When does the female rabbit separate from her bunnies?

Answer 1

It is recommended to remove the buck as soon as mating has occurred. You can return the doe to the buck's cage/hutch several times throughout the next few days to ensure she's bred, possibly increase litter size, etc. Keeping the buck and doe together can lead to many problems, so it is just best to keep them separate. Some problems include:

- injury to the buck as the doe gets more aggressive

- fighting (territorial)

- "double clutching" meaning the doe gets bred a second time and carries 2 separate litters at the same time

- injury/death to kits when they are born due to the buck

- added stress to the doe can cause miscarriage, loss of interest in kits when she kindles, premature kindling

Answer 2

The babies can be weaned as early as 4 weeks, but it is usually better to leave them with her for 6 weeks. To maximize their nutrition and growth you can leave them with mommy until 8 weeks. Make sure you do NOT let them stay with her longer then 3 months. Also the same sex siblings can be separated from mom and put together, but then need to be in their own individual cages by 4 months.

Answer 3

First are these "pet" or "house" bunnies or are they production rabbits? In the case of neutered bunnies, if they are able to get along in the space provided, then you can keep males and females together. However, if these are production rabbits (you DO want to have litters of babies) then generally I separate mine when I wean them from the mother (about 4-6 weeks). Male hormones will come in at about 5 months of age, so separation MUST begin before then. The female rabbit is very protective of her "space" and will fight the male if he is introduced, or allowed to stay, in her cage or living space. That's why you take the doe to the buck (and I stay to watch in case a fight breaks out), and not vice versa, when breeding rabbits.