Rabbit Breeding & Reproduction

In order for two rabbits (of any age, gender, breed, or litter) to share a hutch or cage, they must be bonded. If two unbonded rabbits are put together unprepared, they might (and often do!) fight. Bonding can be a slow process, although sometimes it happens quickly, and sometimes two rabbits get along immediately (just like with humans, it comes down to individual personality). At all times during the bonding process, you must ensure the rabbits are safe. Never let rabbits fight: even a tiny bite can lead to huge infection, abscess, illness. Never leave rabbits alone together if they aren't bonded.

The first step to bonding two rabbits is to have them neutered/spayed and allow them first to fully recover from their surgeries. Two unneutered male rabbits will not bond: instead, they will fight and even try to kill each other. An unneutered male and unspayed female may bond but they'll also breed: please do not allow your rabbits to breed -- consider all the rabbits in shelters waiting to be adopted! Two unspayed females may bond, but usually only if they were raised together from the same litter.

Once the rabbits are neutered/spayed, you can start the bonding process. Some methods work better than others, so do some research beforehand so as to maximize your chances of a positive introduction.

One person writes: It depends if you've had a rabbit for a while and want to put another rabbit in with it they will fight but if two different breeds of rabbits or the same breed of rabbits have been togdther since they were born they will not fight and will sit quite happley with eachother... Rabbits prefer being together so there not lonely but if you have one rabbit and give it plenty of attention if will be equally as happy...

Baby rabbits should not be away from their mother until 8 weeks of age.

In most places this is also laid out as law!

PLEASE do not give away baby rabbits younger than this, the likelihood is they will die.
The first 9 to 11 weeks should ensure your bunny gets nourished enough to leave home. However sometimes rabbits get too attached to their mother and die when they leave her. So 11 weeks is just about your maximum.
The kittens (baby rabbits) can stay with their mother for as long as she'll let them. It's not ideal, though, because it puts strain on the mother. If it's a small litter, and they're looked after properly, they can be weaned as early as about... five weeks. But waiting for six to eight weeks is ideal.

I know that the kittens lose the mother's immunity to disease at around four weeks old. Don't separate them too early of they'll catch diseases.

Pregnancy can be detected ten to fourteen days after mating. Physical palpation is the most common and accurate way breeders determine if a doe is pregnant. Between the tenth and fourteenth day of gestation, the fetuses grow rapidly, making them detectable by touch to the experience breeder.

The doe receives no special care prior to detection of her pregnancy. once it's determined that a doe is pregnant, some breeder gradually increase her feed until two days before kindling (birth), then they decrease it.

It's important not to over-feed a doe before or during a pregnancy. obesity can make kindling difficult and can make it difficult for the doe to become pregnant in the first place. Internal fat can build up around the fallopian tubes and block eggs from descending.

Around twenty-seven days after mating, the doe needs a nest box, a place in which she will give birth and care for her young. The nest box should be clean, well ventilated, dry, filled with nesting material, and not too big or too small. The American Rabbit Breeders Association recommends that a nest box be about 2 inches longer than the doe in sitting position and 2 inches wider than the doe in the same position. A doe will foul (urinate and defecate in) a nest box that is too large.

Kindling

Kits are usually born in the quiet of the night, thirty-one or so days after conception. The doe licks and cleans each kit as he or she is born, and then the doe eats the placenta. A wise breeder leaves the dam (a mother rabbit) to her business and doesn't disturb her. Disturbing the new mother can stress and frighten her and her young. The next day, the breeder checks the dam and litter and removes any kits born dead. There are usually two to twelve kits in a litter depending on the breed--small breeds have smaller litters than large breeds. Newborn rabbits are extremely helpless. They're born without much fur, their ability to move is limited, and their eyes and ears are closed.

Lactation

The dam produces milk suited especially for her growing youngsters. The first few days she supplies the young with a "first milk" that contains substances to protect the vulnerable kits from disease. Though blind and without hearing, the kits have a sharp sense of smell, which is how they find the doe's nipples: the kits smell the milk. The young rabbits nurse once or twice a day until they are weaned several weeks later. Lactating is demanding for the doe. Breeders must pay close attention to her to ensure that she is eating and drinking properly to keep up milk production and to prevent nursing problems.

Weaning

The young rabbits grow and thrive under the doe's care. Their eyes open at about ten days, and they're out of the nest box at three weeks of age. As soon as the youngsters are out and about, they can start nibbling on pellets. Weaning, the time to stop nursing and be separated from the doe, usually occurs at about eight weeks of age, sometimes later in large breeds. This, too, can be a stressful time period, and breeders take special care of the doe and young to prevent difficulties.

An excerpt from:

Guidry, Virginia. Rabbits: the Key to Understanding Your Rabbit. BowTie Press, California. 2001

*Please note:

1) It is normal for the doe to spend most of her time away from the nest, so as not to attract predators, so do not be alarmed at this behaviour.

2) Some mother rabbits will eat their young from fear if they are handled before their eyes are open; so as exciting as it is, try not to handle the new family for approximately two weeks.

3) Once baby rabbits are weaned give them unlimeted pellets and hay also no fruits and vegies until at least 7 months the start feeding small amounts of lettec and no fruit until they are 1 year.

Okay ya right i am a breder of mini rex rabbits and when you ween them give them pellets and hay nothing else and keep one or 2 of moms poo pellets in the nest box as the kits will nible them and get valubale bactirea for there digestive tract.
Taking care of a pregnant rabbit is very easy, but there is some things you should know first.

Make sure the doe is out of the bucks cage, or else when the babies are born the buck will attack her and the babies. But if they are already in seperate cages then...great.

NESTING BOX

Ok, I hope you have a nesting box in the cage for the mother or else she will give birth on the wire and the babies will freeze. You can easily build a nesting box with 2 pieces of wood but just make sure there is no nails sticking out. The box should be a little bigger then the doe so she has enough room for her plus the kits.

MATERIALS

You need to provide nesting material so she can make a nest. This is most important. Iv always used tons of hay, a blanket or towel, newspaper, and woodchips. You can use any of these things but i find hay most important. The Doe will also use its fur to line the nest but more materials are neccesery.

FOOD/WATER

Your rabbit, just like any other pregnant creature needs lots of food. She will be eating more then she ever has for the 1st 3 weeks. On the last week before the babies are born she'l cut down on eating a little. Dont be worried if she doesnt eat or drink anything at all about 2 days before she has the babies. After the babies are born she will be drinking ALOT of water so provide alot of water for her.

• Usually the doe will give birth when no ones around. Mine have always gave birth late at night and some right in the middle of the day. Well whenever no one is around. Remember rabbits can hear VERY well so they can hear and sence you. They can hold off giving birth up to 8 hours, but this isnt healthy so give your rabbit some extra privacy.
• When the kits are born they will probably be burried deep under fur and any other materials. You usually would never have to help the doe with anything because rabbits give birth fast and easy.
• Never touch the rabbits untill their eyes are open and they have fur. The only reason you should ever have to hold a rabbit under age is if the doe gives birth on the cage wire. Then you pet the doe with both hands alot to get her scent on you and carefully lift the kit into the box. (be careful they are very squirrmy!) and the mother may be very protective and attack so you may have to take her out of the cage.

Thats all you do, its very simpe and easy. :) good luck and I hope you have as much fun with the kits as I did!