When you first give your rabbit her nestbox

Thats big enough for all but the giant breeds. You can try and do it sooner but I find it easiest to just do it at weaning time.

She must be left alone during this time.

When you first give your rabbit her nestbox. Thats big enough for all but the giant breeds. Make sure your nest box will fit through the rabbit hutch door. Do the first litter of bunnies usually die.

According to the University of Miami a rabbit will give birth to 1-14 kits in her first litter with the average being 6. Its unlikely that all of these baby rabbits will survive. Where Should the Nest Box Be Placed.

The nest box should be placed apart from the mothers usual resting spot. Remember that in the wild rabbits visit and feed their young twice a day for only about 5 minutes. This behavior is done to avoid drawing the attention of predators.

Does must have the chance to retreat entirely from the litter. Place the nest in the does cage 1 to 2 days before she is scheduled to kindle usually at the 28th day of gestation. Care should be taken to not place the nest box in too early as the does instinct will not have kicked in yet and she will not only eat the hay from the nest box but also use it.

If a rabbit does this her first time it doesnt necessarily mean she is a bad mother just give her a few more tries she should get used to it. We place a brick or block of wood between the front of the box and the cage to make a step so the kits can get back into the box if they hop out. The brick also helps keep the nest box in place.

Kits usually start venturing out of the box around 2 12 weeks. Be sure to r emove the box by the time kits are 3 weeks old. Usually the doe will feed her babies 1-2 times per day.

You most likely will not see your doe nursing her kits because this usually takes place late at night and early morning. Dont be shocked if you happen to come upon your doe while she is feeding and she immediately hops out of the nesting box leaving her squirming babies behind. Meanwhile get a nesting box for your mother rabbit to use and give her plenty of hay to prepare the nest.

Once the babies are warmed up you can move them over to the new nest box. As best you can keep the kittens and their mother in a calm stress-free environment. This will prevent the mother rabbit from becoming too stressed to feed her babies.

Nest Box Eye 6. Sexing Weaning The Litter. The last step in the rabbit breeding process.

Once baby rabbits reach 6-8 weeks old its time to sex the litter. You can try and do it sooner but I find it easiest to just do it at weaning time. I separate the boys from girls and wean the babies from momma rabbit.

Sometimes even domestic rabbits will reject babies that have been touched or smell like people. I would let her nest where she chooses it doesnt have to be in a nest box as long as she has an area shes comfortable and its safe for the babies. Mine have given birth many times in their covered sleeping area even when they had a nest box.

When a doe is ready to kindle a nest box is placed in the cage for her to give birth in. This is a carry-over from habit of wild rabbits who kindled inside trees or holes in the ground. No one type of nest box is best suited for all conditions hut all should provide seclusion for the doe at kindling and also comfort and protection for the young.

While a bunny nesting box is a definite necessity if your rabbit is pregnant this isnt the only reason you want to provide your rabbit with a nesting box. The nesting box can double as a great place to hide snooze rest and stay warm. This is especially the case if you house your rabbits outside and it tends to get cold in winter.

How to Set Up a Nesting Box for Rabbits. Baby rabbits spend their first 2 weeks living exclusively inside their nest. They then begin to explore the outside world.

Have the nest box ready for the baby rabbits ready at least 3 days before they are due. That way the mother has time to prepare it to her liking. Select a large wooden box.

Bunny Lover - Yes you will still need to make a nestbox for her. The fur is not enough and the babies will soon be able to move from that spot and wont be confined enough so they can wander off and die. The nestbox should have plenty of timothy hay in it.

Its not unusual for a first or even second time doe to have her kits on the wire or in the front of her nest box out in the open. There may be little you can do about that except give your doe time to learn. But you can check her nest box to make sure she hasnt dug a hole that goes all of the way to the bottom.

Separate her from the male rabbit. It is uncommon for the male rabbit to harm the kits. However he can impregnate the female again as soon as she gives birth resulting in another pregnancy before she finishes weaning the first litter.

To avoid this you should separate the two rabbits as birthing draws closer. At your home there is no scope for the rabbit to do the same. So you provide her with a nesting box so that the rabbit can get all the safety security and comfort of a natural burrow right in your home.

Although a rabbit nesting box is absolutely necessary if your bunny is pregnant you can get it one even if it is not. A doe normally will make a nest in her cage pull her soft fur out and use it for a lining in the nest just before she gives birth. A rabbit who is having their first litter may not make a nest before she has babies.

You can make a nest for her by putting a towel in a covered litter box or place her nest in the litter box. These nesting boxes are modeled after the burrows where rabbits give birth in the wild and are often smaller than the rabbits themselves with grasses to create a safe and comfortable environment for the baby rabbits to be born in. Before she gives birth your doe wants a rabbit nesting box in her cage.

At first the doe will not spend much time in the nest box. Even when she is in labor she will only spend 5 to 30 minutes in the box facing the rear of the container. She must be left alone during this time.

A normally sweet-natured rabbit may be grumpy and will not want to interact with people during labor. Your doe needs a nest box in her cage before she gives birth. Day 28 after the rabbit mating is usually the ideal day to give her the nest.

Heres what you need and how to prepare the nest box. If youre using all-wire cages youll need a commercial nest box. Click to see full answer.

Your doe needs a nest box in her cage before she gives birth. Day 28 after the rabbit mating is usually the ideal day to give her the nest. Heres what you need and how to prepare the nest box.

If youre using all-wire cages youll need a commercial nest box. How to prepare a nest box for baby bunnies. Eldon demonstrates how he prepares the nest box with pine shavings straw and hay to make it ready for the fema.

If you find yourself caring for a domestic rabbit that you suspect is pregnant or has recently given birth you will probably have a million questions. This article addresses not only rehabilitation care but is also a guide for answering questions and concerns about the proper care of the domestic mother rabbit and her babies and orphaned Rabbits.