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Is My Rabbit Pregnant? (And What To Do If She Is)

It’s the question I want to know.  Is my rabbit pregnant?  Waiting for baby bunnies shouldn’t feel like forever, but sometimes it feels that way.  I bred my rabbits last month, and I was eagerly awaiting babies, but they never came.  I re-bred both does and am eagerly awaiting bunny cuteness again, hopefully with better results.   If you are like me, here are some indications that your rabbit may indeed be pregnant.

Is my rabbit pregnant? Whether you are a pet keeper, or raising for meat, you may want to know if you rabbit is going to have babies.

How To Tell If Your Rabbit Is Pregnant:

Mood changes

This really doesn’t tell you much, but if she’s moody and grouchy, it very well could be that she is pregnant.  (This never works for me.  My does seem permanently cranky.  The bucks are the sweetest things ever, but my does don’t like me no matter how many treats I bring).

Palpation

Around days 10-12 after being bred you should be able to feel small marble sized bumps along the sides of your does tummy if she is indeed pregnant.  I’ve successfully done this once so far, so I’m not the best teacher.  They’re Not Our Goats has as video of how to do it.  So go watch that, and then go gently practice on your does.  Gently.  Because you don’t want to hurt her, and you don’t want your does to hate you as much as mine hate me.

Test breeding 

Sometimes rabbits have a false pregnancy, where they act like they are pregnant, but they really aren’t.  Many won’t be receptive to the buck even if it’s a false pregnancy until after day 17.  If your rabbit is nesting and it’s 17 days after her last breeding RE-BREED!  She’s not pregnant.  You can test breed all of your does on day 18 just in case, which I haven’t tried.  Some breeders do this as a matter of course, and others avoid it for fear of causing a miscarriage if she is pregnant.  Also, rabbits have two horns to their uterus so it is possible that she could be pregnant on one side, and then become pregnant on the other side after the test breeding.

Nest Building

If it’s after day 21 and your rabbit is nesting, she’s probably pregnant.  Yay!  She might be pulling tons and tons of fur to line the nest, or running around with a mouthful of hay.  You can give her a nest that early, but make sure to clean it out if she poops in it.  My does are good at pooping in their nest boxes.  Make sure to give her a nest box by day 28 even if she’s not pulling fur.  (Here’s how to make a basic nest box).

How Long Are Rabbits Pregnant?

 Rabbit pregnancies almost always last 30 days.  If you think your rabbit is pregnant, make sure to check the nest box for babies around day 30!  Although, if it’s day 30 and there are no babies don’t despair, sometimes rabbits can go a few days longer.  I had one doe that always had her babies on day 32.  I’ve read that some rabbits may take as long as 35 days, so if no babies by day 36 RE-BREED!

What To Do After The Babies Are Born

Once your doe does have babies, check the nest and remove any dead ones.  She won’t neglect the litter even if you take a look around.  Make sure they really are dead first, and not just overly chilled.  You can sometimes warm them up.  If she didn’t pull enough fur, add some more.  (You can save some from those false pregnancies, or if you have a doe that pulls a lot).

If you are particularly worried about a litter you can bring them inside.  Rabbits nurse their young at dawn and at dusk, so you can bring the nest box out at those two times and usually the doe will hop right in to feed the babies.  I had to do this after rats infiltrated our rabbit colony until I got the rabbits moved into hutches.  (Sadness.  The colony still isn’t rat proofed, so the buns are in hutches until I remake it.  Although they seem perfectly happy, and even get excited to get back to their space when I bring them inside when it’s hot).

Usually the mothers will take care of just about everything, but there are a few things you need to do for baby bunnies.

Is Your Rabbit Pregnant?

So the burning question we all want to know.  Is my rabbit pregnant?  Maybe.  Maybe not.  There are some clues that may help you get an idea if it’s likely or not, but in the end, you’ll know for sure when the babies are actually here.  If you want more resources and information on raising rabbits, check out our resource page!

Sources:
http://www.fao.org/docs/eims/upload/agrotech/1939/04-80.pdf

 

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Malory Sharp

Wednesday 29th of July 2020

I have three rabbits. I thought I had one buck and two does. But I recently found out one of my females was a buck, and it was with the other female the whole time! I'm worried that my almost 5 month old RABBIT is pregnant. Any tips?

ive heard them getting pregnat at 2 months but that is rare i dont think shes pregnt they can get pregnat at 6 months.

Tuesday 19th of October 2021

@Malory Sharp,

Kathryn

Thursday 30th of July 2020

Since you don't know when babies will come, I would make sure she has access to a clean nest box and plenty of hay. You may need to clean out the nest box until she delivers as some will use it as a litter box if they get it too early.

Midon

Saturday 23rd of November 2019

Can bucks act out if they sense a female is pregnant? (Thumping, flipping dishes, scattering hay, etc.)

Stephanie

Sunday 3rd of January 2021

My doe is on day 33 today I'm for sure she's pregnant she hasn't made any sort of nest tho and won't let me feel her belly I felt her belly on day 14 and her nipples were very swollen I've manged to tempt her with a carrot today so she would stay still while I felt her stomach and felt loads of little flickers but I'm getting worried as she's getting late now

Kathryn

Monday 25th of November 2019

Rabbits tend to thump when they are angry or frustrated. All of that sounds pretty normal if the buck is trying to breed and the female is not cooperating.

Midon

Saturday 23rd of November 2019

Day 21 after we introduced our JUST neutered buck to our doe. She has has a slightly sqollen stomach and has been trying to nest since day 17. She jas a few flecks of blood in her urine,but she doesnt today. Her stomach is still firmer than usual and shes on and off crabby. Is it likely she's pregnant or was this a false pregnancy?

Kathryn

Monday 25th of November 2019

If she was nesting at day 17 it's likely a false pregnancy. She shouldn't be nesting until closer to day 30.

Someone 🐇

Wednesday 25th of September 2019

Can a doe be pregnant and still experience a false pregnancy within her pregnancy?? My doe was bred on the 8th and started making a nest and pulling fur 18 days later. Im almost completely positive that she is pregnant. I know its kind of a dumb question but im trying to figure out if this is the real deal. We recently flooded and it would be horribly inconvenient for her to have them now.

Kathryn

Monday 7th of October 2019

Does have two sides to their uterus (called horns), so it is possible.

Stephanie

Wednesday 15th of August 2018

My bunny has been acting strange, she has been attacking my boy bunny but when i first got him all they wanted to do is mate. they did. My bunny has been having mood swings and her bottom and lower back is getting big. Also she has been moving her hay a little bit. (She moved all the hay from her hatch and put it at the bottom of her cage) please tell if pregnant.

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