What should I do after my rabbit has given birth?

Your main focus should be to make sure that the litter and the mother are safe, comfortable, and healthy. Let the mother take care of her babies herself and just make sure she has everything she needs. It's best to separate the mother and father. This allows the female to concentrate on making a nest.

What do I do after my bunny gives birth?

If mama has already made a nest, then leave it intact, and simply move it to the nest box. A covered litterbox (the type used for cats) makes a good nest box. It should be lined with a towel on the bottom (but make sure the towel has no loose strings or holes, since babies can get tangled and strangled!)

Can you touch a baby rabbit after birth?

Newborn rabbits are fragile, and can't cope with too much human contact. If you can check on the kits without picking them up, you should do so. Once the babies are three weeks old, you can begin to interact with them a bit more. You can pet them, allow them to hop into your lap and pick them up occasionally.

Do I need to do anything when my rabbit gives birth?

The best advice is: Leave it to mum! She'll do what comes naturally to her. Her kits will be born blind, deaf and bald but it will only take a few days for some fur to grow and by 10 days, their ears and eyes will be open and they'll be moving around, recognisable as rabbits.

What should I feed my nursing mother rabbit?

What To Feed A Nursing Mother Rabbit. Nursing rabbits and their kits benefit greatly from high-quality food. You can provide higher quality pellets, and slightly increase the doe's daily serve of pellets. Ideally, the food quantities that should be increased are the grass hay and the fresh vegetables and herbs.

How To Care For Newborn Rabbits (part 1)

Is it OK to hold baby bunnies?

Is it okay to handle baby rabbits? Wild baby rabbits should be left alone and not handled unless intervention is absolutely necessary. However, baby rabbits born to your bunny should be handled several times per day to ensure that they are all alive, covered in the nest, and are being fed properly.

How does a mother rabbit care for her babies?

Rabbit mothers nurse their babies for approximately 5 minutes a day. They will be in the nest or nest box early in the morning and then again in the evening. The milk is very rich and the babies “fill up” to capacity within minutes.

Can male rabbit stay with babies?

If you are concerned please call us for advice. SEPARATING THE FATHER Most male rabbits are gentle with their offspring. The main reason to separate off the male is that the female can become pregnant again WITHIN HOURS of kindling!

Will a mother rabbit reject her babies if you touch them?

If you touch a baby rabbit, its mother will not usually abandon it. Rabbits are excellent moms. All they want is their baby back. If you feel the nest is in a spot where you can't possibly leave the babies until they're big enough to leave on their own, contact a wildlife rehabilitator for advice.

When can you separate baby rabbits from mother?

In any case of domestic rabbit babies, do not remove the babies until they are a full eight weeks of age. Separate the male babies from the females at this time. Males can become sexually mature as early as ten weeks!

Do mother rabbits stay with their babies at night?

The babies burrow to the bottom of the nest where they remain hidden until Mamma Rabbit wakes them up at mealtime. Only rarely does a mother rabbit nurse her young right after giving birth. Most often the first nursing will occur the night after the kindling.

Why did my rabbit only have two babies?

Rabbits are instinctively driven to continue their species. If a rabbit feels that she can only keep so many babies alive, she'll prioritize those that are most likely to survive. Stronger young have a better chance of surviving and eventually breeding themselves. She may separate her babies into two groups.

What do baby bunnies need?

Baby bunnies love to play and chew, which is why having a good ratio of treats and toys (or treats that are toys and vice versa!) in their cage is essential for them to keep from developing destructive behaviors. They also need things to help grind down their teeth, which are always growing!

How long is a rabbit in labor?

Rabbit labour

Kindling takes around 15 minutes and usually occurs in the early hours of the morning. The process of giving birth is instinctive and obstruction is virtually unheard of.

What do newborn bunnies eat?

Baby rabbits should be fed Kitten Milk Replacer (KMR) or goat milk, which you can buy at pet stores, or sometimes even a local veterinarian's office. Because rabbit milk is the most caloric of all mammals, we add in one tablespoon of 100% heavy whipping cream (no sugar) to each can of KMR.

How do you raise a newborn rabbit?

It is best to keep the babies in a warm, quiet place in a nest. Bunny fur is the best lining for the nest, but clean cotton wadding will do as a substitute. Just be sure the babies do not get tangled in it. For heating, two or more babies usually are able to snuggle and keep each other warm if they have a good nest.

How can mother rabbits increase milk?

Giving her plenty of fresh water, all the rabbit chow she wants and the fresh vegetables that she likes to eat will help enable her to produce more milk rapidly.

Do pregnant rabbits need more food?

What Should My Rabbit Eat While Pregnant? Make sure that your pregnant rabbit is eating enough food and water is basic rabbit care essentials. Because she is carrying more weight and will need to feed her babies this means a change to her diet.

Do baby rabbits drink milk from their mother?

Like all mammals, baby rabbits depend upon milk from their mother to survive. Rabbits differ from many other animals, though. A mother rabbit does not feed her babies constantly. She only does so once a day, for around five minutes.

Can a bunny get pregnant while pregnant?

Superfoetation can happen, but it's usually reserved for mice and rabbits. Getting pregnant while already pregnant is called superfoetation. It's been reported in mammals, including mice and rabbits, and there have been a handful of possible cases in humans.

Can two pregnant doe rabbits live together?

It's possible to keep two pregnant rabbits together, as long as you have enough space. However, mothers should bond with one another before they become pregnant.

Do mother rabbits bury their babies?

Why do rabbits bury their babies under piles of grass and leaves? Female rabbits (does) hide their babies (kittens) in shallow nests, under a covering of grass and vegetation. It keeps them warm, safe from predators, and all in one place, until she can come back to feed them again.

What age do baby rabbits start walking?

Sometimes, kits can be pulled out if they are still nursing when the mother rabbit jumps out. After they are around 12 to 18 days old, baby rabbits should naturally start exploring around the nest.

How do you keep baby rabbits alive?

Keep baby rabbits in a box in a warm, quiet place away from children, household noise, domestic pets and bright lights. If you have a heating pad, turn it on LOW and place it under HALF of the box. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FEED ANY TYPE OF FORMULA TO A BABY RABBIT. You may kill the animal.