Nest Preparation Before Giving Birth

The gestational period for rabbits is 28 to 36 days. The mother will usually build a nest

lined with her own fur a few days before giving birth. Rabbits are not chickens, and after

the initial preparation, do not sit on their nests. They also do not stay on or by the nests

for prolonged periods after the babies are born. In the wild, this would attract the

attention of predators. The babies burrow into the bottom of the nest where they cuddle

together to stay warm until Mama wakes them up at feeding time. The mother does not

lie down to nurse like a cat. Rather, she stands over the babies to nurse them. After

nursing she will groom her babies and lick their bottoms to stimulate elimination.

Baby bunnies are called “kits”. Typically there are 5 to 8 kits per litter. Baby bunnies are

born nearly hairless with closed ears and eyes and weighing approximately 100 gm. The

eyes will open around 6 to10 days of age. The kits will be begin eating solid food around

3 weeks of age, and will be completely weaned between 6 and 7 weeks of age. They will

reach puberty at 4 to 8 months of age.

Rabbits nurse their young one to two times per day, most often in the early morning

hours. The mother rabbit’s milk is very rich and can sustain the babies for up to 24 hours

at a time. Rabbits do not usually nurse their babies immediately after birth and often wait

until the night after kindling to begin nursing. If you are unsure whether or not a rabbit is

feeding her kits, check them early each morning. They should be warm and roundbellied. The best way to know for sure is to check them on a small postal or kitchen scale.

If they are gaining weight, they’re being fed.

Rabbits are not as prone to cannibalism as people think. When it occurs it is usually the

result of a stillborn litter. Most domestic rabbits are not that concerned about human

smells on their babies and will not care if the babies are occasionally gently handled.

Pregnant females should be separated from other animals when they are close to kindling

to prevent them from being disturbed. The mother can conceive again with in a few

weeks of giving birth so it is best to keep her separated from the male at least until the

kits are weaned.