Congratulations on your new litter of bunnies! If you’re raising rabbits for commercial purposes, you can expect a doe to give birth (kindle) up to 6 times a year, depending on your breeding schedule. Each litter typically comprises 6 to 12 kits, meaning a single doe can produce 36 to 72 kits annually.
This is an exciting but crucial time because the survival and health of newborn rabbits depend on proper care. In this article, we’ll guide you through what do after your rabbit gives birth, fostering, and how you can partner with Rabbit Choice Farms Ltd.
The First Few Days-A Hands-Off Approach
The initial hours and days following the birth of your rabbit’s litter are incredibly sensitive. Your primary role during this period is to provide a safe, undisturbed environment that encourages the mother to bond with and care for her young.
- Observe from a Distance: Resist the natural urge to peek at and handle the newborn bunnies immediately. While your curiosity is understandable, premature interference can have negative consequences. Mother rabbits, particularly first-time mothers, are highly sensitive to disturbances around their nest.
- Occasional visits to the nest: The mother will likely spend a significant amount of time away from the nest, as this is natural rabbit behavior to avoid attracting predators. However, you should observe her entering the nest periodically.
- Nest building or rearranging: She may be adjusting the bedding (hay or fur she has pulled) to keep the kits warm and secure.
- Nursing posture: If you are fortunate enough to witness it, you might see her lying in the nest with the babies latched onto her nipples. This typically happens once or twice a day for short periods.
- Seemingly relaxed demeanor: A calm mother is a good sign. Excessive pacing, digging, or agitated behavior could indicate stress.
Provide a Quiet and Secure Environment
The nesting area must be a sanctuary of peace and security for the new family. Minimize all potential disturbances:
- Reduce noise levels: Keep the surroundings quiet. Avoid loud music, sudden noises, and boisterous activity near the rabbit’s enclosure.
- Limit foot traffic: Restrict access to the area around the cage to only essential caregivers.
- Avoid sudden movements: When you do need to be near the enclosure, move slowly and deliberately to avoid startling the mother.
Monitor the Babies After the First 24 Hours
While it’s essential to avoid immediate handling, after the initial 24 hours have passed, it’s wise to perform a brief and gentle check on the litter. This allows you to ensure the basic well-being of the newborns without causing undue stress to the mother.
Approach the nest calmly and speak softly to the mother. If she seems overly agitated, postpone the check. When you do proceed:
- Wash your hands thoroughly: This minimizes the transfer of your scent to the babies.
- Gentle observation: Briefly and carefully look at the babies. You are checking for:
- Warmth: They should feel warm to the touch, indicating the mother has been keeping them warm.
- Dryness: They should be dry and not appear damp or chilled.
- Full bellies: Their bellies should appear rounded and slightly distended, indicating they have been feeding. You might even see a faint “milk band” through their thin skin.
- No obvious injuries or deformities: Visually scan for any apparent physical issues.
- Minimize handling: If you need to touch a baby, do so very gently and quickly. Avoid picking them up unless absolutely necessary (e.g., if one has strayed far from the nest and appears cold). If you must move a baby, try to use some of the mother’s fur to transfer your scent.
Caring for the Mother Rabbit
Proper care for the mother rabbit (doe) after birth is essential for her recovery and the health of her kits. Here’s how to support her during this critical period:
- Nutrition: Provide a nutrient-rich diet consisting of high-quality hay, and a balanced portion of pellets. This helps maintain her strength and ensures she produces enough milk for her kits.
- Water: Always keep fresh, clean water available, as lactating rabbits require more hydration to support milk production.
- Rest & Comfort: Minimize handling and disturbances to reduce stress. A quiet, secure environment allows the mother to rest and bond with her babies, improving their chances of survival.
Caring for the kits (Baby Rabbits)
Newborn rabbits (kits) are delicate and require special care to ensure they grow healthy and strong. Here’s what you need to know:
- Minimal Handling: Avoid touching the kits during the first few weeks, as excessive handling can stress the mother and disrupt feeding.
- If handling is necessary, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water to avoid transferring human scent. You can also use the mother’s fur to acquire the scent.
- Weaning: Baby rabbits typically begin weaning at 4 to 6 weeks of age. Gradually introduce them to solid foods like hay and high-quality rabbit pellets while ensuring they still have access to their mother’s milk.
- Socialization: Once weaned, begin handling the kits gently to get them accustomed to human interaction. Gradual socialization helps them develop into calmer, healthier rabbits, whether for breeding, meat production, or as pets.
Fostering in Rabbits: What It Is and How to Ensure Kit Survival
Fostering in rabbits involves transferring newborn kits from one mother (doe) to another for nursing. This is done when the biological mother is unable to care for her litter, such as in cases of a large litter, rejection, illness, or death of the mother.
In commercial rabbit farming, fostering helps maximize kit survival rates and ensure even milk distribution among litters.
Read our detailed guide on getting started for commercial rabbit farming in Kenya.
Why Fostering Happens
Fostering is necessary in the following situations:
- Large litters – A mother with too many kits (beyond 8–10) may struggle to provide enough milk, leading to weaker babies.
- Rejection – Some does may refuse to nurse their kits due to stress, inexperience, or health issues.
- Death or illness of the mother – If the mother dies or becomes severely ill, fostering ensures her kits still receive the necessary care.
- Uneven litter sizes – If one doe has a small litter and another has a large one, balancing the numbers can improve survival rates.
How to Successfully Foster Kits
To ensure the survival of fostered kits, follow these steps:
- Choose a suitable foster mother
- The foster doe should have kits of a similar age (ideally within 2–3 days of the ones being fostered).
- She should be in good health and already nursing her own litter successfully.
- Mask the scent
- Rabbits recognize their young by smell, so rubbing the new kits with the nesting material from the foster mother’s nest helps them blend in.
- You can gently rub the foster kits against the foster mother’s fur to transfer her scent.
- Introduce the kits carefully
- Place the foster kits among the biological kits when the mother is away from the nest.
- Observe discreetly to ensure the foster mother accepts and nurses all the kits. If she rejects them, try a different foster doe.
- Monitor Feeding and Growth
- Check all kits daily to ensure they are warm and well-fed. A well-fed kit will have a round belly, while a starving kit will appear thin and wrinkled.
- If necessary, reattempt fostering with another doe or consider hand-feeding (though this has a lower success rate).
Get Assistance For All Your Commercial Rabbit Farming Needs
Raising rabbits, especially after birth, requires careful attention to both the mother and her kits. By providing proper nutrition, ensuring a safe and stress-free environment, and addressing common challenges like rejection, fostering, and illness, you can significantly improve survival rates and overall productivity.
At Rabbit Choice Farms Ltd, we are dedicated to helping farmers succeed in commercial rabbit farming. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced farmer, we offer rabbit cage construction, hybrid breeders, expert training, and guaranteed market access through contract farming.
Join us today! Let us help you build a profitable rabbit farming business with quality breeders, expert guidance, and reliable market opportunities.
Got a question? Contact us at +254715 626955 or email us at [email protected]
