If there's anything rabbits are known for, aside from being cute, obviously, it's mating. There's a reason why there's the old saying 'at it like rabbits' but with that can come consequences. So if you’ve recently mated your male and female rabbit (or an unintended mating has occurred) and are now left wondering what’s next, then this guide to pregnancy in rabbits is for you!

How long is the pregnancy of a rabbit? How many bunnies can a rabbit have? When do rabbits start nesting? What are the rabbit labour signs? It’s time to find out...

How to Tell If a Rabbit’s Pregnant

After mating your rabbit you’ll be keen to find out if your rabbit is pregnant. There isn’t a rabbit pregnancy test kit like humans have. The best way to detect pregnancy in rabbits is to look out for changes in their behaviour.

Behavioural signs will appear within 14 days, this is also when a pregnancy can be detected by palpation by a vet. Your vet can also do an ultrasound to confirm if your rabbit is pregnant.

What Are the Signs of Rabbit Pregnancy?

The most obvious sign of a pregnant rabbit is nesting behaviour, but this doesn’t happen until around 2-3 days before she gives birth. To build a nest, female rabbits will burrow into their hay and line it with fur that they’ve pulled out of their flanks, dewlap (the area under their chin) and belly.

The fur removal also exposes her nipples ready for nursing. Her nipples will enlarge 24 days after mating. Although your rabbit will be competent in nest building, you can help her by buying or building a nest box which is an ideal hideout for mother rabbit and her baby bunnies.

Earlier behaviour changes you may notice include your rabbit becoming defensive and territorial. She may not want to be stroked and will let you know by growling.

Your rabbit may experience a false pregnancy, also known as pseudopregnancy or rabbit phantom pregnancy. This is where a female bunny believes she’s pregnant so displays the signs of pregnancy in rabbits, despite not actually being pregnant. This usually lasts for 18 days and then the rabbit will return to her normal self.

Pseudopregnancies can be caused by being caged near a sexually mature male rabbit or by being mounted by another female rabbit, which induces ovulation. Pseudopregnancies cause no harm to the rabbit but can lead to aggression that results in injuries, or stress and a reduced appetite. Speak to your vet if you have any concerns.

Caring for a Pregnant Rabbit

During your rabbit’s pregnancy make sure she has a clean enclosure, plenty of bedding material, constant access to clean fresh water and is fed a nutritious diet. Rabbits need a diet high in fibre, so plenty of grass and a good quality hay, like alfalfa hay. They also need dark leafy greens, like kale and spring greens, and vegetables. Celery, broccoli, chickweed, clover and sow thistle can be given daily.

In most cases, you’ll be able to keep your pregnant rabbit housed with her normal companions, but you may need to separate them if she starts to show any signs of aggression.

Speak to your vet regarding any vaccination boosters or parasite treatment that may be due, as they may not be safe for pregnant rabbits.

Rabbit Labour and Caesareans

How long are rabbits pregnant? The gestation period for rabbits is 30-33 days, so you’ll know roughly when to expect labour to start. There aren’t many signs to let you know when your rabbit is in labour. She'll spend most of the time hiding away in her nest.

She may come out and move around between delivering her kittens (baby rabbits) if she is having difficulty, but usually rabbit labour is very quick, lasting no more than 30 minutes. Rabbits tend to give birth in the early morning, when they feel safest. Litter sizes vary between 4-12 kits depending on the breed and number of previous pregnancies.

It's rare for delivery problems to occur in rabbits, so it’s unlikely that your rabbit will need veterinary assistance like a caesarean section (c-section). A c-section is a surgical procedure that involves an incision through the abdominal wall into the uterus to deliver babies. The most common reason for a c-section is if the kittens are too big for the pelvic canal or breech birth (born hind end first).

These problems are likely if the female rabbit is mated with a larger male rabbit, she has suffered a previous pelvic injury, she’s nutrient deficient, is very young, or has a small litter. Smaller litters usually mean the kits grow larger than normal. Being deficient in vitamin D affects the development of the pelvic canal. Very young rabbits may have difficulties giving birth as they have a small pelvic canal.

What Happens After a Rabbit’s Given Birth?

Rabbit babies are born hairless, blind and deaf, and completely dependent on their mother. It’s important not to disturb mother and kittens during and immediately after the birth. The mother may kill her babies if she feels threatened, so wait until the next day to examine the litter.

Following birth, the mother will lick and clean her young, eating the placentas as they’re passed. The kittens won’t start nursing from the mother’s teats straight away, this usually starts the night after the birth.

The Benefits of Neutering

If you’re not planning on breeding again, speak to your vet about getting your rabbits neutered. Also be aware that rabbit mating can occur from as young as 4 months of age and they’re not fussy about who they mate with, be that sister, brother, parent, or child... So, make sure to completely separate opposite sexes before they’re sexually mature if they’ve not been neutered.

There are many benefits to neuter your rabbit. You won’t have unwanted litters and the stress of rehoming them, plus the costs that are involved. There are also many health benefits such as a longer life expectancy due to a reduced risk of developing certain cancers.

Female rabbits are also less likely to suffer from uterine problems like pyometra, hydrometra, pregnancy toxaemia, or pseudopregnancy. Most of which are fatal conditions.

If your rabbit is pregnant, congratulations! Now it’s time to focus on her needs. She’ll only be pregnant for a month, so make sure you’re prepared for your new arrivals. Keep mother bun happy and healthy by feeding her the correct diet, keeping her home clean and tidy, and making sure she has a great bed to rest in.

Being pregnant is tiring, so while you should still show her love and affection, make sure she gets plenty of alone time too. 

Everypaw Rabbit Insurance

Here at Everypaw, we want to help you keep your bunny healthy and in tip top shape. So, when it comes to your young rabbit’s care, Everypaw’s Rabbit Insurance could be just the cover to look after your little thumper.

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