Mommy Rabbit Pregnant

If you are reading this section, it probably means you think your rabbit pregnant or your rabbit is pregnant. This section will provide you steps and facts to help you throughout the process of your rabbit's pregnancy. The first priority you have to take care of is getting the father of the bunnies neutered before the bunnies are even born.

During the pregnancy of the mother rabbit, it is best not to let the father rabbit spend any time with the mother. Why is that? Isn't it good for the male rabbit to spend time with mother rabbit? Although, it is a pleasant idea, it is not because there is a big chance the father rabbit can get the mother rabbit pregnant again after giving birth. Not only can he get the mother rabbit pregnant again, he can also impregnate one of the female offspring as soon as she matures. You do not want that to happen.

After the mother rabbit gives birth, you may find it odd that she isn't nursing her babies. This is not abnormal, wild rabbits act like this, the mother rabbit has a strong intuition involving scent and is actually watching from a distance. The mother rabbit thinks that by staying near the nest of the bunnies, this will attract potential predators. So does the mother rabbit even feed the bunnies? Yes, she does, but she only feeds them about once or twice a day. They usually like to feed their babies before dawn and just after dusk, these are the two times when they feel they are safe from predators. When the mother rabbit is feeding her babies, I highly recommend you and other people, especially children keep away from the cage. Why is that? The mother rabbit feels threatened and can cause stress for the mother rabbit.

How do you know if the mother rabbit is feeding the babies? When you catch the mother rabbit ripping fur, don't be alarmed, she is just making a nest. The nest usually consists of the fur, shredded paper, and hay. If you have carpet in your home, you may find your rabbit ripping up the carpet. Sometimes, the rabbit may make a nest because they think they are pregnant, when they are not (false pregnancy). If your mother rabbit has difficulty making nest, find a box, a water bottle, and a towel. First, fill up the water bottle with warm water. You can also use a plastic bag or container, but make sure the water does not leak. Next, place the water bottle inside the box and put the towel on top of the water bottle. Make sure your towel does not have any holes and frays because they can potentially kill the babies by strangling them or harming their delicate skin. The towel prevents the babies from being scorched from the warm water. When you are handling the babies, be sure not to wear any strong scents, such as perfumes.

Find another and bigger box that can fit the mother rabbit and the babies. Cut a doorway to let the mother go in and out between feedings. Next, at the corner of the box (not the corner the mother urinates) a handful of hay, straw or grass for the babies to urinate on. Make sure the grass used does not have fertilizers or pesticides, and replace with a new handful every three to four days. As you are changing the grass, you can also clean the box and replace it will fresh bedding for the babies. Remember to take all the babies out before you do so. When do you when the babies are warm enough? Once the babies are no longer bunched together, they are warm enough, and make a new nest for them. I suggest putting the new nest into a new room of your house, just make sure it is warm and quiet and include a litter box for the mother herself to make her more comfortable.

To fully answer, how do you know if the bunny has been fed? After the mother's birth, she doesn't feed them until the second day at most. You can tell by the size of their stomach. If their stomach looks full, it means they have been fed. If their stomach looks sucked in and wrinkled, it means they have not been fed. Usually the babies who are scattered are the ones who did not get fed. I highly recommend you bring them to the vet. Meanwhile, by placing a drop of honey or fruit jam in their mouth, it will increase their blood sugar level. Sometimes there is a problem with the mother rabbit, look and feel her nipples, it should be somewhat swollen. To see if she has milk, place pressure on her nipples to see if there is in fact milk. If there is, return her to her babies to feed. If there is not, immediately take the mother rabbit to the vet for a dose of oxytocin that will help stimulate her milk glands. Usually after the dose, they will take about 24 hours to 2 days to be able to feed her rabbits. If the rabbits haven't been fed more than 2 days, take the rabbits to the vet as soon as possible.