the doe after she gives birth to a litter of kits? What to do after your rabbit gives birth?
Providing a low stress environment, plenty of good food, and perhaps some supplements is the best way to support a mother rabbit after she has given birth to a litter of kits.
Read on to see how to create a Low Stress Environment for your doe!
Creating A Low Stress Environment For Mother Rabbit
Mother Rabbit Needs Her Space
In the wild the mother rabbit feeds the kits once or maybe twice a day. The kits are safe in the nest and the mother rabbit stays away from the nest so that she does not attract predators to her babies. She comes to the nest, usually at night, to feed her kits for a few minutes and then clean her kits.
Creating a space that allows the mother rabbit some distance from her kits in the nest will seem very natural to her and help put her at ease.
Low lights, as opposed to bright lights, will help her feel safer and more hidden. Similarly, soft noise – no loud or startling noises – will be mother rabbit’s preference.
Mother Rabbit Is Very Fertile
Mother rabbits can breed again just hours after giving birth. We recommend you give her a break while she nurses her new litter of kits. This means keeping any bucks out of her hutch and away from her.
Mother Rabbit Knows How To Care For Her Babies
Some owners check the new kits each morning to see if their bellies seem full. If they find a “skinny” bunny, then they may opt to gently hold the mother over the skinny kit so that the kit may nurse.
Here at Hobby Farm Heaven, we don’t check the kits each morning. We leave the doe to naturally tend her kits. Most does are very good mothers. If one repeatedly proves to not be such a good mother, then we will not breed her again.
Handling, Socializing the Kits And Inspecting Their Nest
It’s OK to gently handle the kits. Many people ask how long after a rabbit gives birth can you touch the babies? We recommend waiting to handle the baby rabbits until after the first feeding.
If the mother gives birth in the afternoon or evening, then she probably will do the first feeding of the kits in the early morning hours.
There are some benefits to handling the kits on a regular basis.
Handling the kits gets them used to you and your family; also known as socialization. If you spend time with your does, then they know you and will not be alarmed when you gently and briefly handle their kits.
Handling the kits also allows you to see if there’s any trouble in their nest. For instance, one time I found some maggots in the nest and was able to clean them out before they caused harm to the new kits or the mother.
My best guess is that the mother rabbit did not eat her afterbirth and some flies got to it, laying their eggs in it. The fly eggs hatched and voila we had maggots in the nest. This also sometimes happens in our chicken coop, when an egg breaks and flies get to it.
What Should I Feed My Rabbit After Giving Birth?
Mother rabbit was passing along a lot of protein and calcium to her kits while they were developing in her womb. She’ll continue to pass along a lot of protein, calcium and rich fat to her kits via her milk, as she nurses her kits.
To keep mother rabbit in top shape as she nurses her kits, you may opt to provider her with:
- A higher calcium and higher protein grass hay such as Alfalfa
- Plenty of fresh water
- A higher quality pellet than you provide to the bucks
This table provides some key nutritional data for various types of rabbit hay
Rabbit Hay Nutrition Table
| Hay | % Protein | % Fiber | % Calcium |
| Alfalfa | 15.3 | 27 | 1.4 |
| Barley | 4.0 | 38 | 0.3 |
| Meadow | 7 | 33 | 0.6 |
| Oat | 7.3 | 29.5 | 0.3 |
| Orchard | 9.8 | 30 | 0.3 |
| Rye | 7.4 | 26 | 0.5 |
| Timothy | 6.3 | 30.2 | 0.5 |
| Wheat | 7.4 | 25 | 0.2 |
Here we see that Alfalfa provides a higher protein level and a higher calcium level.
Alfalfa hay is excellent for pregnant and nursing mother rabbits and also for fast growing weanling bunnies up through age 6 months.
Science has shown that pregnant and nursing Does, and their kits, do better when the Doe has access to feeds that provide her with about a 16% protein level.
The pregnant or nursing Doe is passing significant amounts of protein and calcium to her bunnies as they develop and rapidly grow bones and muscle.
Similarly, weaning bunnies (beginning at about seven weeks and then through to six months of age) need high protein and high calcium levels as they continue to rapidly grow their bones and muscle.
Truth is, most owners will augment all types of hay with some quality rabbit pellets. A quality rabbit pellet is especially formulated to ensure that the rabbits are getting the right level of protein, vitamins, minerals and trace nutrients for health and longevity.
So, feed a pregnant or nursing Doe and a young, weaned bunny alfalfa hay so that they receive the extra protein and calcium they need.
A dry Doe and a young buck 6 or more months old no longer need the high protein and high calcium.
Dry Does and bucks over 6 months old should be transitioned to a rabbit hay other than Alfalfa.
Frequently Asked Questions Related To
What To Do When Your Bunny Gives Birth
How Do You Take Care Of A Rabbit Giving Birth?
If your rabbit is giving birth, then give her some space and keep the bucks away from her; keep the lights and noise low; and don’t be too intrusive.
How Long Does It Take For A Rabbit To Give Birth?
Our experience has been that the mothers usually give birth to 4 to 8 kits. This “kindling” can take anywhere from 15 minutes to two hours.
Great Video About Rabbit Giving Birth and Bunny Pregnancy Care Pointers
Final Thoughts on What To Do After Your Rabbit Gives Birth
As we’ve discussed, the most relevant facts to remember about what to do after a rabbit gives birth are:
Low Stress Environment – Give mother rabbit a stress free environment with low lights, soft noise, a place for mother rabbit to rest with some distance from the nest, and no bucks to bother the mother rabbit.
Quality Food – Place mother on a higher protein and higher calcium diet such as alfalfa hay; with plenty of fresh water and a quality pellet.
Minimal Intrusions – Check the nest for health and safety reasons… and of course to see the cute bunnies… but not every day!