How young can a rabbit breed?

Answer 1

Rabbit kits begin testing out their hay and pellet feed at about 3-4 weeks, during this time they are still nursing & need their dam's milk to develop into healthy rabbits. Does generally begin weaning the kits, refusing to nurse, at around 6-8 weeks - sometimes depending on the size of the litter.

Breeders of commercial rabbits tend to wean slightly earlier than "Fancy" rabbit breeders. Meat fryers are (usually) weaned from 5-6 weeks, while pet/fancy/show breeders may wean kits from 6-8 weeks.

Best Wishes!

Joyce Brandon
http://www.jerseywoolyrabbits.com

Answer 2

after about one week try putting some foods( wild flowers, grass, things that a wild rabbit would find ) where you are keeping the babies and wean them at 4 weeks and release them when they are eating and drinking on their own..

Answer 3

As I am a rabbit lover, I have bred rabbits three times. To be honest, I used my inuitive. A month is generally about right, but a good way to tell is to take the 'mum' and hold her like a baby, on her back, cradled. then take the bunnie, and place him or her on the mother. If they start suckling, then they are not ready to ween. If they just sit there, doing nothing, then try a couple more times, just to be sure, and if neither times it suckles, then it is ready!

Alfy x

PS this doesn't actually hurt the mother rabbit, as most of the bunny's weight is being transfered onto you. :) x

You should start weaning baby rabbits at 6 weeks of age. They all should be weaned by 8 weeks of age. Take the stronger ones first and move to a cage of their own continue until all are weaned, one or two at a time. If babies are not weaned they wills start to bite the mothers teats and besides causing wounds the doe will start bitng them back and sometimes slit ears and take chunks out of noses. All this can be avoided by weaning at the proper time.

Answer 4

It would be best to wait at least a year so you know for sure that they are ready.

Answer 5

A baby cottontail rabbit should be 4 to 5 weeks old before you begin weaning them. There mother does not wean them until this time when they are birthed in the wild.

Answer 6

3 months

Answer 7

6-8 weeks